Nexus 7 Warranty Concerns (bootloader)

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Ok, so the obvious solution to my problem is to return the unit and wait for a new one...

That said, here is my dilemma:

My son's birthday came around and he asked everyone for gift cards so he could get the Nexus 7 (his first tablet). We went to Best Buy and they had one, however it was Open Box. Every store in the city is (and has been) sold out, and we were going to get the 2-year in-store warranty anyway, so we went ahead with it.

Now, we got home and I noticed right away that SuperSU was installed. After looking further into it, the guy who returned it (reason it's open box) unlocked and threw a custom ROM on it. I had no intention of rooting or unlocking this tablet for him, so I'm a bit concerned about warranty now.

I returned it to stock via this thread, however knowing ASUS and their by-the-books RMA process, I have some concerns...

Is there ANY way that ASUS could determine that the tablet has been unlocked? Does the lock/unlock event get logged at all?

Alternatively, has anyone successfully sent in and gotten back a Nexus 7 that was at one time unlocked? Anyone get refused?

I really don't want to get stuck with a $200 repair on a $270 tablet...

Thanks guys.

I have the same question. Anyone got any experience yet?

Hmm, so far nobody has mentioned anything like a "flash counter", but I am curious as well to find an actual answer. If we flash custom ROM's or unlock the N7, and then restock it, will the warranty still be honored?

You got a 2 year in store warranty, why return it to Asus then?

Sent from my Nexus 7

This is a Nexus device. The device is setup to be unlocked. Unlocking does not void the hardware warranty.

There is no "counter".

No your previously unlocked boot loader will not affect your RMA process. Only reason it would void your warranty is if you bricked it as a result of the unlocked bootloader. And no there's no flash counter.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Man I would be so pissed!!! I would go to best buy and either get money back or new device. Why would they give you a open device?!?!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

I had the exact same problem, maybe worst because mine was in a new sealed box, but hsve custom rom on it, is ur working great? did u flash it back to stock rom?

Sent from my HTC Sensation XL with Beats Audio X315e using xda premium

Best buy always sells open box items, generally it's not a problem but ASUS in particular are jerks about it.

I wouldn't Rma through ASUS but best buy likely would after getting it from me.

The minute I found the custom recovery I flashed it all back to stock and re locked the boot loader. Did the ota update and all is normal now, was just curious if there is any history stored of unlocks and such.

Might as well flash him a good ROM now that it's been unlocked anyway

No one's mentioned anything about a flash counter, and given that it's a Nexus, it seems unlikely. Even if there is one it's now water under the bridge.