Apple Facing Class Action Lawsuit for Offering Refurbished Replacement Devices Under AppleCare+

Apple is facing a new class action lawsuit, levied today by customers in California who are unhappy that their iPhones and iPads were replaced with refurbished devices under Apple's AppleCare or AppleCare+ warranty plan.

Filed by Vicky Maldonado and Joanne McRight, the lawsuit, first shared by Cult of Mac, accuses Apple of failing to provide replacement devices that are "equivalent to new in performance and reliability" as stated in the company's terms and conditions.

Both plaintiffs purchased replacement devices under AppleCare protection plans and were given refurbished devices rather than new devices, which they claim is a violation of the aforementioned line in the AppleCare Terms and Conditions.

AppleCare+ Apple Watch iPhone

The Apple Plans purport to provide consumers with Devices that are "equivalent to new in performance and reliability." What that phrase means is 'new' as refurbished devices can never be the equivalent to new in performance and reliability. Plaintiffs allege that it means refurbished. Refurbished is synonymous with the term "reconditioned," that is, a secondhand unit that has been modified to appear to be new for all purposes relevant to this litigation.

"New" means a Device that has never been utilized or previously sold and consists of all new parts. The word "refurbished" appears only once in the AppleCare+ terms and conditions even though the printed booklet is 33 pages long.

The plaintiffs claim they were deprived of the "use and value" of their original devices when Apple replaced them with refurbished devices, suffering an economic loss in the amount of the cost of the AppleCare plans, the loss of value of their original non-refurbished devices, and the purchase cost and replacement cost paid to Apple.

Apple is being accused of breach of contract, breach of warranty, concealing information from the public, deceptive marketing, violating labeling requirements, and unfair competitive practices. The lawsuit covers all customers who purchased an AppleCare or AppleCare+ plan for an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch after July 11, 2011.

The plaintiffs are seeking damages, attorneys fees, an order that would prevent Apple from replacing damaged or defective iOS devices with refurbished devices in the future, updated AppleCare+ terms and conditions, and an option to get a refund for a broken device instead of a repair.

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Top Rated Comments

zorinlynx Avatar
116 months ago
I thought all the parts that receive wear and tear were new parts?

- New case
- New screen
- New battery
- New buttons
- New connectors

Basically the only thing that could be "used" is the PCB inside? Something that doesn't suffer wear and tear at all?

People are either idiots, or greedy. I'm gonna vote for the latter mostly.
Score: 67 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kaibelf Avatar
116 months ago
The terms mean "good as new" not "new." Stupid, frivolous lawsuit by wasteful idiots who want to pretend like there's a functional difference. Also, they want Apple to issue a refund NOT for devices that are defective, but also that consumers break?! Ridiculous.
Score: 44 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rodpascoe Avatar
116 months ago
Yet more people golddigging.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JoEw Avatar
116 months ago
I personally hate that Apple gives out refurbished units, I can understand 1 year mandatory warranty doing it but considering you pay for Apple Care it seems like a bunk deal.
Also what is this nonsense that internal components don't get wear and tear? They most definitely do.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
keysofanxiety Avatar
116 months ago
Stupid lawsuits from stupid people who don't understand that Apple refurb devices actually undergo a heavier QA process than new ones.

If I had a penny every time a DOA laptop was shipped and the customer angrily accuses it of being 'a refurb'. Because only refurbs fail. :rolleyes:

Most consumers don't have the slightest clue about how anything works. Grinds my gears something rotten.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
christophermdia Avatar
116 months ago
I would blacklist them if I were Apple, cancel their iTunes accounts and restrict them from ever activating an Apple product again ... let them go to Android.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)