I bought an iPhone X outright- can I "return" it and re-buy it with the Apple Upgrade Program?

[omizzle]

I haven't used the upgrade program in the past, so I was not able to get pre-approved for the X. As a result, I bought it outright at 3am for delivery on 11/3. Once I receive the phone, would it be possible for me to "return" the phone to an Apple Store and then re-buy it with the upgrade program?

Thanks in advance!

UPDATE: I took it to the Apple Store on 11/3 and they did it for me. They were very nice about it. The phone I purchased was a T-Mobile phone and they returned it and gave me an AT&T one (something about needing the phone to match your carrier). Process took about 40 minutes altogether.

 

[finnftw]

I haven't used the upgrade program in the past, so I was not able to get pre-approved for the X. As a result, I bought it outright at 3am for delivery on 11/3. Once I receive the phone, would it be possible for me to "return" the phone to an Apple Store and then re-buy it with the upgrade program?

Thanks in advance!

I'm in the same boat. I saw somewhere how this was possible last year. I hope it works now.

 

[omizzle]

OK I chatted with support. They said a returned phone, even if it is still sealed, is considered "used" for IUP purposes. They said that if you're doing a store pickup, the manager may be able to make an exception, since you haven't taken possession of it yet, but that's at the manager's discretion. But sounds like a definite "no" if it's not a store pickup.

 

[JFazYankees]

OK I chatted with support. They said a returned phone, even if it is still sealed, is considered "used" for IUP purposes. They said that if you're doing a store pickup, the manager may be able to make an exception, since you haven't taken possession of it yet, but that's at the manager's discretion. But sounds like a definite "no" if it's not a store pickup.

What this representative told you is incorrect. I used to work at an Apple Store as a sales Specialist (left a little over a month ago), and we used to do this all the time, no manager required for ship to home or pickup phones.

 

[omizzle]

What this representative told you is incorrect. I used to work at an Apple Store as a sales Specialist (left a little over a month ago), and we used to do this all the time, no manager required for ship to home or pickup phones.

So assuming the policy hasn't changed since you left, I could actually "return" my phone and rebuy it under the upgrade program?

 

[JFazYankees]

So assuming the policy hasn't changed since you left, I could actually "return" my phone and rebuy it under the upgrade program?

Yes exactly!

 

[brandonnnnnnn]

Can someone confirm? I wanted to do iPhone upgrade program since I get the new iPhone every year, but to save time I purchased outright. I am picking up my phones from the local ups customer center and then heading straight to Apple in the hopes of returning and joining the iPhone upgrade program using the same device. Is this possible? I did call Apple and they said it would not be a problem. I’m just reading mix reviews so wanted to get some extra confirmation or input from others.

 

[Zaft]

I haven't used the upgrade program in the past, so I was not able to get pre-approved for the X. As a result, I bought it outright at 3am for delivery on 11/3. Once I receive the phone, would it be possible for me to "return" the phone to an Apple Store and then re-buy it with the upgrade program?

Thanks in advance!

I asked Apple chat this same question, they said it can be done if you go to the Apple store.

 

[brandonnnnnnn]

Yes exactly!

This is good to hear! I will be doing this with my iPhone X! Hopefully this won’t take too long as I won’t be waiting for pick up or walk ins. Maybe I will have to go back at the end of the day.....just thought of that being the issue.

 

[CalMin]

Does the phone have to be sealed to do this? I’d hate to have it in my hands but not activate it just to join IUP.

 

[flat five]

What this representative told you is incorrect. I used to work at an Apple Store as a sales Specialist (left a little over a month ago), and we used to do this all the time, no manager required for ship to home or pickup phones.

can i return my phone then immediately rebuy it as a refurb?

( )

 

[JFazYankees]

can i return my phone then immediately rebuy it as a refurb?

( )

Haha unfortunately not!
[doublepost=1509551931][/doublepost]

Does the phone have to be sealed to do this? I’d hate to have it in my hands but not activate it just to join IUP.

Technically no, but be sure to communicate your intentions with your Specialist. For the device to be re-sellable, it must be returned "closed box" by the employee (even if it's opened, you're just going to re-buy that exact same unit). If you don't explicitly say you want to re-purchase that exact same phone and your Specialist marks it as an "open box" return, it has to be sent to Apple's warehouse.

 

[predation]

Haha unfortunately not!
[doublepost=1509551931][/doublepost]
Technically no, but be sure to communicate your intentions with your Specialist. For the device to be re-sellable, it must be returned "closed box" by the employee (even if it's opened, you're just going to re-buy that exact same unit). If you don't explicitly say you want to re-purchase that exact same phone and your Specialist marks it as an "open box" return, it has to be sent to Apple's warehouse.

thanks for the 411 JFaz!

im assuming that all the employees are aware of this process?
i was just going to go straight to an MOD to do this.

 

[jonfarr]

I asked Apple chat this same question, they said it can be done if you go to the Apple store.

I literally just got off apple chat and had a totally different answer. I was told that the phone would be returned to sock and would have to be reprocessed.

I am trying to do the same with a in store pick up at full price, but have it changed to my iUP.

When I called support earlier in the week they told me it wouldn't be a issues. I feel like I did this exact same thing in store last time and it was not a issue. Hopefully it works out for us!

