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Apple's iPhone return policy

D

djmac7

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 23, 2010
17
1
I purchased an iPhone 5s from the Apple store and would like to return it. it's only been 2 weeks since i got it. The problem is i dropped the phone and it has a small scuff. Can i still return it? or must the phone be in like new condition?

Thanks.
 
djmac7 said:
I purchased an iPhone 5s and would like to return it. it's only been 2 weeks since i got it. The problem is i dropped the phone and it has a small scuff. Can i still return it? or must the phone be in like new condition?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Uh..you damaged the phone. You can't return it.
 
Aluminum is soft and can be easily scuffed without dropping, so yes you can return it. It really doesn't matter to them anyway as they'll refurbish it with a brand new case, screen and battery. If the table were turned, any Genius would say it's normal wear and tear.
 
thanks for the various responses. I will try returning it and post feedback.
 
JayLenochiniMac said:
I can't speak for Verizon, but it doesn't matter to Apple. They're going to refurbish it at the end of the day.
Click to expand...

Returning a phone because he damaged it may well may be legal sure drives the cost of
doing business up. I think that in the event that the phone is damaged apple should be charging a restocking fee.
 
JayLenochiniMac said:
No, it doesn't matter. It's not like they'll can sell it as new anyway so they'll refurbish it with a brand new exterior and battery.
Click to expand...

What you are saying makes no sense. That's not the idea behind a retune policy. Acceding to what you are saying I can buy an iPhone and if I accidentally damage it (beyond just little dent) I can still return it. I can assure if you try to return an iPhone with a cracked screen, even if it's within the return period they are not going to take it. No store will accept a damaged item, that's just not how the return policy works.
 
Last edited:
I7guy said:
Returning a phone because he damaged it may well may be legal sure drives the cost of
doing business up. I think that in the event that the phone is damaged apple should be charging a restocking fee.
Click to expand...

Well, it must be undamaged, but cosmetic wear and tear doesn't count and like I said, aluminum is soft and one can easily nick and scuff it up simply from being careless, putting it in a pocket full of keys, etc.

Besides, there's no indication that the OP is returning it because he dropped it rather than for a different reason.

----------
aajeevlin said:
What you are saying makes no sense. That's not the idea behind a retune policy. Acceding to what you are saying I can buy an iPhone and if I accidentally damage it (beyond just little dent) I can still return it. I can assure if you try to return an iPhone with a cracked screen, even if it's within the return period they are not going to take it. No store will accept a damaged item, that's just not how the return policy works.
Click to expand...

I never said anything about a cracked or shattered iPhone. Obviously that's different as it's a damaged iPhone. Cosmetic wear and tear doesn't matter.
 
I7guy said:
I read it about 5 times and bit could be taken any which way.
Click to expand...

Let's interpret the OP:

I purchased an iPhone 5s from the Apple store and would like to return it. it's only been 2 weeks since i got it.

He would like to return it and is within his return period.

The problem is i dropped the phone and it has a small scuff. Can i still return it? or must the phone be in like new condition?

He's worried that they won't accept his return because it has a small scuff from dropping.

Nowhere did he specifically say he's returning it because it has a small scuff, and there's no implication of that reading between the lines either. We simply do not know the specific reason for the OP's wanting to return it.
 
Just return it to Apple. Worst case scenario, they say no. Most of the time unless you have major damage like cracked screen or bent case, they will accept your return.
 
aajeevlin said:
I can assure if you try to return an iPhone with a cracked screen, even if it's within the return period they are not going to take it. No store will accept a damaged item, that's just not how the return policy works.
Click to expand...

That is true, but in this case it is just a small scuff, not a broken screen. The iPhone gets marks easily, and Apple isn't going to deny a return just because there is a small mark on the phone. Apple can also be lenient about major damage like a cracked screen in a brand new device and is known to sometimes replace the device at no charge.
 
djmac7 said:
I purchased an iPhone 5s from the Apple store and would like to return it. it's only been 2 weeks since i got it. The problem is i dropped the phone and it has a small scuff. Can i still return it? or must the phone be in like new condition?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Depends how small the scuff is and the discretion of the Apple employee. If they didn't even examine the phone, other then looking at the IMEI, I wouldn't be surprised. If they do examine it and deny return, I wouldn't really be surprised either.
 
Are you speaking about wear and tear for a two weeks old iPhone ?
It doesn't make any sense .....

Here in Europe I'm quite sure they aren't going to accept it.
In the USA could be different cause Apple Stores seem to have a better customer care ....

Btw to call "normal wear and tear" a scuff after 15 days is ridiculous to me.
 
Max(IT) said:
Are you speaking about wear and tear for a two weeks old iPhone ?
It doesn't make any sense .....

Here in Europe I'm quite sure they aren't going to accept it.
In the USA could be different cause Apple Stores seem to have a better customer care ....

Btw to call "normal wear and tear" a scuff after 15 days is ridiculous to me.
Click to expand...

Suppose a customer comes in after 14 days asking a Genius to replace it under warranty because it scuffs too easily. What do you think the Genius would say? That's right, "normal wear and tear." Some people are naturally clumsy/careless and can most definitely scuff it up in no time.

What do you make of all the iPhone 5 that made their way into retail boxes full of nicks and scuffs last year? Aluminum is soft and they had to step up their quality control as a result.
 
JayLenochiniMac said:
Suppose a customer comes in after 14 days asking a Genius to replace it under warranty because it scuffs too easily. What do you think the Genius would say? That's right, "normal wear and tear." Some people are naturally clumsy/careless and can most definitely scuff it up in no time.

What do you make of all the iPhone 5 that made their way into retail boxes full of nicks and scuffs last year? Aluminum is soft and they had to step up their quality control as a result.
Click to expand...

You are speaking about millimetric nicks .... The OP said he DROPPED the phone.
A totally different damage ..
 
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