Squaretrade Replacements of 5th Gen Fire 7 - Fire Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Has anyone gone through a trade-in with Squaretrade to geth their 5th gen Fire 7 tablet replaced under warranty recently? I am wondering what version of the FireOS they received. I have an old one that is rootable and would like to get one in replacement. Just not sure if they will give replacements that are current.

STEyeAndroid said:
Has anyone gone through a trade-in with Squaretrade to geth their 5th gen Fire 7 tablet replaced under warranty recently? I am wondering what version of the FireOS they received. I have an old one that is rootable and would like to get one in replacement. Just not sure if they will give replacements that are current.
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Click to collapse
Given the value of this device I suspect SquareTrade will simply write a check.

I had called them asking them about replacements and the representative looked in their system and said that Amazon still has stock so they would ship the same model out.

STEyeAndroid said:
I had called them asking them about replacements and the representative looked in their system and said that Amazon still has stock so they would ship the same model out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In that case you'll probably get a refurbished 5th gen with FireOS 5.3.2.1+.

Its a total crap shoot. Sometimes if they have not been connected in a while they come with a rootable version. I ask people on craigslist to look for me. Get one fro! Square trade and check Craigslist and swap it.

Related

Buying a refurbished Nexus 7

Hello everyone,
I've been looking around for a tablet for a few weeks and the Nexus 7 is on the list of possibles.
I was just wondering if it would be a good idea to hang on for a refurbished Nexus 7. Are there more 8gb versions going back than 16gb's? Reading all the feedback Google must be awash with returns and I was wondering how they intend to move these products on. (Apple sell refurbished ipads on their website)
what do you reckon? Worth waiting for a refurb?
coddy said:
Hello everyone,
I've been looking around for a tablet for a few weeks and the Nexus 7 is on the list of possibles.
I was just wondering if it would be a good idea to hang on for a refurbished Nexus 7. Are there more 8gb versions going back than 16gb's? Reading all the feedback Google must be awash with returns and I was wondering how they intend to move these products on. (Apple sell refurbished ipads on their website)
what do you reckon? Worth waiting for a refurb?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If they do openly sell them, I say go for it. I only experienced the screen lift, and is probably an easy fix.
As for people with screen dead spots/washed out color. I can only imagine the only way they fix it is with a new display, so that would be another go for it. That's if they sell as refurbed.
Bit seeing this device has such a small profit margin, I doubt they will sell refurbed devices
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
coddy said:
Hello everyone,
I've been looking around for a tablet for a few weeks and the Nexus 7 is on the list of possibles.
I was just wondering if it would be a good idea to hang on for a refurbished Nexus 7. Are there more 8gb versions going back than 16gb's? Reading all the feedback Google must be awash with returns and I was wondering how they intend to move these products on. (Apple sell refurbished ipads on their website)
what do you reckon? Worth waiting for a refurb?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would buy a refurbished one. im currently in the process of returning mine, screen lift and light bleed, and i would definitely buy a refurbished unit. all refurbished items i have bought before (phones,laptops,tablets,ipods) have work just fine like new............ and their always cheaper
I was just thinking of how much these will sell for in a year or two. They're cheap new.... so ~$100 resell? Seems crazy.
