According to recent reports in Chinese media, some mobile phone sellers and digital bloggers reported that after purchasing an iPhone at an Apple-operated store, criminals removed the original screen, replaced it with a cheaper screen produced by a third party, and then used Apple’s 14-day no-questions-asked return policy to return the phone to Apple. Industry insiders estimate that with this “one-for-one, one-refund” approach, you can earn about NT$5,000 to NT$5,200 from the price difference of a single mobile phone screen. Not only do you not have to bear any purchase costs, you can also get an original high-end screen. Because this phenomenon is so rampant, Apple in China was recently forced to change its 14-day no-questions-asked return policy, and was even criticized by some unscrupulous merchants as being “too small.”
Decryption of Chinese unscrupulous businessmen’s screen-changing arbitrage tactics
First generation method: Faulty screen replacement
The earliest method was relatively crude: criminals first purchased a brand new iPhone from an Apple store, then replaced it with a damaged screen removed from another faulty phone, and applied for a return on the grounds that “the phone cannot be turned on.” During this process, the black manufacturer will simultaneously replace the IC chips between the new screen and the broken screen. The screen serial number detected by the software will not change, so conventional detection equipment will not report abnormalities.
Second generation technique: Sub-factory screen disguise
After Apple became aware of it, it added a CT scan detection process. Whether the screen has physical damage or whether it has been exposed to water can be clearly seen under X-rays. This crude method was quickly blocked. Afterwards, the black manufacturer began “technical upgrades” and replaced them with domestic sub-factory screens that could display normally.
The source of these sub-factory screens is legal. Many third-party stores on the market that specialize in repairing iPhones will use sub-factory screens and sub-factory iPhone batteries for after-sales repairs. Powerful repair shops in the industry will also find screen manufacturers to customize sub-factory screen spare parts for iPhone. Although the quality of these screens is not as good as that of the original ones, they are cheaper: an original screen can be sold for about NT$9,400 to NT$9,400, and a sub-factory screen only costs NT$1,400 to NT$3,300.
Here’s the problem: The black industry buys back these regular after-sales screens from sub-factories, transplants the IC chips removed from the original screens, and puts them into mobile phones. A mobile phone that “looks original” is born. This kind of operation is extremely concealed, because the mobile phone can be turned on normally, the display is normal, and the appearance is not damaged. The IC has been replaced and the serial number is normal, so there will be no alarm in the iOS system, making it difficult for the front desk personnel of the direct-operated store to see through it on the spot.
Apple’s official response
In response to this matter, a reporter called Apple’s official technical support on March 10, and the other party responded clearly:
「退貨原則確實是 14 天不滿意就可以退，但是退貨的產品都要經過倉庫的驗收，不能有任何意外損壞，拆修、換零件這些都屬於意外損壞，只有驗收沒有問題之後，3 個至 5 個工作日才會退款。如果這個產品經過拆修，是能夠檢測出來的。」
Apple’s technical support customer service also emphasized: “Products purchased through the official website and directly operated stores must be brand new and genuine, unopened and unactivated. Returned products will not be resold!”
It is reported that Apple has recently tightened its 14-day unreasonable review standards: now even returned devices that can be turned on normally may be required to be returned to the factory for inspection. Once any manipulation is discovered, the account may be blocked, refunds may be refused, and legal liability may even be pursued. Also because Apple has revised its return policy, some shameless merchants in China even made a video criticizing Apple for being “too small” (it may also be a cross-talk):
Maintenance costs and price differences
Checking Apple’s official website, we learned that the current estimated service costs for iPhone 17 series screen damage are as follows:
| model | Screen repair fee (NT$) |
|---|---|
| iPhone 17 / iPhone 17 Pro | About 10790 yuan |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | About 12290 yuan |
| iPhone Air | About 10790 yuan |
Rumor has it that the purchase price of a third-party screen is about NT$3,000 to NT$4,000, which is a huge price difference compared to the repair cost of the original screen. This is also the main reason why criminals are willing to take risks and commit crimes. If you buy a brand new iPhone from Apple’s official channels, the original screen can be sold for up to NT$7,500 to NT$9,400 in the spare parts market. With this in and out, the profit of a single iPhone “replacement” is quite high.
potential impact on consumers
It is worth noting that this kind of black production behavior is actually destroying the trust system of the entire second-hand market. In the future, consumers who want to buy a second-hand iPhone may need to be more careful if a seller claims that “this is an original or official replacement phone that is only unpacked and activated.” After knowing that the phenomenon of replacing the original screen secretly exists, the value of this kind of machine will be greatly reduced.
Expert analysis pointed out that Apple’s 14-day no-questions-asked return policy was originally intended to allow consumers to purchase with confidence and reduce the cost of trial and error. In a sense, it is a contract based on trust. But this kind of trust is very fragile. Once someone takes advantage of it and uses it as a profit-making tool, if Apple later cuts off the 14-day no-questions-asked return policy or makes the return process extremely complicated, it will definitely be bad news for ordinary users.