Very silly question, probably, but any issues buying from amazon rather then apple? For some odd reason I am sceptical it’ll be brand new as it would with apple, but just looking for reassurance. I’m suspicious given that amazon can deliver an iPad Air 4 on Tuesday whereas from apple it is almost 3 weeks.
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iPad Air iPad from amazon
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Amazon can be hit or miss. If you don't want to take the risk, buy directly from Apple.
Oh really? So the product at the same price could in fact be a refurbished item?
If it's Shipped and Sold by Amazon.com and it says New, then it's new. I've bought Apple products from Amazon.com, Best Buy, Target, Costco and Walmart and they've all been fine.
I’ve been talking to amazon customer service and they’re dodging the question about whether it is new or refurbished. Making me suspicious. Why would they be able to deliver in 2 days and apple 3 weeks? Something doesn’t smell right.
Likely because Amazon just received a big shipment from Apple. Meanwhile, Apple's online store is on first come, first serve basis and are shipping straight from the factories.
It's just like the Apple retail stores. Sometimes, you see better availability in local stores than online (e.g. some stores received shipments of 16/1TB vs 4 week wait time ordering from Apple store online).
But hey, if you'd rather wait 3 weeks to get it from Apple, by all means go for it. It'll probably take less than 3 weeks anyway. Apple tends to underpromise and over deliver.
Makes sense. Just odd that amazon customer service refuse to confirm if it is new.
Happily buy from apple and wait but have £100 of gift cards from amazon which would be really useful to use against it!
Agree about timescales, my iPhone 12PM was delivered 2.5 weeks before they said it would be!
Correct
I don't know what led to that ambiguity, but I have had a lot of experience purchasing from Amazon, and if you are buying from Amazon itself, not a third party seller, then there will be no issue if you receive something that is not what you expected. They will accept the return without any difficulty.
If Amazon has what you are looking for, if it is being sold by Amazon itself, and if you have a reason to prefer Amazon (i.e. your gift cards), then I would not hesitate to purchase from them.
I've purchased Apple items from Amazon in the past and they come brand new in the original Apple packaging just as they do direct from Apple.
If Amazon is selling a refurbished item, be it Apple or any other brand, they will say so.
I don't know who you spoke with at Amazon but they clearly do not know store policy.
If Amazon is selling a refurbished item, be it Apple or any other brand, they will say so.
I don't know who you spoke with at Amazon but they clearly do not know store policy.
I purchased our 256GB iPad Air 4 from Amazon during a “Black Friday $50 off” sale and am very happy with it 
FWIW Amazon orders hundreds/thousands of any specific Apple product and warehouses them around the country so they can meet the expectations of Prime members for quick delivery. OTOH Apple tends to ship online orders directly from the manufacture. Apple simply does not have the warehouse system of Amazon. So it does not surprise me that at any given moment Amazon may be able to deliver an Apple product quicker than Apple itself.
IMHO the main reason to buy directly from Apple is their 14 day no questions asked return policy.
GetRealBro
FWIW Amazon orders hundreds/thousands of any specific Apple product and warehouses them around the country so they can meet the expectations of Prime members for quick delivery. OTOH Apple tends to ship online orders directly from the manufacture. Apple simply does not have the warehouse system of Amazon. So it does not surprise me that at any given moment Amazon may be able to deliver an Apple product quicker than Apple itself.
IMHO the main reason to buy directly from Apple is their 14 day no questions asked return policy.
GetRealBro
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The issue is it doesn’t specifically say it is new. Nor does it say it is refurbished.
The Amazon return policy (at least here in the US) is even better. It's 30 days. You must return the item in its original packaging. (same as Apple) Besides that, Amazon has special places where you can drop off your return. For example: Here in my area of Texas (DFW) you can drop off return items at Kohl's department stores.
I've purchased Apple items and the ad did not say new. However, as I stated above the item(s) came packaged in the original Apple packaging. I just checked Amazon a moment ago and verified that if an item is remanufactured or refurbished, they will say so.
