Spoke with an Apple customer service rep who said that an in-store purchase can be returned for up to 30 days with no issue and that every Apple Store would honor this.

I purchased an iPhone 16 Pro a couple weeks ago just to try out the smaller size before I decided which 17 Pro to order (been using the Max for years). I totally forgot that the phones are only available for pre-order at first though, so needed a little extra time on my current device. I’ll return it after I switch everything over from the new one.

Either way I’m fine because I have the recorded call confirming I’m good. Just curious about everyone else’s experience.

So I bought 2 MacBook pros, one M1 Pro and then right after I discovered the M2 Pro was available in the refurb store. In Apple's efficiently my first order was already processing so I couldn't cancel the order and they both got delivered at the same time. Apples delivery boxes are delightful but I'm curious how I'm supposed to return it since it has a pull tape which isn't replaceable.

Do I need to pack them in my own boxes? Can online store orders be returned to Apple retail stores?

Thanks for anyone's help.

Body text. Though there isn’t anything technically wrong with the device, I’d like to swap it out for another.

My wife wants to buy either a macbook pro or air, but she has never before used one (always had windows laptops) Is it possible to return it if she simply doesnt like it? Is there something like 7 day return policy or something similar to hand it back without hassle?

Hey there

So I keep seeing posts here about people saying that they bought a Macbook, used it for a week, and then they changed it for another model or returned it altogether.

I have lived all my life in Europe (different countries) and I have never, ever seen an Apple policy other than “if the seal of the package is torn, you stick to the product you bought”. Which to be honest sucks, because these are very expensive devices and sometimes you do have to buy without being fully sure of your needs

So how are you all doing these swaps? Are these people all from the US, where some kind of law allows them to return opened products that work fine (aka, not returning them from being faulty)?

Edit: I know in the EU a regulation allows consumers to return products within a 14-day window. What I mean is that as far as I know that only includes products that have not been opened/used. Is there something I am misunderstanding? Can I buy a Macbook, use it for a week and return it?

Edit2: apparently you can and I’ve spent all my life not knowing?

For all my life, I was a Windows and Samsung user. It all started when my Z Flip1 broke a few months back and I desperately needed a phone as an international Postgraduate student in the UK. I needed a phone with reliable warranty provision. My Z Flip 1 despite still being in warranty was not eligible for a free repair simply because it was purchased in my home country Malaysia hence the device and warranty being region locked.

Out of curiosity I walked into an Apple Store one day and was reassured that their warranties are international. I placed an order online for an iPhone 14 Pro, got buyers remorse when I felt unhappy with the small screen and dynamic island protruding further into the usable screen space. Returned the 14 Pro, got a 14 Plus thinking all I needed was a bigger screen and can skimp out on the rest, but the 60hz on such a big screen became unbearable for me (coming from a gaming laptop which I daily drive with 120hz). AGAIN, I returned it and got myself a 14 Pro Max as a long-term investment and have stuck with it since. Needless to say the Apple Store employees were amazing and extra-sweet to me when they found out that it would be my first iPhone.

Similar story to my laptop, realised the battery life wasn't really keeping up with my use case in Bar school and rarely being around power outlets, I decided that if I was going into the walled garden, I might as well go full in. I don't plan on getting an Apple Watch so the integrated notification system would be nice. Having FaceTime on my computer would be great for long video calling with my long distance partner too. So, a new MacBook for me, and my old gaming laptop would go to my sister who'll be starting college in 2023.

Long story short... I bought the baseline MBP 14" 16/512, realised how often I'm on the go so the 1Tb would make more sense as having an external SSD would be a bad idea given how clumsy and forgetful I am (constantly forgetting things and yes... I have a history of dropping and killing an old external HDD). Went online, bought a 16/1Tb variant... AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. Realised that 16Gb memory isn't exactly the best idea for keeping the device long-term as I intend to hand it down to my family members.

I've easily used the Return option for more than 4 times now (1 for when I got AirPods), and now I'll be returning another 2 MacBooks. Yes, I'm indecisive mostly because I'm currently in the thick of exam preparations and urgently need to make a decision and have a working computer. Spoke to an Apple specialist online, and oh boy Apple and their customer services are amazing. The online specialist told me "I would advise going for a bigger Memory configuration as storage can always be added with external drives."

Have I been abusing Apple's return policy? Maybe, but it is due to this very same policy that led to my purchase of an AirPods Pro 2, iPhone 14 Pro Max, and now a MBP 14" 32/1Tb... all within the span of a year! Even as I shared my worries about having returned too many products, the online specialist reassured me that the return policy exists to ensure that their customers have a product that they are satisfied with. Yes, Apple products do come at a premium but for the first time in a very long time... a multinational company made me feel like they cared.

