I bought this Epic Touch and the guy said it was refurbished the first time I emailed him. I texted another guy and asked him the same and he said it's not refurbished. Later I find out they're the same guy. Thinking about it, when you type in ##786#, it shows a "reset" option. But it requires a code, I'm concerned he may have reset the Reconditioned status. Is this possible? The phone works great so far but i'm just curious
That option resets the phone to a factory state, not change recondition status.
Is the code you are referring to the MSL?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
its possible to remove the recondition status with the right software.. but the avg person.. or even advanced user would likely never come across the software/dlls required.
i doubt its a refurbished phone. check under the battery to see if the label gives any indication. but if its the official label then youre good. refurb phones get new labels under the battery.
Related
Hello everyone
I just received this fabulous phone I bought off an eBay. Seller claimed it was new and in fact, plastic protection film is still intact.
Is there anything I should be checking so I know it's not stolen or subjectd to be blacklisted? and is there a way to check if the phone has been used (e.g. total calling time)
Seller has decent feedbacks but it wouldn't hurt to double check.
Thanks for your time.
Maybe go into download mode and see if the counter binary has change to the number of times flashed a custom rom or if it still says official samsung instead. Other than that, calling time would be his network i think.. Nothing can be checked on your end..
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
There is a not insignificant amount of people complaining about phones which upon activation (can make and receive calls) cannot receive 3g or 4g Data.
Pertinent Threads:
http://community.sprint.com/baw/message/414670#414670#414670
http://community.sprint.com/baw/message/415272#415272
about 7 pages of posts from just 2 threads on the front page.
haven't even looked in the general samsung or customer service forums for individual complaints yet.
Observed BEHAVIOUR:
* The phone is unable to maintain a consistent connection to 3G.
* At times it'll connect to 3g. for a few minutes at most then lose the connection and ip address.
* The signal icon doesnt say 3g. just shows bars. either says 1x/RTT in status or Evdo Rev A.
The SHADYNESS:
From the threads above. We discover
Sprint WAS until yesterday (4/24) replacing these defective handsets with new ones over the phone.
On that morning there was a memo instructing support members to tell customers that a "open network ticket" has been opened and that it has nothing to do with the handset.(This is what happened to me tonight.)
DESPITE
1. that I can ESN Swap back to my epic 4g and see everything is working quite well.
2. demo Galaxy Nexus at the stores have their data working perfectly well.
empirically speaking, 1. eliminates the possibility of it being a activation/provision issue,
2. eliminates the possibility that its LTE/3g activation related or a widespread network issue.
Sample Experiences from people in the sprint forums.
moonsea63 said:
Also had hours of frustration with Sprint trying to troubleshoot no 3G connectivity on the Galaxy Nexus. On Saturday, they knew nothing about it. Finally Sunday, someone finally acknowledged a widespread "manufacturing defect," for which they are now authorizing return and replacement. Another person on my account received his Galaxy Nexus and his is OK, so it was a 50/50 shot! Mine was shipped today and they sent me a return label to send back the defective phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also had hours of frustration with Sprint trying to troubleshoot no 3G connectivity on the Galaxy Nexus. On Saturday, they knew nothing about it. Finally Sunday, someone finally acknowledged a widespread "manufacturing defect," for which they are now authorizing return and replacement. Another person on my account received his Galaxy Nexus and his is OK, so it was a 50/50 shot! Mine was shipped today and they sent me a return label to send back the defective phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've so far counted 31 instances of people having a faulty phone in my limited research on this topic. If we take into account the small microcosm forum users are of regular users. We can extrapolate that there is a widespread defect. adding the factor that sprint has come up with a "story" for their customer support reps to use to tell customers it will be 48 - 72 hours before getting a answer. We might surmise this is because they don't wish to use up current limited stock on exchanges of faulty phones.
I'm curious how much this has affected any of you.