 

[predation]

I literally just got off apple chat and had a totally different answer. I was told that the phone would be returned to sock and would have to be reprocessed.

I am trying to do the same with a in store pick up at full price, but have it changed to my iUP.

When I called support earlier in the week they told me it wouldn't be a issues. I feel like I did this exact same thing in store last time and it was not a issue. Hopefully it works out for us!

I think instore pick up you should be able to do it. Mine is full price purchased and delivered to my house.

 

[Falcon703549]

I guess it might also depend on the country you make your purchase. In the UK Apple allow you to return an Apple product, no questions asked and get a full refund. I bought two Apple 8 + and returned them for a full refund an have now ordered the I phone x instead.

 

[JFazYankees]

thanks for the 411 JFaz!

im assuming that all the employees are aware of this process?
i was just going to go straight to an MOD to do this.

Yeah, all sales employees will know this process like the back of their hand. You should be good to go!

 

[omizzle]

Perfect. Going to go straight to the Apple Store and enroll once I receive my silver X tomorrow!

 

[missbing]

So assuming the policy hasn't changed since you left, I could actually "return" my phone and rebuy it under the upgrade program?

I’m actually in the opposite situation. I purchased the phone through Verizons payment program, but want to buy it outright. I was told I either have to wait 2 weeks once it hits my bill and then pay off the phone or return and reorder and be placed at the back of the line, probably not getting the phone until December. I asked if I can just take the phone to a Verizon store, return it and repurchase, but they said since I purchased online, I would have to return online. I can’t take it into the store to return and repurchase.

 

[dtdt123]

This is the question I’ve asked on the uk preorders thread.

The response I got from Apple at Birmingham UK was not promising:


Hi Guys

I have 2 iPhone X’s ordered for delivery on 13-20/11 and one for instore pickup on 9/12 to upgrade on the IUP.
Last year I returned my delivered phones for a refund and rebought them back on the IUP.

I was hoping to do that this year but the Apple store in Birmingham has advised me that I’m unlikely to be able to do this with the iPhone X because the demand is so high.

Apparently when they refund me the phone’s serial number will go into a central allocation pool which is based in cork for all delivered items.

Normally they would then click back on my serial number and transfer the stock across to Birmingham so they could reallocate it back to me to buy it through the IUP.

Apparently they would be unlikely to be able to do this because within a few seconds it is likely that another store would allocate it to their store instead.

This would mean they would be unable to sell it back to me through the IUP and they would have to retain the phone to forward on to the other depot.

So, my question is does anyone know if it is possible to transfer orders that are due to bedelivered into an order to be picked up instore instead as this may be a way round this situationfor me.

I’ll also be checking the stock online each morning at 6am to collect at local stores as well.

Thanks for any responses and hope you all enjoy your new phones!

 

[A_Flying_Panda]

This is the question I’ve asked on the uk preorders thread.

The response I got from Apple at Birmingham UK was not promising:


Hi Guys

I have 2 iPhone X’s ordered for delivery on 13-20/11 and one for instore pickup on 9/12 to upgrade on the IUP.
Last year I returned my delivered phones for a refund and rebought them back on the IUP.

I was hoping to do that this year but the Apple store in Birmingham has advised me that I’m unlikely to be able to do this with the iPhone X because the demand is so high.

Apparently when they refund me the phone’s serial number will go into a central allocation pool which is based in cork for all delivered items.

Normally they would then click back on my serial number and transfer the stock across to Birmingham so they could reallocate it back to me to buy it through the IUP.

Apparently they would be unlikely to be able to do this because within a few seconds it is likely that another store would allocate it to their store instead.

This would mean they would be unable to sell it back to me through the IUP and they would have to retain the phone to forward on to the other depot.

So, my question is does anyone know if it is possible to transfer orders that are due to bedelivered into an order to be picked up instore instead as this may be a way round this situationfor me.

I’ll also be checking the stock online each morning at 6am to collect at local stores as well.

Thanks for any responses and hope you all enjoy your new phones!

Hmm... sounds bad. Hopefully we can get some US reports in a few hours

 

[jonfarr]

An confirm that this doesn’t work. Here to pick up my phone now and there is someone else trying and it will not work. Phone has to be activated (Verizon) and is then not showing up in the system to be returned.

 

[A_Flying_Panda]

An confirm that this doesn’t work. Here to pick up my phone now and there is someone else trying and it will not work. Phone has to be activated (Verizon) and is then not showing up in the system to be returned.

That’s probably because with Verizon? Since I just did the same and they had no problem with returning and rebuying. I’m on T-Mobile though.

 

[DannEboE]

I'M hoping this will go okay for me when I pick it up in 4 hours haha.

 

[Zaft]

I literally just got off apple chat and had a totally different answer. I was told that the phone would be returned to sock and would have to be reprocessed.

I am trying to do the same with a in store pick up at full price, but have it changed to my iUP.

When I called support earlier in the week they told me it wouldn't be a issues. I feel like I did this exact same thing in store last time and it was not a issue. Hopefully it works out for us!

I asked another Apple rep via Chat and he also said its fine even if opened. I think calling the store is the safest bet.