Always Buy at an Apple Store

[zenio]

Yes, ALWAYS buy from the Apple Store. The employees at other stores just don't care or understand the Apple way.

The "Apple Way"?

Oh you've got to be kidding, you actually buy into this concept?

EDIT:

Read this... it's YOUR responsibility EVERYONE (it's warranty info for those who don't ever read)

http://is.gd/nl4Rgs

 

[iserian]

90 days return...5 percent off on sale.... yeah you convinced me Apple with 14 day return and full msrp wins by a mile.

 

[foodle]

You do realize you were right she was wrong. Your iPad has the Apple 1-year warranty, she was supposed to take it due to warranty reasons. Next time you face something like this call the manager.

No. The Apple Store was right and the OP was wrong. There are two issues here:
1) Return/replacement - if you buy from the Apple Store, you can return the iPad to them for a refund or exchange. This is based on the fact that you purchased the iPad from the Apple Store. If you buy from a 3rd party, you are not eligible to return the purchase at an Apple store.
2) Warranty repair/replacement - if you own an iPad, you are eligible for 1 year of warranty service no matter where you got it from. If you want to avail yourself of this service, then you need a trouble ticket, etc. Replacements are probably handled centrally via mail.

The OP is eligible for #2, but not #1.

 

[Blorzoga]

Had an interesting experience today. I bought my iPad at Target, and noticed that when I pushed the home button on the front, it created a backlight bleed on the screen. Didn't do that at any other spot, so not sure what that is all about. Anyhow, I knew that Target didn't have any replacements, so I decided to take to the Apple store to have looked at and replaced.

Once i got there, no problems at all. The Manager at the Apple store said that they were being very lenient on returns of the iPad 2, as they were gathering info for the Apple engineers, and that an exchange would be no problem.

Waited 5 mins, and the girl helping me came out and told me that she would be unable to exchange since I bought at Target, and recommended that I go there. So I pointed out that even though I bought at Target, Apple warranties my product for a year, so if for some reason Target wouldn't take it back without a restocking fee, etc., what was I supposed to do?

So I told her that if that happened, I'd be taking a ticket out with Apple CS anyway, and probably would end right back at the Apple store. She made mention that if that happened, it might take a while to get a new iPad, as they didn't have any parts to fix. She didn't know what she was talking about here, as it seems once you take an iPad 2 apart, good luck on getting it back together again.

Target took the iPad back without issue and gave me a refund, but lesson learned that its much easier to deal with Apple directly instead of including the middle man of a Target, Best Buy, or Walmart if an issue comes up.

The person at Apple gave you bad information. It doesn't matter where you bought it. Every authorized retailer is an extension of the Apple store and warranty service is provided by Apple.

 

[viewliners]

Let's the Apple Store did replace the OP's iPad 2 with a brown box replacement and it still has issues, what would be the OP's options at that point? Apple Store will not give a refund, since the original one was purchased from Target. Apple Store will not replace it a second time, base on their policy. I'm sure Target will not give refund on the brown box iPad 2, right?

As long as I'm asking, what if I purchased it directly from Apple's website and received the iPad 2 with light bleeding issues? Since there are no Apple store within 100 miles, will my only option to get Apple online store to replace it? (which can take a while, as I understand it)

Thanks!

 

[MJedi]

If the OP intended to get his iPad 2 replaced under the 1-year warranty, then it does not matter where he got the iPad 2 from. I got my iPad 2 3G from Best Buy, and it developed an Invalid SIM problem. I took it to my local Apple Store (Be sure to make an appointment first!) and I told them what I did to troubleshoot it. They replaced my iPad 2 on the spot. No hassle.

Now, if he intended to return it for a refund, then he should return it at the store that he got it from. And that is what he did.