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Apple Eliminating Restocking Fees at Apple Stores, Adding Personal Setup for Macs
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No you won't. Apple isn't Costco. If you broke down Costco's returned items they weren't Apple products. They were cheap HP, Dell, Asus, etc.
1. BRILLIANT! No restocking fee is fantastic.
2. Not to be hating on Apple, but while working there one of the few quips I had was with the floor "specialists". Generally most don't know anything about the basics of computing systems (it's just a retail gig for college students or anyone really). Behind the bar I had so many floor specialists approach me asking questions like "What's RAM?" or "What does WiFi mean?" I get that they're paid low hourly wages, I've been there, and I helped a lot of them as they were sweet and scared s**tless as they were thrown to the wolves. Yet when customers come back to the bar because the sales specialist misinformed them about some such issue it was a PITA.
So my point, I love that Apple is refocusing on Mac's again, and I hope they train their employees to better understand computing basics and then take it a step further to match customer needs with the right system(s).
Otherwise awesome news! Let's make 2011 the year of OS X!
I agree with you, makes perfect sense especially with such expensive and personal merchandise
and please, I am so tired of posts that end with nasty remarks. Look guys, enough already. Do you have to insult someone you don't know because you don't agree with their opinion? Everyday I come on here and 30-40% of the posts are immature and condescending. We're all adults here, let's start acting like it and treating each other as you would like to be treated.
2. Not to be hating on Apple, but while working there one of the few quips I had was with the floor "specialists". Generally most don't know anything about the basics of computing systems (it's just a retail gig for college students or anyone really). Behind the bar I had so many floor specialists approach me asking questions like "What's RAM?" or "What does WiFi mean?" I get that they're paid low hourly wages, I've been there, and I helped a lot of them as they were sweet and scared s**tless as they were thrown to the wolves. Yet when customers come back to the bar because the sales specialist misinformed them about some such issue it was a PITA.
So my point, I love that Apple is refocusing on Mac's again, and I hope they train their employees to better understand computing basics and then take it a step further to match customer needs with the right system(s).
Otherwise awesome news! Let's make 2011 the year of OS X!
I agree with you, makes perfect sense especially with such expensive and personal merchandise
and please, I am so tired of posts that end with nasty remarks. Look guys, enough already. Do you have to insult someone you don't know because you don't agree with their opinion? Everyday I come on here and 30-40% of the posts are immature and condescending. We're all adults here, let's start acting like it and treating each other as you would like to be treated.
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Isn't this only the case for returns within your statutory rights? eg-
Distance purchases
Faulty goods
Goods that do not meet description
If you buy in store and everything is fine with the product and you change your mind the retailer is under no obligation to do anything as you have formed a binding contract?
Good news anyway, I once successfully challenged a return fee for something I bought online (not Apple though). I also always smile and think "Nice try" when I see a "No refunds" sign in a shop!
As to the Mac set up issue- how hard is it to create an iTunes account and use the Mac App store?!
Actually it makes great sense. This way people that recently bought an AT&T iPhone can bring it back and get a Verizon iPhone. Life is good and getting better!
Alright, settle down some of you. Clearly they're not going to lose money at this. I'm quite sure they've thought this through, and otherwise have a pretty good idea of how to run a successful retail chain.
Apple's margins are fairly high. You were getting somewhat screwed before, and will continue to be. This won't make or break much for anyone involved. They'll actually sell even more now that their customers are given that warm fuzzy over the idea that their purchase is risk-free.
Apple's margins are fairly high. You were getting somewhat screwed before, and will continue to be. This won't make or break much for anyone involved. They'll actually sell even more now that their customers are given that warm fuzzy over the idea that their purchase is risk-free.
That is correct, retailers do it as part of good customer service.
Not everyone is computer literate.
There is no way Apple can lose eliminating restocking fees. Returned items will sold as refurbished units (typically 15% off) and the profit margin on most items is 30%, so they will make money regardless. The added bonus is that Apple will get many more impulse buys if there is no risk.
Apple retail stores in the UK have long had a no restocking fees policy and also a no-quibble return policy on anything - used or unused - within 14 days. A couple of years ago I was after some good quality ear buds, and the Apple Store salesman was quite happy for me to purchase a third-party £100 model, try them out and return them if I didn't like them.
As well as the risk of people going a bit over the top, such as buying ten different types of a product to try them all, I guess there's also the risk of people buying stuff from the Apple stores, then ordering it cheaper online from another source and returning the original once their cheaper one is delivered. This must happen, but Apple have obviously factored this in and still find the policy beneficial to them in the UK and clearly now feel it will also work for them in the US.
As well as the risk of people going a bit over the top, such as buying ten different types of a product to try them all, I guess there's also the risk of people buying stuff from the Apple stores, then ordering it cheaper online from another source and returning the original once their cheaper one is delivered. This must happen, but Apple have obviously factored this in and still find the policy beneficial to them in the UK and clearly now feel it will also work for them in the US.
Still- setting up an iTunes account? You'd have to be crazy to spend Mac money and not be able to do that!
This is rubbish. I've worked in lots of places and companies just don't pull this BS on each other. If we need gear we buy it. If we need to rent gear we rent it. Alternatively we might borrow it under special agreement.
Only the lowest kind of unethical outfit that would also abuse their customers would consider doing this to a supplier. And, you know what, companies that behave unfairly to customers and suppliers aren't really a business at all.
They sell more product to risk-averse customers or those new to mac (50% of buyers) who would otherwise be put off by the risk of a several hundred dollar cost if they aren't happy with their purchase.
They already sell the iPhone at retail in the Apple Store. This has nothing to do with selling the iPhone themselves.
In fact, here in Canada, they sell the iPhone unlocked at retail. 650$ gets you an unlocked iPhone 4 ready to use on any of the carriers.
Did you not get what I said? I know they sell it in stores, in fact my comment you quoted is specifically about how people purchased the iPhone at an Apple store, and probably quite a few decided to look at other Apple products because of the quality of their product + the experience they had.
So with a possible 80+ million new customers about to get an iPhone option (if Verizon does, indeed, announce Tuesday) Apple is gearing up to be even MORE friendly to capitalize on that experience, and not only cut out the middle man as they have when selling it themselves, but also use interest in the iPhone to get customers interested in other products.
It's undeniable that if Verizon gets the announcement foot traffic in the stores will spike (especially for 30-60 days post-release) dramatically and by making the changes listed they can fully capitalize on that traffic to get people interested in the full suite of Apple products with these new customers.
People buy things cos it's the thing to get. I know I often end up setting up peoples tech purchases.
Agree, there will be more people abusing the system. Especially in the US there is a mentality to buy and return after two weeks of use.
1 or 2 years would be better - people would get more use out of the product before returning it
A broken product should qualify for free replacement
How the hell are you paying for someone else to return a purchased product?
Its calculated in the sales prices. The more free returns they expect, they more the charge for the product.
THAT is what I mean with abuse of the system. No use of the product, just want to play with it, maybe show off to the friends how cool you are and than returning it.
Sweet. No Best Buys in my area charge a restocking fee either and I like to go through them anyway. Less crowded and less hassle.