Other how did FedEx employee at the airport know that the box I dropped off contained iPhone being returned to Apple?

[beerseagulls]

I packed up the iPhone 13 Pro in its original box. (edit: then I put the original white iPhone box into a random cardboard box, which originally came from Chewy) I printed the FedEx return label from Apple.com and taped it to the box. (the one that I asked about in my other thread: iPhone 13 Pro battery arrived dead )

Since I was heading out to the airport to catch a flight yesterday, I stopped by the FedEx Ship Center in the airport cargo area to drop it off.

Before the FedEx employee started scanning it, she said "what kind of iPhone are you returning to Apple?"

The question puzzled me. How was she able to tell that it was an iPhone just by looking at the return label?

There was nothing printed on the label that would indicate the content... unless they've just seen so many boxes being returned to Apple and remember the destination company name and address:

here's a screenshot of the destination on the label. I assume this is the company that handles returns for Apple?

(pic showing the shipping box that I used, not the actual one... I figured that nobody no FedEx employee would steal cat food boxes, right? but boy, was I wrong)

 

[now i see it]

Every iPhone return box looks the same. Even an idiot after a while would recognize one. FedEx probably sees thousands of them. Easy to spot after a while

That’s why iPhones shouldn’t be returned in the box Apple provides. It’s like a red bull’s eye for any thief.

 

[Apple_Robert]

She has seen many Apple returns is why.

 

[Shadowbech]

Just don't use the box that apple used when it was delivered to you with the phone. Fedex, UPS knows what box APPLE uses and therefore they will know what's inside.

You can use your own box. I usually get some from Target and use those instead of the Apple ones when I make returns. Otherwise I just take it directly to the store for returns.

I'm sure the 800-692-7753 would likely give it away too..AS that's is Apple's phone number. AR = Apple Return

 

[beerseagulls]

Just don't use the box that apple used when it was delivered to you with the phone. Fedex, UPS knows what box APPLE uses and therefore they will know what's inside.

You can use your own box. I usually get some from Target and use those instead of the Apple ones when I make returns. Otherwise I just take it directly to the store for returns.

I'm sure the 800-692-7753 would likely give it away too..AS that's is Apple's phone number. AR = Apple Return

I should have been more clear... I put the iPhone 13 Por back in it's original white iPhone box... then I put it into a random cardboard box, which originally came from Chewy.

So I guess the shipping label with the "AR" was what tipped off the FedEx employee.

Oh well.. at least it's been scanned into FedEx's system, so I should be mostly safe. Tracking info showed that it already arrived in Memphis.

 

[TiggrToo]

I should have been more clear... I put the iPhone 13 Por back in it's original white iPhone box... then I put it into a random cardboard box, which originally came from Chewy.

So I guess the shipping label with the "AR" was what tipped off the FedEx employee.

Oh well.. at least it's been scanned into FedEx's system, so I should be mostly safe. Tracking info showed that it already arrived in Memphis.

The lady at Staples instantly knew I was returning my phone simply from the address.

She's seen hundreds apparently...

 

[Shadowbech]

I should have been more clear... I put the iPhone 13 Por back in it's original white iPhone box... then I put it into a random cardboard box, which originally came from Chewy.

So I guess the shipping label with the "AR" was what tipped off the FedEx employee.

Oh well.. at least it's been scanned into FedEx's system, so I should be mostly safe. Tracking info showed that it already arrived in Memphis.

Yea apparently it doesn't really matter what box you'd use. IT's the shipping label with the address that gives it away and the AR and the phone number on it. I'm sure that employee probably knew because they probably had similar return themselves and recognize the address.

I wouldn't worry too much. Those shipping label is insured, once you drop it off on fedex and it's scanned, Apple does see it scanned and on it's way to them.

Did you get a receipt? I always ask for a receipt when I drop off packages at apple. But if you have the tracking number, that will suffice.

 

[macintoshmac]

Regarding how did the FedEx employee at the airport know.. we never know who the employee really is, do we..

 

[ericwn]

You could have made this easy and just asked the person you want to learn more about rather than a forum of strangers on the internet.

 

[KaliYoni]

You could have made this easy and just asked the person you want to learn more about rather than a forum of strangers on the internet.

User posting histories are your friend...

 

[ericwn]

User posting histories are your friend...

And if you gaze long enough into an abyss…

 

[beerseagulls]

User posting histories are your friend...

and that's just a somewhat long saga of going from Xs Max to iPhone 13 Pro Max to iPhone 13 Mini and finally the iPhone 13 Pro.

wait until my iPad and Macbook Pro arrive. (iPad has been on order since Nov. 2, still showing estimated delivery of Dec. 10...) Or the two Apple Watches that have arrived, but won't be opened until Dec. 26... expect a blizzard of questions, doubts, complaints, and possibly enlightenment.

 

[MauiPa]

And yet another conspiracy theory. Lol. The key to solve this dilemma for all of you. Wait for it wait. “She scanned it”. So in system. System knows must be some weird conspiracy. Not a computerized address or anything. Totally weird. Who knew?

 

[beerseagulls]

And yet another conspiracy theory. Lol. The key to solve this dilemma for all of you. Wait for it wait. “She scanned it”. So in system. System knows must be some weird conspiracy. Not a computerized address or anything. Totally weird. Who knew?

apparently all they need to see was the "AR" on the label.... (and based on the size of the box, it could only be iPhones... unless people are returning Apple polish cloth as well?)

 

[WeatherWeasel]

She has super powers

 

[TGM85]

You could have made this easy and just asked the person you want to learn more about rather than a forum of strangers on the internet.

Yeah, but that would’ve required that OP actually talk to someone IRL, which we don’t tend to do around here?