Refurbs probably won't be THAT much cheaper, maybe $150. I'd almost rather just buy new. I don't think your really going to save hundreds like you could with a 10" tablet of yesteryore.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Refurbished units will have gone through more QC than new units. I would go for it. I bought my kindle fire refurbished and it was perfect.
>I was just wondering if it would be a good idea to hang on for a refurbished Nexus 7
>Refurbished units will have gone through more QC than new units. I would go for it. I bought my kindle fire refurbished and it was perfect.
The majority of times, refurbs aren't actually refurbs, but new units marked down and relabeled. It's one way to move excess inventory w/o impacting the SRP. That KF you got is most likely new.
BTW, you can definitively tell whether a CE is "new" or refurb by cracking it open. Those that have been opened (refurbed) will always leave tell-tale traces.
N7 is still supply-constrained for the near future, so chance for an "unofficial" markdown is slim. One way that could change is if upcoming competition from Amazon and Apple is fiercer than expected.
I'd wait. I've had good luck with refurb devices in the past. Amazon sold the Kindle Fire for $140 refurbed a few months after release.
BrianDigital said:
As for people with screen dead spots/washed out color. I can only imagine the only way they fix it is with a new display, so that would be another go for it. That's if they sell as refurbed.
Bit seeing this device has such a small profit margin, I doubt they will sell refurbed devices
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That wouldn't make sense from a business perspective. It's better to replace the screen (or parts) and sell refurbed for a $60 loss over just trashing the unit for a $170 loss. Not everything has to turn a profit, just minimize the loss.
I would almost guarantee there's a refurbed unit. But whether it's available in the US is another thing.
I see a long time ahead before refurbs hit the market. Probably a year. In the meantime they will take the parts and use them when someone sends in for warranty repair. Just because thee is screen separation does not mean you get a new unit. It might right now due to their inventory. But give it a month and you will start seeing refurbs sent out for warranty repairs.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Aaaahhh... maybe they're selling to other countries as new...
A little shady, but possible where their laws wouldn't prohibit such an action[/SIZE][/SIZE]
If you want it, why torture yourself and wait for a used unit only to save a few bucks?
You could check the XDA Market for guys selling theirs for a few bucks less or do yourself a favor and Buy it now and buy it new, with a warranty at a brick and mortar store in case you need to exchange it for another in the event there is some defect (screen lift).
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
refurbished ones should have more qc, new ones are like beta coz of the numerous issues, i say go for it if u can find it, saving a few bucks is another plus
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
What is that "tell-tale" traces?
e.mote said:
>I was just wondering if it would be a good idea to hang on for a refurbished Nexus 7
>Refurbished units will have gone through more QC than new units. I would go for it. I bought my kindle fire refurbished and it was perfect.
The majority of times, refurbs aren't actually refurbs, but new units marked down and relabeled. It's one way to move excess inventory w/o impacting the SRP. That KF you got is most likely new.
BTW, you can definitively tell whether a CE is "new" or refurb by cracking it open. Those that have been opened (refurbed) will always leave tell-tale traces.
N7 is still supply-constrained for the near future, so chance for an "unofficial" markdown is slim. One way that could change is if upcoming competition from Amazon and Apple is fiercer than expected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is that tell-tale traces left on opened refurbs you are talking about? And what does "CE" mean?
Just curious...