Baseband/Kernel/Software versions of those who have issues:
Model: Galaxy Nexus
Kernel: 3.0.8-000006-g7f9fec6 [email protected] 29 #1 SMP PREEMPT TUE MAR 27 14:48:25 KST 2012
Baseband: L700.05 V.FC12 / L700.FC12
Build Number IMM76D.L70012
FB mode details:
Product name - tuna
Variant - toro 32gb
HW version - 14
Bootloader PrimeLC02
Baseband Version L700,FC12
CDMA l700,FC12
SIGNING: PRODUCTION
What I've personally tried aka Hours of my life I'll never get back.
* Dialer Code Hard resets, 1 hour troubleshooting with dialer codes with sprint tech
* Factory Resets
* ESN Swapping to verify that my Epic 4g is rather golden. my Gnex is not.
* Connecting to wifi to download newest profile updates and PRLs.
* Switching between CDMA and LTE/CDMA modes.
* Checking CDMA diagnostics with the qualcomm tools and stuff for some kind of obvious error
because after 6 hours of troubleshooting I've gone ADD OCD.
* Parking next to the fence of the nearest confirmed LTE/CDMA sprint cellphone tower.
Basking in the warmth of Cancer granting 3g/4g deliciousness. Cycling airplane mode.
Updating Profile/PRL/LTE on and off/activation as I whispered sweet words of encouragement into the headset.
* Praying.
* Sacrificing a goat to Sprint CEO Dan Hesse
* Breaking down, crying, calling customer support again.
* They tell me it's not my phone's fault. There's a network issue. He'll open a ticket and fix it by tomorrow!
* More crying.
* Decided to be a big boy. and go Look for evidence of this network issue.
instead I find widespread posts about people getting them replaced with
working phones.
THIS IS XDA. NOOB. OBVIOUSLY YOU MUST HAVE ROOT/RAPEFLASHED/ILLEGALLY
MODDED/QXDM'd up the phone til you broke it. Don't be a lying liar.
Surrender control and experiment data!
Wasn't working locked, stock and barrel. Sam I am.
Wasn't working unlocked. Wasn't working locked again.
Wasn't working unrooted, rooted or unrooted again.
Wasn't working after epst dialer code hard resets.
Wasn't working after profile updates, prl updates.
or after CWM factory settings/cache/dalvik wipe 3x wipe.
or after factory reset.
Wasn't working when i swapped to EPIC 4G and back to Gnex and reinitiated
Hands free activation with a epst hard reset.
Wasn't working before I even had the chance to properly flashrape the phone.
Wasn't working before, during or after my green eggs and ham either
Sam I am.
HEY OP DUDE. Sprint won't replace my phone! Store says stock it has is for sale not for repairs/exchange! HULK ANGRY
Banner down dude.
I got a fool proof plan for you. Bro.
edit: Got it replaced at a store. SUCCESS!
I didn't even have to go any further than Recourse 1.
Framework for getting a exchange/repair.
Note that while doing all/any of the below. You must remain polite, calm and civil at all times.
Everyone you are talking to with the exception of store managers tend to just be "Cogs" in the machine.
They are not the source of the problem. They are people. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
by being civil, understanding and reasonable. You negate their ability to excuse and ignore
any fallout from their behaviour by saying you were a entitled irrational angry psycho customer.
1. Find a Corporate Sprint Service/Repair Store nearby. Call ahead first. Ask if they have galaxy nexus in stock. Tell them thanks. Hangup.
Bring a notepad and pen with you to the store. Explain the situation and how it's a known problem. (you have a open network ticket but that you find it strange that their gnex in store works.) ask them how it can be a network issue. "Clearly it has to be the phone right?" ask them if they can exchange the phone. if they say no. ask why. If they say they have none in stock. state that you called before hand and they did. If he says they are for sale only. Take your pen and note the lie and reason. Look up, Smile, ask for their name, sprint id. and their manager, his name and his id and the store number. Should they ask why. Simply say so you can have it for reference and documentation to when you speak to executive services to help get your problem resolved.
