New Phone's Arrived

[Guest Celtic67]

I ordered my SanFran last week and only got it yesterday, due to the online system refusing to let me having it delivered to work and, you know, being at work during the week. Anyway, I've brought it to work today to have a play.

When I opened the crazy gift box, the actual phone box was inside. One of the corners was ripped by about an inch. Where I imagine there was a seal, there were 2 Orange 2-for-1 stickers. Going further into the box, the bag that the handset comes in had obviously been opened. The handset still has the protective screen and no sign of any damage or use, but I'm concerned that Orange may have sent me a refurb. When I'm paying for a brand new phone, I don't like the idea of receiving a used one.

I could send it back, but that's more hassle and, if they are sending out refurbs, I could get another. The website has them out of stock again.

Any opinions? Should I just bite the bullet and give it a try? I'm worried that going through the process of unlocking, installing clockwork, etc, might leave me with a phone that I can't return to them, even though I'm reading a lot beforehand and will backup everything that I can.

[Guest Spies]

Go to an Orange shop and get it swapped there if you are not happy.

[Guest samjam]

Go to an Orange shop and get it swapped there if you are not happy.

orange retail is a different company and cannot do swaps for things you order online.

My replacement was promised "brand new" but came already network-unlocked.

I would just treat it as new, but be prepared to use the "it looked refurbished when I got it" as additional weight if you do get problems

Edited January 7, 2011 by samjam

[Guest iashraf]

I ordered my SanFran last week and only got it yesterday, due to the online system refusing to let me having it delivered to work and, you know, being at work during the week. Anyway, I've brought it to work today to have a play.

When I opened the crazy gift box, the actual phone box was inside. One of the corners was ripped by about an inch. Where I imagine there was a seal, there were 2 Orange 2-for-1 stickers. Going further into the box, the bag that the handset comes in had obviously been opened. The handset still has the protective screen and no sign of any damage or use, but I'm concerned that Orange may have sent me a refurb. When I'm paying for a brand new phone, I don't like the idea of receiving a used one.

I could send it back, but that's more hassle and, if they are sending out refurbs, I could get another. The website has them out of stock again.

Any opinions? Should I just bite the bullet and give it a try? I'm worried that going through the process of unlocking, installing clockwork, etc, might leave me with a phone that I can't return to them, even though I'm reading a lot beforehand and will backup everything that I can.

Hi Celtic,

Perhaps you can turn it on and check if it's the OLED screen version, which some have said is a rarer, nicer and brighter screen. If it is, you may want to keep it.

I agree that it's a tough situation - if it were me, i'd send it back, you don't know what been going on with it!

[Guest gmc007]

i bought mine from an orange store and they told me they had to open it and check it was all there so i guess they have done the same with yours

[Guest Magnets]

I had 2 replacements (bought online) both of which were brand new and sealed. (next day delivery/swap was very fast).

I would start by checking that everything works (I think someone made a checklist for the people who were shipping abroad). Start by checking the wifi signal strength is OK (difficult to tell if you don't have access to another san fran), check the buttons work OK, screen isn't pink, back cover fits properly etc.

[Guest dmxpowa]

i bought mine from an orange store and they told me they had to open it and check it was all there so i guess they have done the same with yours

and they just "network unlocked" it intentionally?

[Guest gmc007]

and they just "network unlocked" it intentionally?

the OP never said there's was network unlocked and mine wasn't network unlocked mine was just opened in front of me at the store all they did was check it was all there

[Guest Celtic67]

Hi Celtic,

Perhaps you can turn it on and check if it's the OLED screen version, which some have said is a rarer, nicer and brighter screen. If it is, you may want to keep it.

I agree that it's a tough situation - if it were me, i'd send it back, you don't know what been going on with it!

First thing I did! It's TFT, though I was expecting that, so I'm not disappointed.

The 4th department that I got through to was returns, who said I had some time to try the phone, make sure I'm happy with it. So, I'm going to give it a go. To use it properly, I need to unlock it as I'm on Virgin. As far as I can tell, unlocking can't be reversed, but does that invalidate the warranty?

No, it isn't unlocked yet, not that I know of. The returns department did say that they sometimes open them to check contents. They must be employing a seriously clumsy box opener.

Thanks for all the replies.

[Guest samjam]

and they just "network unlocked" it intentionally?

My orange-supplied refurbished-replacement was already network-unlocked as far as I can tell. I guess orange didn't do this for me, and I guess it shows how thorough their refurb process is(n't).

[Guest gmc007]

First thing I did! It's TFT, though I was expecting that, so I'm not disappointed.

The 4th department that I got through to was returns, who said I had some time to try the phone, make sure I'm happy with it. So, I'm going to give it a go. To use it properly, I need to unlock it as I'm on Virgin. As far as I can tell, unlocking can't be reversed, but does that invalidate the warranty?

No, it isn't unlocked yet, not that I know of. The returns department did say that they sometimes open them to check contents. They must be employing a seriously clumsy box opener.

Thanks for all the replies.

im not sure but i think Arr Too's unlock code app can also lock the phone again

http://android.modaco.com/content/zte-blad...code-generator/

Edited January 7, 2011 by gmc007

[Guest Geoff2]

As far as I can tell, unlocking can't be reversed, but does that invalidate the warranty?

I too bought my San Francisco direct from Orange over the phone. I immediately unlocked it (as I'm on Vodafone) using Arr Too's excellent BladeUnlock.APK which I got off this site.

After a few days, the microphone stopped working, so people couldn't hear me although I could hear them. Thankfully, BladeUnlock allows you to 'relock' your phone which I did. I then contacted Orange and they arranged a replacement. In fact, they sent a courier round the next day to deliver my new phone and collect my old one. He never looked to check what was in the box I gave him, so it wouldn't have made any difference what I'd done to the phone. That said, all this happened within 28 days of buying the phone - they might not be so helpful if this happens after you've had the phone longer.

[Guest fonix232]

You can easily re-lock it with the BladeUnlock APK! :D

Although, it is a pretty common way of treating phones with problems, they re-package them and re-sell them, mostly without fixing it properly up (á la T-Mobile Hungary).

I bought 3 Blades (one for me, one was replacement, and one for my dad), all of them were perfect thank God.

[Guest Ricey155]

Orange Shops actually open the box and test it these days, i wanted to buy and go but they don't let you

you actually stand there and let them bore u for 5 mins lol

if the phone is working ok keep it,you don't need the packaging and its got a 12 month warranty you just going to get more and more hassle

[Guest The Alpha Gamer]

I bought mine from Argos and they had to open it to put my £10 credit in the box

[Guest punkmilitia]

Ordered mine online 2 weeks ago.

last week the box arrived with no phone in, everything else was though, so rang them up.

Today I finally got my phone with everything else :D