[Q] Any defects?

Hey guys I've trying to decide whether or not I should buy my nexus from swappa or amazon and i'm just wondering what my chances are of coming across a defective unit on swappa. I would pay roughly $150 more on amazon (due to taxes) so i'm leaning towards swappa but the only thing that is holding me back is no returns. If anybody could provide some advice that would be great. Thanks!
Dachank said:
Hey guys I've trying to decide whether or not I should buy my nexus from swappa or amazon and i'm just wondering what my chances are of coming across a defective unit on swappa. I would pay roughly $150 more on amazon (due to taxes) so i'm leaning towards swappa but the only thing that is holding me back is no returns. If anybody could provide some advice that would be great. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FWIW: I purchased mine on swappa, and I've been delighted with it. If a buyer misrepresents a device, you can return it.
cam30era said:
FWIW: I purchased mine on swappa, and I've been delighted with it. If a buyer misrepresents a device, you can return it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is the 1 year warranty from Motorola still valid if you buy from swappa?
Dachank said:
Is the 1 year warranty from Motorola still valid if you buy from swappa?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it's valid. From the date of the original purchase. Get a copy of the purchase receipt just in case.
Sent from my Nexus 6

Google play bought nexus 6 question

Hello All,
I wanted to ask, if you buy your device from the google play store and had to do a warranty replacement, does google use refurbished devices like Motorola or do they send out new in box devices?
I am just trying to decide where would be a better place to buy the phone from, Amazon or google.
As price is the same, return policies and warranties would be the only difference.
Thank you!
backdown00 said:
Hello All,
I wanted to ask, if you buy your device from the google play store and had to do a warranty replacement, does google use refurbished devices like Motorola or do they send out new in box devices?
I am just trying to decide where would be a better place to buy the phone from, Amazon or google.
As price is the same, return policies and warranties would be the only difference.
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google sent me new in box.
prdog1 said:
Google sent me new in box.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how long ago was this?
backdown00 said:
how long ago was this?
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Click to collapse
1st of March.
They're all new. They don't repair or refurb. They send you a new one, which puts a hold on the handset value on your card. They release the hold once you send your old one back
danarama said:
They're all new. They don't repair or refurb. They send you a new one, which puts a hold on the handset value on your card. They release the hold once you send your old one back
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is very good to know. I have heard Motorola sends out refurbs, but if google only sends out new devices, no reason to not buy from them.
backdown00 said:
this is very good to know. I have heard Motorola sends out refurbs, but if google only sends out new devices, no reason to not buy from them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another reason is google won't care of the bootloader is unlocked.
I called google support for the hell of it and they said that they actually replace devices with refurbished units, which contradicts everything said here. Was this rep mis-informed? Is it possible they only use new in box devices for the first year of the device until they have a good amount of refurbished ones?
backdown00 said:
I called google support for the hell of it and they said that they actually replace devices with refurbished units, which contradicts everything said here. Was this rep mis-informed? Is it possible they only use new in box devices for the first year of the device until they have a good amount of refurbished ones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe he was misinformed. They charge you full price for the replacement phone if they discover the one sent back voids warranty. They cannot charge you full price for a refurb.
The one I got today looks brand new. Brand new, Sealed box, the works.
danarama said:
Maybe he was misinformed. They charge you full price for the replacement phone if they discover the one sent back voids warranty. They cannot charge you full price for a refurb.
The one I got today looks brand new. Brand new, Sealed box, the works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will say this, Motorola does the same thing. They put a hold on your credit card for roughly $500 until you send the older device back. I am going to order through the play store I think, there is no real benefit to ordering elsewhere other than amazon for an extra 2 week return period.
random question, what was the build date of the brand new unit you just received?
backdown00 said:
I will say this, Motorola does the same thing. They put a hold on your credit card for roughly $500 until you send the older device back. I am going to order through the play store I think, there is no real benefit to ordering elsewhere other than amazon for an extra 2 week return period.
random question, what was the build date of the brand new unit you just received?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll check it in a bit, i'm just copying data to it at the moment.
FYI how the Google RMA works, they send you a link and you use the Google play online purchase to get your replacement unit. The only difference is that you don't actually get charged, But you add it to your cart and purchase it like you do the first unit
During the early part of the life cycle of the device, they replace with new units. Later on, towards the end of life of the device (like when nexus 6 was about to come out and I replaced a nexus 5), they will offer refurb. If you look at the link you are provided, if it does not say refurbished when ordering, it is a brand new unit. When I received links for refurbished, they provided me with another link that clearly stated refurbished. Google for the most part will just give you a brand new unit. I am talking from personal experience with 2 different nexus 5 units and my nexus 6...all of which went through the RMA process.
backdown00 said:
random question, what was the build date of the brand new unit you just received?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
31st January
danarama said:
31st January
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you dan. Question for you, is that the date from the boot loader or the box? The reason I ask is I've found some large discrepancies on manufacture date between the box and boot loader.
If you wouldn't mind, could you run your imei through the below link and reporting the manufacture date it has there?
https://imeidata.net
The warranty section shows the actual manufacture date of the device. I'm curious if google is reboxing repaired units or is truly sending out new units.
January just seems like either its extremely old stock or it was reworked.
qnzesc0bar said:
During the early part of the life cycle of the device, they replace with new units. Later on, towards the end of life of the device (like when nexus 6 was about to come out and I replaced a nexus 5), they will offer refurb. If you look at the link you are provided, if it does not say refurbished when ordering, it is a brand new unit. When I received links for refurbished, they provided me with another link that clearly stated refurbished. Google for the most part will just give you a brand new unit. I am talking from personal experience with 2 different nexus 5 units and my nexus 6...all of which went through the RMA process.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So basically when we roll around to October of this year - if you had a defect it'd more than likely be a refurb device and not a new one?
backdown00 said:
So basically when we roll around to October of this year - if you had a defect it'd more than likely be a refurb device and not a new one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, depends if they have new units still. If they still have new units, you'll most probably get a new unit. Once they are out of new units, you would get a refurb.

