Watch out for iPhones 'refurbished' with counterfeit parts – because it's apparently a thing now
If you are going to repair iPhones, you better not use fake parts stamped with Apple logos less you risk losing a customer or two! Unfortunately, that's what Canada's Freedom Mobile did. An investigation revealed that a refurbished iPhone 5S sold by the carrier was patched up with counterfeit or aftermarket parts not certified by Apple. And we're not talking a nut here, a bolt there, and a cable soldered the wrong way.
Rather, Freedom made – or unknowingly received – a FrankeniPhone with aftermarket battery, casing, display, and camera. Not surprising, then, that the device's battery drained quickly, the casing didn't feel right, or the camera took potato-quality pictures. Shame on Freedom, as life has shown one can easily source the correct parts and build a better-working iPhone themselves.
Washing their hands from the mess, Freedom issued an apology and gave the customer a brand new iPhone SE. One could do a lot worse when it comes to damage control, so let's hope this was a single, isolated blunder. Then again, Freedom has never been officially authorized by Apple to sell iPhones, so you may be better off looking elsewhere.
Washing their hands from the mess, Freedom issued an apology and gave the customer a brand new iPhone SE. One could do a lot worse when it comes to damage control, so let's hope this was a single, isolated blunder. Then again, Freedom has never been officially authorized by Apple to sell iPhones, so you may be better off looking elsewhere.
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