Get a new phone – especially the iPhone – and its separation, is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. The tab pulling the tab is no less than satisfying, lifting the upper part of the box to detect the new iPhone, at least for me, an exciting experience. Well, this is bad luck AT&T customer was not completely able to unleash a new iPhone connection because Apple has his stories. The user shares it Their story is on Redit. Apparently, they understood an unpleasant surprise through a new request iPhone 16 Pro from AT & TWeb site (and after trading in iPhone 13 Pro for $ 1,000 credit) When they received the new phone and opened the package, they were shocked.

According to what was reported, the iPhone was missing the tab, indicating that it was previously opened. Hoping that the phone will remain in a new condition, they photographed UNBoxing to use it to prove later … and they discovered that unfortunately, the iPhone camera lenses were covered with dust.

As any of us will do, this customer went to AT & T Store for an alternative. But they did not get exactly what they wanted. Instead, they were told that the store manager was not present, so the actor was unable to do anything. Also, they were told that even if the manager is there, they will not be able to provide an alternative without fees.

-DEW-Poetry4641 on Reddit, April 2025

Then, it is supposed to be somewhat frustrating, the customer call AT & T Support and they were told that they can return the phone below AT & TJupiter’s “regret” policy, but sales tax is still imposed. Whatever frankly, it looks somewhat unfair.

In the Reddit threat, there are few cases of people who speculate that this may be a common practice for selling phones already open. However, some of these comments contradict the other Redditors who claim whether this practice exists, this was because of the manager of the bad store and not AT & THe does.

Which is the truth, the disturbing truth is that it seems that it had not only happened to one person as a strange accident. Unfortunately, another Redditor told something similar to their wife.

This other customer says they asked in the store but because the phone was not available, it was shipped to them. They reported that the shipping box was closed, but the tabs were torn iPhone 16 Pro They got. Of course, they rejected the phone, and the call AT & TCustomer service. This user also, unfortunately, reports that they have seen other similar cases reported online.

In the same threat, another user also informs that his new iPhone box does not have seals on it. However, they decided to keep the phone as they saw that the number of the battery cycle was 0 and the phone was not used. In their case, it was another new phone with a promotional show, this time, black iPhone 16 Pro Max.

At the present time, it is not clear whether the customer has to pay the fees to AT & T Or if it can be waived somehow. However, the experiment was certainly far from the cheerful experience of obtaining a new piece of wonderful technology … At least we hope they will soon get a new brilliant iPhone to enjoy and they will put this incident behind them quickly.

I can only think about this incident with a theft ring T-Mobile iPhone. At least, this AT & T Customers received iPhone devices in the box, while some T-Mobile Customers who fell victim to The last theft ring was delivered empty boxes. Love, Literally empty. So there is always worse, I think.

We contacted with AT & T For a comment and we will update this story when we receive a response.