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I think, it is the best to figure out first, before purchase. Try in store properly, look at the product properly. Then decide, then buy.

Some people return device because the “colour shade” is not as they were hoping?!? And than they put case on it anyway

To be honest, the only way I can think, it is justified, is, when lockdowns, or when you live far away from a place, where you can try one.

For carbon footprint, returning adds extra prints (send - return - repack - resend) and maybe even more.
So, it would be nice, if people treat things (also other people) with more respect. And I mean it about everything, not just Apple stuff.
“Treat others (things) as you want to be treated” golden, but forgotten, rule

* extra bonus rant *
I really really dislike plastic.
Whom ever came up with that fashion,
to make everything plastic, that person deserves kick in the ar@e.
There some things, which are fine, being made out of it, but it is a small amount.
Everything we use, should be recyclable, not “dump in the ocean-able”

Until recently I have never realized, how great bamboo is. You can make clothes, cups, cutlery, flooring, furniture, toys, … gazillion things, out of it. It is eco friendly, bamboo grows extremely fast, so you do not need to worry about it, compared to other trees, which take ages to grow.
 
If someone is 'abusing' the return policy, then yes it's morally wrong. If they use the return window to determine whether the device meets their needs, then that is not abuse.
If they run out and purchase the item without doing any research and thoughtful analysis ahead of time to determine what their actual best use and needs would be, then, yes, IMHO it IS abuse, especially if they have bought another similar item at the same time in order to compare the two.

That said, sure, sometimes people buy something with all the best intentions and then once they have it in hand and are using it they realize that..... "uh-oh, this really isn't what I need," or "this device is causing problems I had not anticipated," and in those situations it is perfectly reasonable to return the item with an honest explanation of why the return was felt to be necessary.

It's the people who purchase two or three similar items at the same time or close to it with even before the purchases been completed, actually having the intention of returning the one(s) not suiting them after all for whatever valid or silly reasons who are the real problems for retailers, especially ones like Apple with its generous return policy.
 
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It will be interesting to see if many return their stock config MBP’s that received them from launch day - now.
Interesting because Apple has just introduced their holiday returns meaning if you purchase a product today, you have up until January 8th, 2022 to return it, rather then the standard 14days (here in Aus)..
That’s a 2 month return window. Pretty crazy.
 
I’ve returned Apple stuff in the past because I thought there was something a touch wrong with it or I got cold feet afterwards, but not to an abuse point.
I guess they do flag some regular folk for getting crazy about it. I wonder if some of these Youtuber “reviewers” are on a list where it’s kosher to do returns without it reflecting badly on them (I know some are purposely sent units for review too)

But if you’re buying two colors of the same item just to see which one you like then that’s not really cool…go to a store first to see.
 
If they run out and purchase the item without doing any research and thoughtful analysis ahead of time to determine what their actual best use and needs would be, then, yes, IMHO it IS abuse, especially if they have bought another similar item at the same time in order to compare the two.

That said, sure, sometimes people buy something with all the best intentions and then once they have it in hand and are using it they realize that..... "uh-oh, this really isn't what I need," or "this device is causing problems I had not anticipated," and in those situations it is perfectly reasonable to return the item with an honest explanation of why the return was felt to be necessary.

It's the people who purchase two or three similar items at the same time or close to it with even before the purchases been completed, actually having the intention of returning the one(s) not suiting them after all for whatever valid or silly reasons who are the real problems for retailers, especially ones like Apple with its generous return policy.
Agree with all that. Purchasing, unboxing and using multiple devices knowing you will only keep one seems like abuse to me. Just my opinion.
 
Premium prices = premium returns policy… coupled with the fact you only get said returns policy when purchasing directly from Apple which cuts out the middle man, thus earning Apple more money on each sale.

On top of this consumers generally pay more for products directly from Apple as they never have sales or reductions in prices etc…
In the US, at least, all purchases from authorized dealers can be returned within 14 days, longer around Christmas.

One reason we pay more is to cover the cost of returns. Those cost of those returns affects the price for everyone.

That doesn't follow.

If return policy => higher profit, then no return policy => lower profit. If Apple's making less money, they aren't going to cut consumer prices even further.
I don't follow your last sentence, but this isn't about whether Apple should have the return policy, it's about its cost to Apple, which is being passed on, same as with the other costs of producing and selling the product.
 
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From the care for environment point of view, I would say, it’s bad to return stuff.
Anyway, I wouldn’t care for hurting Apple, they are big enough, and they probably even misuse it and delay their return<-sales reports to have a better sales quarter and drive their stock market value higher.
 