Remain in the store.
2.Call customer support refer to your open network ticket, ask them how it can be a network ticket if the stores galaxy nexus works perfectly. Ask if they could ship you a replacement or ask the store to exchange yours.
Should that fail. Run the same routine you did above. get first guy's id. if he makes his manager close the call. get his name and id if necessary.
3. Google these keywords: sprint consumerist executive customer service
Find the number
Call it while you are still in the store in front of the employees or manager. (Be cool.)
Politely explain what's gone on. and the steps you've taken to resolve. (and how you've exhausted everything reasonably )
and if they lied about it being a known issue or whatever. indicate their failings in a factual manner. give the lady their store ID, the employee and managers names as well as your customer service rep's and his manager's id. (if they lied about it being a known issue and about the change in policy)
and that you've tried to be reasonable about escalating the issue yet
These employees have been deceptive and unhelpful despite every reasonable step you've taken.
More interested in having stock to sell and maintaining numbers than customer care. blah blah blah
If the store employees don't try to stop you before you call or during the call.
it's pretty much guaranteed exec services will take care of you, Punish the store if they were unhelpful and lied.
and get a working phone for you faster.
FOOLPROOF!
or so I hope. but as mike tyson said. "Everybody's got a plan til they get KTFO."
Could you post some more info about your phone to see if there's a pattern somewhere? eg. baseband version, locked or unlocked, have you flashed anything, etc
updated OP with pertinent info.
variance said:
* Dialer Code Hard resets, 1 hour troubleshooting with dialer codes with sprint tech
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am having dropped call issues and I thought maybe I would try something other than a factory data reset. Does a dialer code reset do more than just wipe your phone's memory? Which dialer codes did you use on your phone to do a reset?
--
variance said:
The answer to your questions are here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=737594
Note ignore the *# stuff and remember the number reference for what you want to access.
in our phone the format is *#*#(code here)#*#*
with activation on the second #*
The codes are ways to get at the CDMA diagnostic stuff. Debug menus
view signal stats, etc.
You will need your MSL code to see or edit some of them.
You can get that by first rooting.
go to your Android Market and download Terminal Emulator.
And Type in "su" (for super user access)
And then type "getprop ril.MSL" (then enter to get you Device's MSL code)
a EPST reset deletes the activation information, data profile, as well as wipes all data making it do the hands free activation/provisioning thing upon reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks very much for the help! I believe I found the code that I'm looking to use. However, I'm having a hard time getting the code to go through.
"*#767*3855# - Factory Format - WARNING!!!
Will go to Hands Free Activation
Nice if you'd like to reactivate your phone, it will do so automatically".
All the numbers that I put in the dialer simply disappear after adding the second #* . Any suggestions? Thanks.
ijrod21i said:
Thanks very much for the help! I believe I found the code that I'm looking to use. However, I'm having a hard time getting the code to go through.
"*#767*3855# - Factory Format - WARNING!!!
Will go to Hands Free Activation
Nice if you'd like to reactivate your phone, it will do so automatically".
All the numbers that I put in the dialer simply disappear after adding the second #* . Any suggestions? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Confirmed Working Correct Sprint Codes from the Nexus S 4g.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1097554
CORRECTed
variance said:
This link may be more relevant. It's samsung dialer codes.. and I think this one is the actual list i used at first.
http://forums.androidcentral.com/sprint-epic-4g/34715-samsung-epic-dialer-codes.html
edit: crap.. hold on.. im checking my browser history... to find the exact one that worked perfectly on all codes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice, found it in a Nexus S 4G thread. Just need to get my MSL now. (time to reroot). Your help is much appreciated!
"Originally Posted by pilussa85 View Post
Anybody Knows the code to Factory format??? i want to get hands Free Activation...."
