iPhone 13 Pro Max if I order on Apple's online store and pick up at Apple Store 5 hours away, can the phone be returned via FedEx/UPS?

[beerseagulls]

Was about to go to sleep, but I just noticed that one of the Apple Stores 5 hours away from me has the iPhone 13 Pro Max that I wanted available.

My current order had an expected delivery date of Nov 8... so I cancelled it and placed a new order for pick up at that Apple Store 5 hours away.

5-hour drive seemed much better than 30 days of waiting. I'll just put on a long audiobook and have a long drive.

However, I'm wondering how Apple handles returns for items ordered online and picked up in person at Apple Store? If I need to return it for any reason, will I have to drive 5 hours back to that Apple Store? Or can I ship it to Apple using FedEx or UPS?(like a normal online purchase return)

Thanks!

 

[BreakingKayfabe]

You can return it through Fed Ex or UPS prepaid label that Apple will provide you. Go to Apple.com/orderstatus with your order number and you can initiate your return from there.

Small tip: you can technically squeeze out slightly more than 14 days. Initiate a return on day 13 and they’ll give you another 10 days or so to receive the device back.

 

[beerseagulls]

You can return it through Fed Ex or UPS prepaid label that Apple will provide you. Go to Apple.com/orderstatus with your order number and you can initiate your return from there.

Small tip: you can technically squeeze out slightly more than 14 days. Initiate a return on day 13 and they’ll give you another 10 days or so to receive the device back.

Thanks! Do you mean the device have to be received by Apple within 10 days after the return label is printed? What if there's a shipping delay or something? Just last week, FedEx package containing a camera was delayed by almost 2 week because somehow they misdirected it from Chicago to Memphis to Seattle, then back to New York....

Something just occurred to me.... if I have to return it for any reason, I may end up having to wait until November to get a replacement.... (hope not)

 

[BreakingKayfabe]

Thanks! Do you mean the device have to be received by Apple within 10 days after the return label is printed? What if there's a shipping delay or something? Just last week, FedEx package containing a camera was delayed by almost 2 week because somehow they misdirected it from Chicago to Memphis to Seattle, then back to New York....

Something just occurred to me.... if I have to return it for any reason, I may end up having to wait until November to get a replacement.... (hope not)

Just drop it off at a fed ex or ups center and get a receipt. That’s your proof that you dropped it off on time.

 

[Shadowbech]

However, I'm wondering how Apple handles returns for items ordered online and picked up in person at Apple Store? If I need to return it for any reason, will I have to drive 5 hours back to that Apple Store? Or can I ship it to Apple using FedEx or UPS?(like a normal online purchase return)

Thanks!

Because it's an online order pick up at store, they treat this as online order as you have a web order number that starts with W. So you can return an item that was picked up at the store via Fedex. If you didn't buy through Apple.com and purchased directly from the Apple Store retail, those can't be returned online. But you can return it to any Apple store near you, doesn't have to be that exact Apple Store where you got it.

When you initiate the return, it will tell you in the email when they need to receive it by. As long as Apple receives it by that date, you should be fine. When Apple warehouse receives it, they scan the barcode that is on the shipping label as received and they will process your return when they get to it later.

When you ship via Fedex, I always go to my nearest Fedex Ship & Print Center and always ask for a receipt.

 

[beerseagulls]

Because it's an online order pick up at store, they treat this as online order as you have a web order number that starts with W. So you can return an item that was picked up at the store via Fedex. If you didn't buy through Apple.com and purchased directly from the Apple Store retail, those can't be returned online. But you can return it to any Apple store near you, doesn't have to be that exact Apple Store where you got it.

When you initiate the return, it will tell you in the email when they need to receive it by. As long as Apple receives it by that date, you should be fine. When Apple warehouse receives it, they scan the barcode that is on the shipping label as received and they will process your return when they get to it later.

When you ship via Fedex, I always go to my nearest Fedex Ship & Print Center and always ask for a receipt.

I keep forgetting that there is another Apple Store closer to me... only 2.5 hours away... (but the one that's 5 hours away is the only one with the Pro Max in stock, so I'm driving the 340 miles there around 7AM)

The little voice in my head is still saying "are you nuts? driving 5 hours to get a PHONE? you haven't done that since high school when you drove almost 1000 miles to hook up with your hot Norwegian girlfriend.. well.. the phone better be hot!"