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Got $500+ refund on my rMBP 13"
- Thread starter ansabakhan
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FWIW, the precedent of a $100 reimbursement after the original iPhone's $200 price drop was 10 weeks (6/29/07 to 9/6/07). Given that the period between the 13" rMBP's introduction and its subsequent price drop is about 50% longer (and that the level of public interest in the two respective products means there's not the same PR fallout now), I can't say I'm surprised, but it is somewhat disappointing.
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You've had the computer for almost quarter of a year. Three months. Way past their return period and way past their price protection period. Making a request for reimbursement this far down the track is - in my opinion - unreasonable for any form of technology. Unless, of course, you think it's fair for them to bill you if the price goes up after a similar timeframe.
Sucky, I know...but that's why I always buy the previous model refurb after the new model is released.
You've had the computer for almost quarter of a year. *Three months. *Way past their return period and way past their price protection period. *Making a request for reimbursement this far down the track is - in my opinion - unreasonable for any form of technology. *Unless, of course, you think it's fair for them to bill you if the price goes up after a similar timeframe. *
In principle, I don't disagree with you at all (see my post above). However, Apple generally treats customers generously once they've purchased a product, so it would certainly be leaving a sweeter impression on the earliest adopters for us to be offered even a token gesture.
That said, I think all of us realized at the time of purchase that we were paying a premium for a first-gen machine that was going to see a price drop and/or performance bump in the near-ish future. Perhaps we just didn't expect it to be so soon.
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I see your point. However, the current situation is absolutely no different to someone buying a machine and then three months later having a new model come out as part of the regular cycle with improved specs and lower price.
Not everyone knows how to look up when a new model may be released.
Any luck? The 128GB 13 inch refurb now reflects 15% off $1499: $1269. I got mine open box at Best Buy for $1248 before Apple dropped the price to $1499 from $1699.
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbook_pro/13
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbook_pro/13
when you buy a jacket on thursday for 150 bucks and the next day is black friday and the price drops to 45 do you get mad and ask for price match as well ?
I could return it and then get the 13" refurb from Apple, but I paid for half of my Best Buy purchase in cash so I would have to wait over a week to get a check mailed to me and it's just not worth the hassle.
The difference here is that the 13" version is just 4 months old. Apple usually doesn't release new models that quickly. People complained about the 4th iPad coming out after 6 months. Granted, the 13" model came out 2 months after the 15" rMBP and the 13" cMBP, probably because of yield issues, so it was already "2 month old tech" when it was released. Apple has done 6-month refreshes in the past with the MacBook Pro.
Not sure what your point adds to this thread. If I bought a product from Apple and the next day they were selling it at a 70% discount, I would most certainly expect to be reimbursed for the full difference. If not, I would simply buy it for the discounted price and without question, Apple would give me a refund for my full-price purchase. People are doing this as I type.
Credit cards which offer price protection generally cover a 90-day period after purchase, so I think that provides guidance for what constitutes a reasonable (from a consumer's perspective) period for significant price adjustments after the launch of a product. The original iPhone, for instance, was well within this period. The 13" rMBP falls about 3 weeks outside it.
Nobody is expecting Apple to refund the earliest adopters with the full difference in price. The problem is that the timing of the price drop stings. And it's not crazy to think that Apple's generally excellent customer service people would realise this fact and soften the blow by offering us some form of partial reimbursement. Sadly, that's not the case.
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You might want to cross out your personal info before posting receipts. What can people do with your reward zone #? I really don't know. It's what you don't know that get you.
I also bought a Best Buy open box rMBP 13 a few weeks ago. It was literally brand new other than the box being opened. Good thing I got maximum discount on it so I'm still ahead after the Apple price drop. It was $1175 with tax plus 3x reward zone points which should be close to $70 in reward.
The initial girl only refunded me $99 after taxes but the actual price difference was $170 plus taxes, so I called back in and the guy gave me an additional $85 plus taxes.
Im happy.
Im happy.
Agreed.
The high level of customer service is what was keeping me purchasing Apple goods over the last few years.
This debacle will cause me to look elsewhere going forward.
I wanted to add my experience to this thread. I had bought a refurb base rMBP 13 about 3.5 weeks before the price drop. I called in to ask about getting the $180 difference back, and the rep escalated the situation to a manager who said...no. I was instead offered an Apple Store coupon worth something like $15 off a $100 purchase.
I expressed my displeasure with this outcome, said how much I would appreciate Apple taking care of one of their customers, etc, but they wouldn't budge, and wouldn't let me talk to anyone else (I guess you can't speak directly with a supervisor when you call?). I refused the coupon, because I was worried if I took it I wouldn't have any other options.
I called back in the next day, was told similar things, but then the rep asked if I would possibly like to return and repurchase the laptop instead of getting a credit. I jumped on that in a second! It turns out that (according to her) any phone rep can offer a return exception within 30 days, without a manager's approval, so if you're having trouble getting a price match try that route. This was calling Apple's main 800-number customer service.
So I got a return label, headed back to the apple refurb store, and found an i7 version of the 13 rMBP with the 512GB SSD for only about $350 more than I had originally paid for the base model. I bought that, got it Saturday, and have been back to being a loyal Apple customer who was really helped by their customer service.
I expressed my displeasure with this outcome, said how much I would appreciate Apple taking care of one of their customers, etc, but they wouldn't budge, and wouldn't let me talk to anyone else (I guess you can't speak directly with a supervisor when you call?). I refused the coupon, because I was worried if I took it I wouldn't have any other options.
I called back in the next day, was told similar things, but then the rep asked if I would possibly like to return and repurchase the laptop instead of getting a credit. I jumped on that in a second! It turns out that (according to her) any phone rep can offer a return exception within 30 days, without a manager's approval, so if you're having trouble getting a price match try that route. This was calling Apple's main 800-number customer service.
So I got a return label, headed back to the apple refurb store, and found an i7 version of the 13 rMBP with the 512GB SSD for only about $350 more than I had originally paid for the base model. I bought that, got it Saturday, and have been back to being a loyal Apple customer who was really helped by their customer service.
Has anyone had the refund credit actually show up on their credit card? I called a week ago, and it ain't there. Plus the guy told me he couldn't refund the tax I paid on the purchase. Looks like I have to call again
Generally yes. I bought one, got a 10% off coupon in the mail, and used it to get them to drop the price. They had to do a return / resell but it was no problem at all.
why would they even give you a cent when you bought it 100+ days ago?? some people just dont have anything better to do
the poster wasn't surprised and didn't expect it, and merely asked to see - once they said no, he cut his losses. It's not like he laid on the floor and screamed like a child.