*#*#72786#*#* "
updated my original post above.
There is so much going on in your post OP. It's effing hilarious.
Not your issue though. That's corporate shenanigans.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
Sorry to clog up the thread.. but now that I'm rooted, I can't get the MSL. None of the apps in the market are working and Terminal Emulator isn't doing anything when I enter the commands. The app "Get My MSL" gives me the error "could not get property ril.MSL" any help? Perhaps it's because I'm running a stock-rooted rom? I'll try a custom one..
so you typed
su
getprop ril.MSL
did not work?
cap sensitive. MSL need to be capped
if that does not work for some strange reason.
do the social engineering way. call sprint. go to activation line
say you need to manually activate your phone and need the msl code.
variance said:
so you typed
su
getprop ril.MSL
did not work?
cap sensitive. MSL need to be capped
if that does not work for some strange reason.
do the social engineering way. call sprint. go to activation line
say you need to manually activate your phone and need the msl code.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like galaxy nexus has a problem finding the msl
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1407514
that person was lucky enough to be on verizon. guess i'll have to call sprint.
ijrod21i said:
Sorry to clog up the thread.. but now that I'm rooted, I can't get the MSL. None of the apps in the market are working and Terminal Emulator isn't doing anything when I enter the commands. The app "Get My MSL" gives me the error "could not get property ril.MSL" any help? Perhaps it's because I'm running a stock-rooted rom? I'll try a custom one..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Happen to be using Swype? Swype will capitalize the I in ril for some reason ....
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2
I had to get mine replaced and had tried all that I could. Stopped myself from crying and actually had a good cs rep that worked with me for 2 days. Finding stock was the hardest step. And had the same sales attitude you got. Cs rep helped here.
So now I have data....and a purple screen. Uggg. Can I cry now?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
I got mine yesterday - ordered from telesales on Monday.. 3g worked fine the whole way in to work (about 30 mins)... streaming slacker, heading into NYC
scoobdude said:
I had to get mine replaced and had tried all that I could. Stopped myself from crying and actually had a good cs rep that worked with me for 2 days. Finding stock was the hardest step. And had the same sales attitude you got. Cs rep helped here.
So now I have data....and a purple screen. Uggg. Can I cry now?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried to get mine replaced cause the purple screen. Got turned down three ****ing times! ****ing prats! So I'm sticking with mine and got the insurance this time. Win win situtation I think
marcusva79 said:
Tried to get mine replaced cause the purple screen. Got turned down three ****ing times! ****ing prats! So I'm sticking with mine and got the insurance this time. Win win situtation I think
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Count me in the dead 3g batch. Phone works great otherwize. I growing fond of my wifi Gnex tablet :'(. Fwiw, all you guys looking for a MSL, there's a universal for us try 311324
I get the data mess ups when I update profile and prl. But then it comes back on. On cm9 I kept getting the 1x thing.
Received a replacement due to no 3g data, replacement exhibits the same problems as the original.
It was determined that two devices doing the same thing for one person was a network issue. A ticket was opened and then promptly closed by the network team siting a known product issue.
No time frame on fix and sprint not willing to send out another device.
Fun times!
A few strange things about my replacement. I'll go over them one at a time.
So I was having some wifi calling issues. Took it into the store, they gave me a new SIM but that didnt fix it, so they decided it was hardware related, and ordered me a warranty replacement. That was last Friday, and was told it should be at my house Saturday. Monday came, and at about 11am MST I checked my account, and my replacement was still pending. So I popped up customer service to ask about it, and was told they are OOS, but once they got phones in they would send one out. OK fine. So the next morning (Tuesday) I get an email from TMo saying my phone had been shipped. Hmm interesting. I checked tracking, and it was sent out at 7pm Monday! What the heck. OK I guess its possible they got phones in in between when I talked to customer service and 7pm. Fine. So I get the replacement, and its in the normal plain white box that replacement are sent it. BUT! They also sent everything included in a full retail box! Battery, charging cable, instructions, SIM card, etc. What the heck? So now Im wondering if they sent me a new phone instead of a refurb. After rooting, I tried ##786# but nothing happens. If I hit send afterwards, I get "unable to process request". I read a few other workarounds if this doesnt work. Tried *#*#786*#*# no go. I tried installing Launcher Pro and looking for the com.android.hiddenmenu shortcut, but it isnt there. Any other ideas how to find out?
