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Apple's Extended Return Policy Now in Effect for 2021 Holiday Shopping Season

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Apple today announced that its extended return policy is now in effect for the holiday shopping season. The policy applies to most products that Apple sells, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, AirPods, HomePod mini, and more.

iphone-in-box.jpg

In the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the Netherlands, and select other countries, most items purchased between November 1, 2021 and December 25, 2021 may be returned through January 8, 2022:
Items purchased at the Apple Online Store that are received between November 1, 2021 and December 25, 2021, may be returned through January 8, 2022. Please note that all other terms and conditions provided in the Apple Online Store Sales and Refunds Policy are still applicable with respect to such items purchased. All purchases made after December 25, 2021 are subject to the Standard Return Policy.
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In some countries like Italy and Spain, most items purchased between November 1, 2021 and December 25, 2021 may be returned through January 20, 2022.

More details are available on Apple's returns and refunds page.

Following its earnings report last week, Apple said supply constraints would continue to affect availability of its products through the holiday shopping season, so we recommend shopping for gifts early to ensure timely delivery.

(Thanks, Jeff!)

Article Link: Apple's Extended Return Policy Now in Effect for 2021 Holiday Shopping Season
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/11/01/apple-2021-holiday-return-policy/
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I would normally be happy to hear this, but I'm sorry. It irks me that this becomes a "thing" only for holiday shopping with Apple. I mean, let's be honest. Xmas is the one time of the year when you're going to have the most returns or exchanges. So for Apple to temporarily lift the usual 15-day return policy and make a more "industry-typical" 30 day one over the holidays is more like them trying to dodge a bunch of criticism and anger from customers than any gift to people.

I bought a new iPhone 13 Pro on launch day, ordered from Apple direct. 1TB model, even. It took me a little time to use features on it like the camera for video recording and to see how it charged on two different inductive charging pads I had in my car and at home, etc. etc. As I learned more about it, I realized I could have done just fine with the "Max" version (unwarranted initial fears it wouldn't fit on the inductive charging pad in my car and so forth), and really started missing the larger screen size of my XS Max this phone replaced. When I finally found a local store with a 1TB Max version of the 13 in stock, I was already 1 day past my time limit to do an exchange -- AND, it was a long workday that meant I couldn't even get over there that night before they closed.

So ... living with my 13 Pro and a little miffed I couldn't swap for the Max. (But had this been a "holiday purchase" instead, I would have easily had time to do that swap.)
 
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Reactions: Regbial, 5105973, SonOfaMac and 5 others
Does the return clock start ticking from the date you ordered the product -or- is it from the date the product is delivered? My Apple Watch Series 7 was ordered on 10/26 but the estimated delivery date is 11/27-11/24.
 
kingtj1971 said:
I would normally be happy to hear this, but I'm sorry. It irks me that this becomes a "thing" only for holiday shopping with Apple. I mean, let's be honest. Xmas is the one time of the year when you're going to have the most returns or exchanges. So for Apple to temporarily lift the usual 15-day return policy and make a more "industry-typical" 30 day one over the holidays is more like them trying to dodge a bunch of criticism and anger from customers than any gift to people.

I bought a new iPhone 13 Pro on launch day, ordered from Apple direct. 1TB model, even. It took me a little time to use features on it like the camera for video recording and to see how it charged on two different inductive charging pads I had in my car and at home, etc. etc. As I learned more about it, I realized I could have done just fine with the "Max" version (unwarranted initial fears it wouldn't fit on the inductive charging pad in my car and so forth), and really started missing the larger screen size of my XS Max this phone replaced. When I finally found a local store with a 1TB Max version of the 13 in stock, I was already 1 day past my time limit to do an exchange -- AND, it was a long workday that meant I couldn't even get over there that night before they closed.

So ... living with my 13 Pro and a little miffed I couldn't swap for the Max. (But had this been a "holiday purchase" instead, I would have easily had time to do that swap.)
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Did you ask the store manager, and if so explain your situation? I worked in an Apple store over 7 years, and I never saw a customer turned down on an appeal like that.
 
