iPhone vs. HiPhone: Can You Tell The Difference?

5:51PM | January 26, 2009 | comments: 9

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Imagine buying your first iPhone and when you get home you find out it's a fake!

Last year, a New Jersey woman went to a Manhattan electronics store to buy an iphone, but what she got was definitely not what she paid for.

Svetlana Dvinyanonova asked to see an iPhone at JK Computer and Cameras and was shown a cell phone. To her it looked exactly like an iPhone, so she bought it, paying part of it with a credit card and the rest with cash.

Not till Svatlana got home later did she make a closer inspection and discover that she had paid $900 for a "Hi-Phone". Basically a cheap imitation cell phone.

Luckily, Help Me Howard was able to get her money back, but in order to protect yourself when buying expensive electronics, always pay with a credit card. If something goes wrong, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company.

Always do your research before making an expensive purchase and find out what the store's return policy is. If they do not take returns or offer refunds, it should state that on a sign or receipt somewhere in the shop.

And it can't hurt to check out a business's reputation before you buy. Go to the Better Business Bureau site at www.bbb.org or check out www.ripoffreport.com for customer reviews.

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Comments: 9

Posted by barry at January 27, 2009 10:55 PM

GOOD JOB MAN, BUT EASY ON THE DANCING, LOL.

Posted by David at January 29, 2009 1:33 PM

yea, the dancing is unique...the "Howard shuffle"

Posted by brett at January 29, 2009 10:47 PM

why would she pay $900 for an iPhone...
The highest price they ever were was about $650.

The same thing happen to me the phon broke after a month.it turn out to be a cheap chinese ripoff.

The same thing happen to me the phon broke after a month.it turn out to be a cheap chinese ripoff.

Posted by gabi metta at February 6, 2009 4:50 PM

well i work in these kinda stores and its only right to sell her a hiphone. she is stupid enough to fall for iot so why not make 750 dollars profit on her. its hard times and thats the way to get through hard times.

I just want to send congrats to you on the work you have done maybe you can help me and my kids oneday

I just want to send congrats to you on the work you have done maybe you can help me and my kids oneday

Posted by Svetlana at October 24, 2009 12:39 AM

Let me tell you something... I regret nothing

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