TLDR: Over the span of 6 months, I returned 2 iPhones, 1 AirPod, and soon another 2 MacBooks. Despite all that, Apple reassured me to take advantage of their return policy and find a product that I'll be happy with. Apple's return policy can be abused... yes, but it matter so much to an indecisive ADHD person who's completely new to Apple products. They make a big online purchase seem so easy and care-free (which in turn leads to increased sales). Pair that with amazing customer service, I now see why Apple has a loyal fanbase.

I need to buy a used iPad probably from FB Marketplace. I will be buying it in person with cash.

But I need some help from experienced people on how to not get scammed and what to check when buying? Don’t want to end up going home and the device gets locked or doesn’t work somehow.

The number of people totally down with, advocating for, and participating in returning laptops is horrifying.

Seems like every post you see some variation of buy the in stock version and return it when your order arrives type of comment, either to skirt delivery times or to test out different spec levels.

Apple in my opinion has an extremely generous return policy for such expensive devices, but everyone should check themselves on how they decide to use/abuse it.

With the frequency I see of this echo chamber’s shouts for abuse, I figure it won’t be long before Apple amends their policy and introduces protections to prevent someone buying a$2k-$5k device only to return it a month or two later when their order arrives.

I initiated a return for a macbook air I bought 12 days ago. It would be the 14th day since I bought it on November 6. But it says on the return page, "Print a free return shipping label and send this item back to Apple by November 18, 2024."

Does it mean I can sent it on or before that date? Or does it mean apple has to receive it by that time?

I ordered a mac mini m4 pro instead, but it's gonna take a a whole month before I receive it. It would be nice if I could use this mac for a few more days before the mac mini arrives.

I'm considering buying the MacBook One. I've read a bunch of reviews, tried it out in store, but I feel like I'll just need to use it for a week or two to know for sure if I want to keep it. Is using the return policy as a trial period frowned upon at the Apple Store? Am I going to get any hassle for returning it just because I didn't like it?

Return Policy for already opened products I bought an IPad Air 5 yesterday (12/17/2023). However I regret buying the 64gb. Now I want to buy an upgraded one and return this to have the 256gb But the problem is, I already opened it and set it up. Is this still feasible?

What happens to these devices?

If you buy any Apple product from apple.com/in you cannot return or refund it, even if you find the item not up to the mark or not good enough. A very weird shopping experience for someone who has been buying Apple products for over a decade.

I recently learned this the hard way. I bought a silicone case for my iPhone 12 from apple.com/in and did not like the quality and the colour, so I opened my orders page to return it. Weirdly, there was no return option there, the only direction was to contact customer care for exchange, that too if the item is defective.

I have been buying Apple products in India and Singapore. I have bought them from apple.com/sg in Singapore, as well as from Amazon.in(India), Maple(Offline Apple Retailer in India) I have never ever faced this issue. Every website or offline store I have ever bought Apple products from, including the official apple.com/sg website, had a return or refund option.

I contacted customer care, they told me as their policy clearly states, I cannot return the item. I told them if you can see my orders, you can clearly see I have previously ordered Apple products and returned them as well. They said that is because I ordered them in Singapore. But the orders page is the same, I can see my previous orders from apple.com/sg and my current order, this experience is so broken and bad.

This is so weird because there is no advantage of buying anything from apple.com in India, if you buy the same product from Amazon.in or Apple's own retail partners - Maple or Apptronix, you can return the item if you don't like it. I had previously returned an iPhone case to Maple a few years back because of the quality. The only reason I had to buy from apple.com was that the colour I wanted was out of stock on Amazon and Apple was delivering it the very next day.

Now it's been 20 days, and after being on over 10 calls with multiple support teams, I told them that this is the worst experience I have had while buying any Apple product.

And as I can exchange it if it is defective, and because I think the colour and quality are defective, I will keep on opening the box and exchanging the product till Apple changes their policy. Let's see how many 50$ cases is Apple willing to send my way just to be sent back.

Edit - The policy in question - https://www.apple.com/in/shop/browse/open/salespolicies#topic-8

I bought my MBA M2 8gb/512gb just on 13th October. Is there a way to return it since the base models are now out with 16gb RAM. I wanna learn photo and video editing and I feel 16gb RAM is much needed.

I wanna re-buy the 16gb version since it’s the same rate.