The unboxing experience for tech-savvy users, especially when it comes to an iPhone, almost feels like a ritual, with the excitement about the oddly satisfying process of peeling off the sealing. When removing the lid and unpacking it, the expectation is that a brand-new device will be waiting for you, but that does not seem to be the case for one AT&T customer. The unlucky customer was deprived of the thrill of seeing a brand-new iPhone, as instead of an untouched phone, the user was caught off guard when the device was found to be either tampered with or used before.
An AT&T user was left feeling betrayed after receiving an iPhone 16 Pro that had been used before
Most customers anticipate the iPhone unboxing experience, and they usually record the experience on their phones. An AT&T user who received their iPhone 16 Pro from the official website as part of a trade-in offer decided to record the experience just to be sure the device received did not have an issue, but they did not know what they were in for.
The AT&T user took it to Reddit to share the unpleasant unboxing experience and attached some images so that others could see it for themselves. The user was taking pictures and videos to ensure the phone was delivered in the right condition but did not know that their instinct would be right. Instead of receiving a fresh out-of-the-factory iPhone, they would receive a phone that was either used before or tampered with.
The box apparently missed the signature tab seals, which indicate that the box had been opened before. The customer went on to express that they were still hopeful about the device being untouched, but the iPhone camera lenses were also covered in dust, which is clearly not something you expect from a brand-new device. The moment of excitement turned into sheer disappointment, with the user wondering how many people might have gone through the phone before it actually arrived to them.
The agitated customer then went to an AT&T store for a replacement and was told that the store manager was not around and that there was little the sales representative could help with. The store rep also told the customer that even if the manager had been there, a replacement would not have been made without charging a fee. The user then contacted AT&T support to return the phone under its buyer's remorse policy, which could be done, but the customer was told they would still be charged the sales tax.
It seems that this is not just a single occurrence, as others also jumped to share similar experiences, which led to many wondering if it was a common practice. AT&T should be more vigilant about its phone deliveries to avoid bringing a bad name and making customers lose trust in the company's services.