In any event, it's your choice and if you feel safer buying from Apple, then you should do so.
Agreed. I know how good amazon customer service is with regards to returns so have purchased and will inspect it and check it with apple to ensure it is a new product. If it isn’t, I’ve no doubt they’ll refund me promptly.
I've bought items from Amazon (not Apple products) marked as new, and they were obviously returns. As mentioned above, it can be hit or miss sometimes. If it's the same price, always buy directly from Apple. Likely better support as well should something go wrong or not be quite right.
How did you tell they were returns? I assume the serial number would be telling but I’m sure they can amend this to make it look new. Basically, I struggle to trust anything too good to be true.
Amazon is legit. Where people run into problems is buying from some 3rd party sellers. You can encounter similar problems on Walmart.com with 3rd party sellers.
Over the years I have purchased Macs, iPads, PC computers and other electronics including cellphones and TV's and they have all arrived in sealed and brand new condition.
Over the years I have purchased Macs, iPads, PC computers and other electronics including cellphones and TV's and they have all arrived in sealed and brand new condition.
This is very true. Be careful when viewing items on Amazon. If they are provided by a third party seller, then it's possible to receive an item that was a previous return.
I ran into that years ago buying a Pink iPhone 5C (remember those) for my wife from a third party seller on Amazon. Although the phone was brand new in Apple packaging, Apple refused to sell me Apple Care. They stated that the serial number on the phone indicated it was a replacement phone for one that had been sent in and was defective.
The phone was fine and my wife used it for years until we upgraded to a better one.
I bought my iPad mini 5 from Amazon when it was on sale about a year ago. It was perfectly fine, new in-box and wrapped. Just as if you'd carried it out of the Apple Store. As others have noted, if Amazon is selling it itself it will be new and authentic. They will state if it is refurbished. If it is from a third party seller then I would definitely be skeptical but I feel good buying from Amazon when needed.
Everything I've bought from Amazon has been new unless I went for the used items. I've never gotten a return or used item from Amazon. Anything sold from Amazon has the full manufacture's warranty.
Unless a return slips through the cracks, (so to speak) you will get a new iPad when purchased from and sold by Apple.
Sure but the device likely explicitly stated it was refurb or used on the item page.
Buying new Apple devices sold and shipped by Amazon.com, they've always been factory sealed and haven't been activated so I get the option to buy AC+ for 60 days under Settings - General.
It may be worth pointing out that it is not always obvious on Amazon whether or not you are purchasing from Amazon itself, or some other seller.
On a typical Amazon product page, it will tell you who is selling the product, and how it is being shipped, just below the 'Add to Cart' and 'Buy Now' buttons:
However, even if Amazon itself has the item for sale, the 'default' seller may be one of the third party sellers and not Amazon itself. That information is not going to be prominently found on the page unless you look for it as in the example above.
You will also see this information clearly stated when you go to check-out and pay.
I have learned to be very deliberate in looking for this information any time I purchase something on Amazon, because the pricing as well as seller reputation is highly variable and I will often forgo a purchase entirely if it is not available from a seller that I am comfortable purchasing from.
On a typical Amazon product page, it will tell you who is selling the product, and how it is being shipped, just below the 'Add to Cart' and 'Buy Now' buttons:
However, even if Amazon itself has the item for sale, the 'default' seller may be one of the third party sellers and not Amazon itself. That information is not going to be prominently found on the page unless you look for it as in the example above.
You will also see this information clearly stated when you go to check-out and pay.
I have learned to be very deliberate in looking for this information any time I purchase something on Amazon, because the pricing as well as seller reputation is highly variable and I will often forgo a purchase entirely if it is not available from a seller that I am comfortable purchasing from.
Amazon is an Authorized Reseller, so assuming everything goes according to plan*, it's no different from buying directly from Apple.
* Some caveats:
As a buyer, be careful whether you're buying from Amazon, or a third-party seller, new or refurbished; basic stuff.
