Repair scheme got Apple to replace 6K fake iPhones with real ones.
  • rubikcuber@feddit.ukEnglish
    1681·
    3 months ago

    “These counterfeit phones, Cohen said, were either out of warranty or contained counterfeit parts, but Apple “wrongly” believed that they were real phones under real warranties”

    So not counterfeit. Just real iPhones that were out of warranty or has been repaired by a third party.

    • affiliate@lemmy.worldEnglish
      382·
      3 months ago

      real phones with counterfeit parts resulting from third party repairs doesn’t seem that surprising given how restrictive apple is about providing authentic repair parts. i would not be surprised if this turns out to be another case of them shooting themselves in the foot because they got too greedy.

      • Echo Dot@feddit.ukEnglish
        41·
        3 months ago

        They truly are a ridiculous company. If they were a bit more open about their Macs I would buy one, but they aren’t so I don’t.

        Their desire nickel and dime people as much as possible ultimately ends up in the earning less money. Meanwhile every small computer shop on the planet sells Windows computers.

        • lightsblinken@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          3 months ago

          i hear you, though being more open with hardware is more difficult because compat issues are real. the company does appear to be doing alright tho?

  • dependencyinjection@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    1497·
    3 months ago

    I used to work for Apple and before I joined the Genius Bar I was working the avenues (what they call the sides where they keep accessories) and because I’ve been known to pull a few scams myself (companies, never people) I have an eye for something out of the ordinary.

    So I saw a lady bring in an iPhone and receipt to change it for the same phone in a different colour. Not that odd mind but I did notice it.

    A few days later I see the same lady do this again with another employee and now I am thinking something is definitely off.

    The next time she comes in I make sure I approach and ask them if they need help, again they ask to swap for a different colour.

    I then say sure we can help with that and as is procedure we would confirm the Serial Number matches that on the receipt, we didn’t have access to the tools that read this from the hardware as we would on the GB, so we would power on the device and press the little “i” to view and compare. It’s a match, but still this isn’t legit obviously.

    At this point, not that I’m protecting Apple here I wanted to work GB and this would get me on their radar, plus I was the shit at faking extroversion and giving outstanding service as I was depressed and I found being overly nice and energetic made me happier I would leave work on cloud 9 and then crash. I take the phone to the GB host (dude who checks people in) and say something is off here and explain all of the above. They send me to the repair room 🥰 never been in before and I was excited.

    Once inside I explain to the tech guys that’s up and they’re like yeah that’s odd. They say to tell her that we need to do a few more checks and to come back in 30 minutes. Basically we were going by to open the phone and verify it’s innards. As well as using the serial number reader tool (forget the name now) to verify all is legit.

    Go back to the lady and explain this, she’s flustered but agrees as she can’t not. Take the phone and box and drop it in the GB repair room. When I come back out I can see the lady is on the phone in an irate conversation with someone. A few minutes later she says she’s changed her mind and wants the phone back.

    Go get her her phone and am instructed to write on the receipt to do a check before returning (again I forget the terminology) so that if she went to another store they’d now go open this phone up.

    She’s pissed at this and leaves with her phone and receipt unhappy.

    A while later I recall seeing a bust of a gang of folk from a certain country (the same this lady appeared to be from) for returning iPhones that either had fake innards or were not the phone in question.

    As a scammer in the past it hurt to stop someone doing the same but this was my patch and I wanted to make a good impression. Which I did as I moved to the GB for 3 years which changed my life. They offered so much encouragement and you’re surrounded by talented people that I up-skilled and I’m now a software developer (not for Apple).

    I don’t know what it’s like working there in the USA, but in England it was amazing. They paid more than any other retail store, stock was given every year, you could buy it too at a discount, you were trusted and not micromanaged, the benefits were outstanding and led me to my ADHD diagnosis with healthcare (as sadly mental health support on the NHS is underfunded).

    • Corkyskog@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      151·
      3 months ago

      Probably, so they can stop further abuses. This might only be 2.5 million that they know about…

    • BestBouclettes@jlai.luEnglish
      14·
      3 months ago

      For reference, Apple currently has roughly 70 billion USD as cash on hands. 2.5 million USD is 0.0035% of their cash reserves.

      If you have a yearly salary of 50k USD, that would be equivalent to losing 1.78 USD.

      I am bad at math, so feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.

  • stoy@lemmy.zipEnglish
    47·
    3 months ago

    Since the scammers spoofed the ID numbers of real phones, it is quite possible that real customers will be affected bu this, so I wonder what will happen if a real customer who has issues with their real phone that had it’s ID stolen and needs help…

    • HootinNHollerin@lemmy.worldEnglish
      51·
      3 months ago

      Foxconn doesn’t design the phone they build it. I’m a mechanical design engineer with 20 years experience, that has been to many similar factories of large contract manufacturers across china and several other countries for my products, where we were teaching them and fixing the loads of issues in their manufacturing process. We often also designed the fixtures and tools for manufacturing too. I wager strongly you don’t know what you’re talking about

      • Xeroxchasechase@lemmy.worldEnglish
        14·
        3 months ago

        You were teaching them, provided them the tools and they still refuse to stay the cheap uneducated labour you hoped to get. Hmmmm

        I wager strongly that you DO know what you’re taking about, but in a very specific narrowband.

        • HootinNHollerin@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          3 months ago

          My complaints are that we had to do everything for them. Not that they refused to stay cheap and uneducated, but you push your agenda. Also they would lie and forge data and cheat at everything. Part of the reason that company doesn’t do business with china anymore. Now in another job where everything is made in the US and Germany where those issues don’t exist and it’s much better.

  • Mobiuthuselah@lemm.eeEnglish
    912·
    3 months ago

    As an American, makes me think of real dollars backed by silver and gold and then everything else that’s been printed and printed and printed (and printed) since the 70’s. Same manufacturer.

    • Echo Dot@feddit.ukEnglish
      4·
      3 months ago

      The gold standard is a myth anyway. You can’t actually get that gold even if you do have an original dollar. The number of times it’s been reprinted doesn’t matter.

      The US isn’t backed by gold anymore the Euro was backed by the Dollar. Every currency is simply backed by that country’s economy, that’s why you get hyperinflation in countries with civil unrest or war.

    • Valmond@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      3 months ago

      The gold standard is interesting, but wouldn’t the gold end up in a few hands eventually?