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heh. Not every store staff or even store manager knows what extended return period is unless I outright tell them……
 
My wife wanted to pick up the new AirPods from Costco based on their lax return policy alone.. Maybe this will be better, the Apple Card 3% off puts the price before tax a few cents less than Costco ?
 
kingtj1971 said:
I would normally be happy to hear this, but I'm sorry. It irks me that this becomes a "thing" only for holiday shopping with Apple. I mean, let's be honest. Xmas is the one time of the year when you're going to have the most returns or exchanges. So for Apple to temporarily lift the usual 15-day return policy and make a more "industry-typical" 30 day one over the holidays is more like them trying to dodge a bunch of criticism and anger from customers than any gift to people.

I bought a new iPhone 13 Pro on launch day, ordered from Apple direct. 1TB model, even. It took me a little time to use features on it like the camera for video recording and to see how it charged on two different inductive charging pads I had in my car and at home, etc. etc. As I learned more about it, I realized I could have done just fine with the "Max" version (unwarranted initial fears it wouldn't fit on the inductive charging pad in my car and so forth), and really started missing the larger screen size of my XS Max this phone replaced. When I finally found a local store with a 1TB Max version of the 13 in stock, I was already 1 day past my time limit to do an exchange -- AND, it was a long workday that meant I couldn't even get over there that night before they closed.

So ... living with my 13 Pro and a little miffed I couldn't swap for the Max. (But had this been a "holiday purchase" instead, I would have easily had time to do that swap.)
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Even Level 1 Apple CS reps have authority to extend return periods to 30 days, maybe all you needed to do was ask?
 
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Reactions: Cape Dave
If you receive your device on 12/25, you are basically in the standard return window. The good thing is that this allows people who purchase an apple device as a gift well before Christmas to still have an extended window to return. From the point of view of a gift recipient who opens their apple device on Christmas day, they basically have the standard return window.

It is nice for those who treat themselves of take advantage of other holiday specials/sales (or, as mentioned, the youtubers who buy, unbox, review, and then return stuff).

mansplains said:
My wife wanted to pick up the new AirPods from Costco based on their lax return policy alone.. Maybe this will be better, the Apple Card 3% off puts the price before tax a few cents less than Costco ?
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But if you use the Costco card and get an additional 2% cash back, it is then slightly cheaper than the Apple Card price.

Also, the Costco electronics return policy of 90 days is still way better than the extended Apple return policy which is, at best, 69 days from Nov 1. I'm sure you could get it extended if you need to, but that's extra effort.
 
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imnotthewalrus said:
Did you ask the store manager, and if so explain your situation? I worked in an Apple store over 7 years, and I never saw a customer turned down on an appeal like that.
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I didn't and that's good to hear ... but doesn't change my initial comment, I don't think? I mean, Apple retail has always been good about making "exceptions" for people when you argue your point. But I'd rather know the policy itself looks out for me than having to spend time bothering a busy store manager and hoping for the outcome I want.
 
Well, too bad the extended period means nothing to me since I don't get my Macbook Pro delivered till late December. :(
 
Woohoo!
Now I'm really glad I waited an extra 30 minutes when ordering my 14" M1 Max on day 0 and got pushed into the November delivery batch! ?
I now have more than two months from delivery to contemplate:
1. Do I really need/want a MBP, or should I just stick with my completely silent and extremely portable MBA (along with my desktop) until the MBA is refreshed next year? (could really use more monitors/ram/ports...)
2. If I do need/want a MBP, do I really need the M1 Max?
3. If I do want the M1 Max, would the 24C GPU configuration with either 64GB of ram or more storage ($200 for an extra 512GB... ?) be a better, more future proof choice?
4. Could I possibly live with the base model, despite feeling like 16GB on the MBA often lets me down (maybe it's actually the overhead from DisplayLink...)
5. Is the battery life on the M1 Max MBP acceptable vs the M1 MBA?
6. How the software system around the M1 Pro/Max is going to evolve.

All in all, it's going to be an exciting holiday season for me. Thanks for the early Christmas present Apple. Merry Christmas to you too! ??
 
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Reactions: dancingonthefence
I bought mine yesterday at the store.. Oh shucks. But what I really hate about buying expensive Macs is putting in the hours to set them up fresh how I like them, only to then deal with the hassle of erasing and doing an errand.
 
Lucas Curious said:
I bought mine yesterday at the store.. Oh shucks. But what I really hate about buying expensive Macs is putting in the hours to set them up fresh how I like them, only to then deal with the hassle of erasing and doing an errand.
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I wonder if you can contact Apple and tell them to extend the return policy since you bought it a day before?

I wonder if they will honor it and apply it
 
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