Buying a refurbished smartphone is often marketed as a smart, budget-friendly alternative to new devices. Platforms like Cashify claim to provide “Superb Condition” phones that undergo a 32-point quality check, giving buyers confidence that the device is almost like new.
But what happens when reality doesn’t match the promise?
This is my personal experience of buying an iPhone 13 from Cashify for ₹35,017, where the battery health dropped from 100% to 79% in just 4 months.
This is not just about battery degradation. It’s a case of misrepresentation, failed quality checks, and unfair trade practices.
Table of Contents
📌 The Purchase: Trusting “Superb Condition”
In 16 April 2025, I purchased a refurbished iPhone 13 from Cashify for ₹35,017.
- Category: Superb Condition (Cashify defines this as near-new, with minimal usage)
- Invoice clearly stated: Superb Condition, 32-point quality check passed
- At the time of purchase, the battery health showed 100%
Naturally, I felt confident that I had made a good decision.
📉 The Shock After 4 Months
Within just 4 months of normal usage, I noticed that the battery was draining unusually fast. Curious and concerned, I ran a diagnostic test using 3uTools (a trusted iOS diagnostics software).
Here’s what I found:
- Battery Health: 79%
- Cycle Count: 1285
- Battery Production Date: May 2021 (4 years old at time of purchase)
This meant the phone was sold to me with an already used, end-of-life battery. It is impossible for a brand-new “Superb Condition” iPhone 13 to degrade this much in 4 months.
🔍 Why This is Misrepresentation
Cashify promises that all refurbished phones undergo a 32-point quality check before being sold.
But let’s ask the obvious questions:
- How can a 4-year-old battery with 1285 cycles pass this check?
- How did Cashify list this phone under “Superb Condition” when the battery was already near dead?
- Was the battery health “boosted” to show 100% temporarily at the time of sale?
If the quality check was genuine, this battery would never have passed as “Superb Condition.”
📩 Cashify’s Response
When I raised the issue, here’s what happened:
- Twitter (X) Support Reply
- They repeated that “Battery is ensured at 85%+ during purchase.”
- They said support is available only if it drops below 80% within 3 months.
- My case was dismissed because the 3-month warranty expired.
- CEO Desk Email Responses
- They argued that third-party tools like 3uTools are not conclusive.
- Claimed only “Cashify-certified parts” are used in refurbishment.
- Acknowledged warranty expiry, refused free replacement.
- Offered paid battery replacement at ₹3,500 as a “goodwill gesture.”
- Final Stand
- Repeated the same “policy” response.
- Declined to address the misrepresentation at the time of sale.
- Closed my case with a template response.
⚡ Why This Is Not a Warranty Issue
Cashify repeatedly hid behind their 3-month battery warranty. But this is not about warranty.
This is about:
- False representation: Selling a 4-year-old, 1285-cycle battery as “Superb Condition.”
- Failure of 32-point quality check
- Unfair trade practice under Consumer Protection Act, 2019
Even if the warranty expired, the misrepresentation existed at the time of purchase. That cannot be dismissed by citing warranty terms.🤖 AI and Expert Validation
To cross-check, I researched using AI tools and forums (including Grok AI, ChatGPT, Reddit, Apple Community).
All confirmed:
- It is impossible for a “new” iPhone 13 battery at 100% health to drop to 79% in 4 months under normal usage.
- A cycle count of 1285 proves the battery was heavily used before sale.
- A “Superb Condition” phone should have had minimal battery wear, not a 4-year-old end-of-life cell.
This validates that the issue is not normal wear, but clear misrepresentation.
⚖️ Steps I Took
- Contacted Cashify Support & CEO Desk – received only copy-paste replies.
- Escalated on Twitter – they repeated “policy” without addressing fraud.
- Filed a Complaint with NCH (National Consumer Helpline) – they updated my complaint, case under process (30-day window).
- Shared experience publicly – planning posts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram to warn others.
💡 Relief I Requested
I gave Cashify fair options to resolve:
- Free replacement with a genuine Apple battery
OR - Partial refund of ₹7,000–₹8,000 (approx. replacement cost at Apple service center)
But they refused both, instead asking me to pay ₹3,500 for their mistake.
🚨 Why This Case Matters for Consumers
This is bigger than one customer’s complaint. It raises serious questions about trust in refurbished marketplaces:
- If a 4-year-old battery can pass a 32-point quality check, what else is being overlooked?
- How many other customers have unknowingly bought devices with manipulated battery health?
- Can platforms simply hide behind short warranties while selling misrepresented products?
As consumers, we deserve transparency and honesty.
🙋♂️ My Advice to Buyers
If you’re planning to buy a refurbished phone from platforms like Cashify:
✅ Always check battery cycles and production date using tools like 3uTools.
✅ Don’t blindly trust “Superb Condition” tags.
✅ Save all invoices, emails, and screenshots as proof.
✅ If cheated, file a complaint with NCH or your local consumer forum.
📝 Conclusion
My experience with Cashify’s iPhone 13 shows how misrepresentation can ruin customer trust.
- A phone sold as “Superb Condition” had a 4-year-old, end-of-life battery.
- Their 32-point quality check failed or was not done properly.
- Instead of owning the mistake, Cashify hid behind expired warranty excuses.
I regret wasting my money and time on this device. But by sharing my story, I hope more people make informed decisions and avoid falling into the same trap.
👉 Spread this article to protect other buyers from unfair trade practices.