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How about this for you:

Imagine at night Tim Cook bathes himself in $100 bills. Sleeps on a stack of $100 bills shaped like a king size pillow. Wakes up and makes $100 sandwiches then his henchmens haul him to the office in a wagon and he is sitting on a throne made of $100 bills.

Let me just say that I don't give one flying **** about returning anything apple. You dig?
I could agree with you a trillion times
 
Just a few points:
  1. Apple is doing very well and reporting record profits, so you may use and abuse the return policy as much as you can that you will not hurt the company.
  2. The costs with the implementation of the return policy are already included in the price of the products. Do not feel bad about using the return policy, you are already paying for it.
  3. Apple does not think twice before taking advantage of its position, be it to raise prices, threaten other companies, or abuse its monopolies. It is business as usual, and I do not see why consumers should not do the same.
Point 2. Chickens and eggs! why should people who don’t take a very relaxed view of a purchase subsidise those who do? Maybe apple should charge a modest 2% restocking fee so only people who do this pay for it?
Point 3. Two wrongs don’t make a right ?
 
Those returned MBP 2021’s will be your refurbished models in 6 months. You have Luke Miani to thank for that.

Question I have to ask regarding this topic, what does Apple do with the hundreds of review units they send out around the world when they are returned? Do they wipe them and sell
them to Apple employees at a discount? Give them Craig to run nightly builds of macOS vNext?
 
Those returned MBP 2021’s will be your refurbished models in 6 months. You have Luke Miani to thank for that.

Question I have to ask regarding this topic, what does Apple do with the hundreds of review units they send out around the world when they are returned? Do they wipe them and sell
them to Apple employees at a discount? Give them Craig to run nightly builds of macOS vNext?
I’d love to know!
 
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I think I agree with the OP that it is morally questionable for someone to order so many MacBooks with the deliberate intention to return most of it. I think that restocking is detrimental to environment, and an inconvenience to other customers who are awaiting for the MacBook.

In terms of how it affects Apple - well, even at 10-15% discount refurb store does (plus restocking costs), I think Apple still makes a healthy profit. At the same time, these customers are more likely to talk about their new Macs on social media, thus creating free word-of-mouth and social media advertising. On top of this, the stock pressure that these excessive ordering does cause increased scarcity of these items which in turn increases their desirability. For example, people would fall more and more into FOMO into making an order as the delivery windows shifts more and more further away.

I honestly think if Apple cracked down harder on return policy, it would actually have a negative impact on their sales.
 
At the end of the day, Apple provides a 14-day no quibble returns policy. Use it rather than abuse it.
 
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I don't follow your last sentence, but this isn't about whether Apple should have the return policy, it's about its cost to Apple, which is being passed on, same as with the other costs of producing and selling the product.

Ok, let's put it this way. Something can cost something and yet make you more money.

Let's say Apple's return policy costs them $10 million. But it results in $30 million more in profit due to more sales. This $10M cost is not being "passed on to you". The cost is actually making them more money.

You seem to think, if Apple were to get rid of their $10 million cost, then they would be able to price their computers cheaper. But it could be the opposite, they could end up losing more money and may have to charge more for their computers in that situation.

Is that the case? Maybe, maybe not. But it's not clear cut.
 
Point 2. Chickens and eggs! why should people who don’t take a very relaxed view of a purchase subsidise those who do? Maybe apple should charge a modest 2% restocking fee so only people who do this pay for it?
Point 3. Two wrongs don’t make a right ?
Even Apple itself doesn’t care much.

Saturday I wanted to try how the Airpods 3 fit my ears, the AppleStore Guy said there is no way to try them in Store. All I can do is, buy them, try and bring them back if I don’t like. So I bought them, unboxed directly in Store, tried and I didn’t like the fit, and told him, okay now I want to return them.
 
There is going to be a lot of refurbished next year which is nice for customers!
 
Even Apple itself doesn’t care much.

Saturday I wanted to try how the Airpods 3 fit my ears, the AppleStore Guy said there is no way to try them in Store. All I can do is, buy them, try and bring them back if I don’t like. So I bought them, unwrapped directly in Store, tried and I didn’t like the fit, and told him, okay now I want to return them.

You know, this is a pretty good sales tactic. If you asked 10 people to "try" AirPods 3 - maybe 1 out of 10 may buy. If instead you got all 10 to purchase, I bet more than 1 out of them would be likely to keep it whether it be because they can't be stuffed returning them, they feel awkward returning them, etc.
 
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You can be absolutely 100% sure that if the current returns policy was making any type of dent in Apple's bottom line that they would put much stricter policies in place on takings things back, and give people a limit on how often and how many times products can be returned.
 
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