Second strange thing. After rooting, I used root explorer to remove bloat...but they all still show up in the programs menu! Zinio for example. I removed the apk from the system-->app folder, but the icon still shows up in the menu. Pressing it opens up Zinio. I went back and double checked system-->app folder, the apk is not there. I even did a search of the system with root explorer for "zinio" with no results. WTF? Same with all the other bloat things (the mall, more for me, etc).
Lastly, the phone DID come with the UVLI1 modem, but Im not sure if I'll keep it. With the UVLG3 modem I always got at least one bar of signal at home, with UVLI1 I get none. I'll do some further testing.
The new vs refurb issue isnt an issue IMHO. Im just curious. Since it came in the normal plain white box Im sure its a refurb, but Im still curious since all the retail items were included with it. Any ideas on these things other than aliens?
blackangst said:
A few strange things about my replacement. I'll go over them one at a time.
So I was having some wifi calling issues. Took it into the store, they gave me a new SIM but that didnt fix it, so they decided it was hardware related, and ordered me a warranty replacement. That was last Friday, and was told it should be at my house Saturday. Monday came, and at about 11am MST I checked my account, and my replacement was still pending. So I popped up customer service to ask about it, and was told they are OOS, but once they got phones in they would send one out. OK fine. So the next morning (Tuesday) I get an email from TMo saying my phone had been shipped. Hmm interesting. I checked tracking, and it was sent out at 7pm Monday! What the heck. OK I guess its possible they got phones in in between when I talked to customer service and 7pm. Fine. So I get the replacement, and its in the normal plain white box that replacement are sent it. BUT! They also sent everything included in a full retail box! Battery, charging cable, instructions, SIM card, etc. What the heck? So now Im wondering if they sent me a new phone instead of a refurb. After rooting, I tried ##786# but nothing happens. If I hit send afterwards, I get "unable to process request". I read a few other workarounds if this doesnt work. Tried *#*#786*#*# no go. I tried installing Launcher Pro and looking for the com.android.hiddenmenu shortcut, but it isnt there. Any other ideas how to find out?
Second strange thing. After rooting, I used root explorer to remove bloat...but they all still show up in the programs menu! Zinio for example. I removed the apk from the system-->app folder, but the icon still shows up in the menu. Pressing it opens up Zinio. I went back and double checked system-->app folder, the apk is not there. I even did a search of the system with root explorer for "zinio" with no results. WTF? Same with all the other bloat things (the mall, more for me, etc).
Lastly, the phone DID come with the UVLI1 modem, but Im not sure if I'll keep it. With the UVLG3 modem I always got at least one bar of signal at home, with UVLI1 I get none. I'll do some further testing.
The new vs refurb issue isnt an issue IMHO. Im just curious. Since it came in the normal plain white box Im sure its a refurb, but Im still curious since all the retail items were included with it. Any ideas on these things other than aliens?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Menu doesnt work on some roms. Mine used to but now on jb rom it doesn't anymore.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
A shot in the dark here but I need some assistance regarding the reversal of flashing the Epic 4G to Virgin Mobile, and then back to Sprint. I have done pretty much everything I researched, from resetting settings via ##72786# and ##786#, even Odin'd the stock FC09 and selecting Phone EFS Clear, and everything seems to have reset. But the values of the DEC/HEX number are different on both the battery sticker, and under About Phone.