Though it shouldn't be an issue with Apple products that would be hard to fake, like an iPad, co-mingled inventory can result in receiving fakes, or knockoffs. The "binning" practice means there is one pot for all Acme Widgets in the warehouse, not separate ones for those Amazon sells, and those 3rd party sellers sell (though my understanding is that the latter can pay extra to have their own bin). If a 3rd party sends Amazon fakes, they can get mixed up with the legitimate examples, which is common for some categories (like automotive spark plugs), resulting in an undesired lottery for the unwitting buyer.
Unlike Apple, where returns are directed into the channel for refurbishment, Amazon does resell returned products as new. If there is a barcode tracking sticker with "LPN RR" on the item, it has been rerouted inside Amazon's logistics system and is likely to be a returned item. I've received such items more than once; sometimes they've been unopened, sometimes they've obviously been opened and used, but that sticker is a telltale marker.
In short, "sold by Amazon.com" doesn't confer the level of security some may think it does in actual practice.
Apple goes to extra lengths with its product packaging when it can, such as by using folded outer wrapping with pull tabs, instead of simple shrinkwrap, but not always. iPhones, iPads, and computers have pull-tab seals. Accessories, including AirPods, may not, resulting in one less telltale.
Even if one receives a brand-new, legitimate Apple product from Amazon, it is wise to check on the warranty coverage date with Apple; it can be wrong and not correspond with the actual purchase date. When discrepancies occur, Apple will correct them if they are provided with proof of purchase, but it is a process, and a bit of a hassle.
With Apple, dates and serial numbers are recorded at purchase time, but even their electronic records (as seen in Settings/About) can be slightly off, though from my experience, it is always to your benefit instead of against it.
I've had to submit corrections with an Amazon purchase that was a couple months short, which probably reflected when Amazon was sold, or received the inventory. They could be better at it now, but it's wise to check, just the same.
The OP brings up a very valid concern.
* Some caveats:
As a buyer, be careful whether you're buying from Amazon, or a third-party seller, new or refurbished; basic stuff.
Though it shouldn't be an issue with Apple products that would be hard to fake, like an iPad, co-mingled inventory can result in receiving fakes, or knockoffs. The "binning" practice means there is one pot for all Acme Widgets in the warehouse, not separate ones for those Amazon sells, and those 3rd party sellers sell (though my understanding is that the latter can pay extra to have their own bin). If a 3rd party sends Amazon fakes, they can get mixed up with the legitimate examples, which is common for some categories (like automotive spark plugs), resulting in an undesired lottery for the unwitting buyer.
Unlike Apple, where returns are directed into the channel for refurbishment, Amazon does resell returned products as new. If there is a barcode tracking sticker with "LPN RR" on the item, it has been rerouted inside Amazon's logistics system and is likely to be a returned item. I've received such items more than once; sometimes they've been unopened, sometimes they've obviously been opened and used, but that sticker is a telltale marker.
In short, "sold by Amazon.com" doesn't confer the level of security some may think it does in actual practice.
Apple goes to extra lengths with its product packaging when it can, such as by using folded outer wrapping with pull tabs, instead of simple shrinkwrap, but not always. iPhones, iPads, and computers have pull-tab seals. Accessories, including AirPods, may not, resulting in one less telltale.
Even if one receives a brand-new, legitimate Apple product from Amazon, it is wise to check on the warranty coverage date with Apple; it can be wrong and not correspond with the actual purchase date. When discrepancies occur, Apple will correct them if they are provided with proof of purchase, but it is a process, and a bit of a hassle.
With Apple, dates and serial numbers are recorded at purchase time, but even their electronic records (as seen in Settings/About) can be slightly off, though from my experience, it is always to your benefit instead of against it.
I've had to submit corrections with an Amazon purchase that was a couple months short, which probably reflected when Amazon was sold, or received the inventory. They could be better at it now, but it's wise to check, just the same.
The OP brings up a very valid concern.