Amazon Nexus 6 question.

Does anyone know if the nexus 6's that are being sold on amazon are brand new and not refurbished devices that are repackaged?
I'm not sure whether to buy one that is definitely brand new (64gb) for $400 from Motorola or get one of the Amazon resales from swappa or Craigslist for $300-$350. Thanks.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Free mobile app
I purchased my Nexus around Christmas and received it at the beginning of the new year. It was brand new in the box, and not refurbished. Buying new means you have Motorola's warranty, whereas buying used means you're on your own if something goes wrong. With Google's account protection methods in place, buying new is best. If you do choose to buy used, do not buy it on Craigslist but stick with Swappa. With Google now requiring owners to sign in to their accounts prior to using the device after a factory reset (on stock), you run a higher risk of having a bum phone from Craigslist than you do with Swappa. That doesn't mean Swappa is perfect, as some of the sellers of the device on Swappa don't realize that you have to remove your account from Google prior to selling the phone, but in the case of Swappa it isn't an issue of dishonesty, but forgetfulness/ignorance.
The thing on amazon is that you have to be careful who the seller is. I got mine on December sold and shipped by amazon for $250, brand new and sealed... bad thing is that offer already expired and amazon doesn't seems to have any more on inventory. I'm happy with it so far!
I think that right now the best price you can get is 350 from Motorola website.
Edit: I checked my phone's manufacturing date once it arrived and I found out that it was manufactured late November 2015, so I can say it's pretty fresh from the factory.

Overall 5.3.2.1 results

It appears from personal experience and others experience that a downgrade from FireOS 5.3.2.1 to 5.3.1 is currently impossible and will result in a HARD BRICK.
R.I.P My sister's and countless other tablets.
llamasking said:
It appears from personal experience and others experience that a downgrade from FireOS 5.3.2.1 to 5.3.1 is currently impossible and will result in a HARD BRICK.
R.I.P My sister's and countless other tablets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes - as been documented elsewhere in this forum in multiple threads. Always check before downgrading as bricks are a common outcome with Amazon devices. Only certain versions can be rolled back to specific levels. 5.3.2.1 is not one of them (source or target). Sorry for your loss.
If the device is still within warranty contact Amazon for courtesy exchange.
Davey126 said:
Yes - as been documented elsewhere in this forum in multiple threads. Always check before downgrading as bricks are a common outcome with Amazon devices. Only certain versions can be rolled back to specific levels. 5.3.2.1 is not one of them (source or target). Sorry for your loss.
If the device is still within warranty contact Amazon for courtesy exchange.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Although it was entirely her fault for not letting me root earlier, I am buying her a new one... Hopefully this one is running 5.3.1.0
llamasking said:
Although it was entirely her fault for not letting me root earlier, I am buying her a new one... Hopefully this one is running 5.3.1.0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also consider a refurbished device from Amazon Warehouse. Aside from packaging indistinguishable from new and typically arrives with older firmware. Price is nice too.
Davey126 said:
Also consider a refurbished device from Amazon Warehouse. Aside from packaging indistinguishable from new and typically arrives with older firmware. Price is nice too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To me it appears that a new one from Best Buy is the same price. (I have a few hundred in Best Buy gift cards)
llamasking said:
To me it appears that a new one from Best Buy is the same price. (I have a few hundred in Best Buy gift cards)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best Buy typically matches Amazon's promotional pricing, plus local returns. Same models as found online.

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