Is this normal? I've attempted this because I was hoping to sell my Epic 4G and the guy who purchased it said it wasn't activating for him. When I got it back I noticed that the values from the Virgin Mobile flash were still programmed under About Phone. So after resetting everything, the values seem to be back to the normal and doesn't display the Virgin Mobile values, but the DEC/HEX numbers differ from each other on the sticker and under About Phone.
Was just curious if the DEC/HEX number that are being displayed under About Phone are the correct, or incorrect. I checked with Sprint via chat support and asked them to check for me if the ESN is clean, and apparently the DEC/ESN number that is listed under About Phone is clear and ready to activate, but the DEC/ESN number located on the battery sticker is not clear. If I were to sell the phone, would the buyer be able to activate it on Sprint if they gave Sprint the DEC/ESN number listed under About Phone? Would they have any problems?
Hope somebody can help me, as I'm really confused by this. Thanks.
brian117 said:
I checked with Sprint via chat support and asked them to check for me if the ESN is clean, and apparently the DEC/ESN number that is listed under About Phone is clear and ready to activate, but the DEC/ESN number located on the battery sticker is not clear. If I were to sell the phone, would the buyer be able to activate it on Sprint if they gave Sprint the DEC/ESN number listed under About Phone? Would they have any problems?
Hope somebody can help me, as I'm really confused by this. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ESN on the sticker needs to match the ESN showing on About Phone. If the ESN on the sticker is bad, it's not going to activate on Sprint.
Hey all,
I've just bought a used G3 online, everything is perfect and almost new as stated:good:. But, when i excitedly opened the phone's back cover and removed battery to put my sim card and sd card in, I found out that the IMEI tag has been part torn/cut off with a blade (pic attached).
Now, that is slightly freaking me out as to why has this been done.
Could anyone shed some light on it, as I've 7days left, within which i can return the phone to the seller.
hsyasin said:
Hey all,
I've just bought a used G3 online, everything is perfect and almost new as stated:good:. But, when i excitedly opened the phone's back cover and removed battery to put my sim card and sd card in, I found out that the IMEI tag has been part torn/cut off with a blade (pic attached).
Now, that is slightly freaking me out as to why has this been done.
Could anyone shed some light on it, as I've 7days left, within which i can return the phone to the seller.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looking on my G3, the removed part is the serial number.
Maybe the seller had a refund offer and had to send the S/N ? (usually it's the box one but hum....)
I had 20€ off for a Quick Circle Case, but I sent the label on the box.
Thanks for that raptor2003..
I'm just wondering, can it cause some sort of an issue in the long run, like if i need to get something done under warranty from lg...
FYI: I don't know if i've valid lg warrantly.
In fact is there a way to find out when the phone was manufactured or if i've lg warranty?
hsyasin said:
Thanks for that raptor2003..
I'm just wondering, can it cause some sort of an issue in the long run, like if i need to get something done under warranty from lg...
FYI: I don't know if i've valid lg warrantly.
In fact is there a way to find out when the phone was manufactured or if i've lg warranty?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know there is that with Apple's products, but I don't know if other manufacturers do that.
I've looked a bit to see if we can find the S/N in some software menu. But I haven't found anything. Nothing in the famous hidden menu.
Did you get the phone from Smartfonestore as a refurb?
Thelargeportion said:
Did you get the phone from Smartfonestore as a refurb?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes i did, and it was a grade A.
Likewise. And mine has the same sticker taken off. I emailed them but got a crap reply; fingers crossed it doesn't break.
Most likely the motherboard was swapped and a new imei was issued
In Australia serial removal usually means the device has been repaired/serviced/not new. These devices are no longer new/ownedby original owner so serials are removed, so can no longer be sold as new. Serial and IMEI are different things. Typically serial is for manufacturer to identify devices. IMEI are for unique device tracking across world/country. IMEI you can check in ABOUT in settings, missing IMEI sticker i wouldn't worry about, make sure it is NOT registered as stolen tho.