Applecare iPhone Replacement Wrong Carrier Prevents Activation

Does anyone know how to make a locked iPhone 4S change the "carrier" to Sprint (from Verizon)?
Sprint regonizes the MEID and will activate the phone, I just need the phone to communicate with Sprint, not Verizon.
Details
I have a Sprint iPhone 4S. I cracked my screen so I requested a replacement through my AppleCare+ plan.
They sent it out right away. I went to sprint.com and registered the MEID to my line, restarted the phone to activate, and......failure.
Tried restoring, updating, restarting, erase all content and settings, added Sprint sim card ....... failure.
Tried calling Sprint to help me........ failure.
Then I looked a little closer at Genereral/About/Carrier. It is setup for Verizon.
Called AppleCare, my ace in the hole I thought, WRONG. I explained everything and they advised me the hardware is the same Verizon or Sprint and that it their system and they will update it in 24 hours or less. Did not happen!!!
THIS MAKES NO SENSE!
If I buy any USA Sprint iPhone, I can make it work in 5 minutes. I tell sprint what the ID of the phone is, they talk to each other, and I have service.
But AppleCare says that it is ok that the phone is looking for Verizon instead of Sprint, it is their system that needs to be updated, not the phone.
Now 24 hours is up and still nothing. They won't send a phone that will work with Sprint, they will not help at all. This is not the Apple service I fell in love with, this is a nightmare.
I am on my own now, this is what Apple has become. Maybe someone out there can help me.

Call back Applecare - they need to step in and fix. If the person you get on the first go around is unable or unwilling, you need to call Corporate. They are much better at resolving difficult issues.

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How to fix the iphone 4s if it is the wrong carrier iphone 4s?

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If you've read the article that your referenced in your original post and still have a question, go ahead and ask the question.

HT3939 how to know the carrier for iphone 5 if its showing activation failed please insert a sim card

how to know the carrier of iphone 5 if its showing activation failed please insert a sim card and i don't know what sim card goes in it and if it is cdma or gsm.
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contact apple.

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Are you sure about this? I thought so too, but when I received my replacement iPhone 6, it was locked again.
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Hey aries35,
I found the following that goes over troubleshooting the same issue for the iPhone. I know you have an iPad, but the steps should still apply:
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Restart the iPhone.
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Try connecting to iTunes if you're unable to activate using Wi-Fi.
Restore the iPhone.
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via: iPhone: Troubleshooting activation issues
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3424
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Applecare iPhone Replacement Wrong Carrier Prevents Activation

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