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With the holiday shopping season underway, it is worth a reminder that Apple's annual extended return policy is now in effect on the Apple Online Store and at Apple Retail Stores in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, Germany, Sweden and other countries.

Apple-Gifts-2015.jpg

Most products and accessories purchased between November 1 and December 25 of this year are eligible for return until January 8, 2016, including the new Apple TV, Apple Watch, iPad Pro, iPhones, Macs and more. See a list of ineligible items.

The return date appears to extend to January 20, 2016 in some European countries, including Germany, Sweden and the U.K.

Apple products can be opened and used prior to the return date, but must be returned undamaged with the original packaging and all other items included in the box, such as charging cables, wall chargers, headphones and regulatory information.

When making a purchase at an Apple Retail Store, it is recommended that you ask for printed and emailed copies of your receipt. The printed receipt will indicate the return date for each product, which may vary depending on the product, store or location.

Apple also lists the return cutoff date on emailed receipts and under the Account section on the Apple Online Store. Some products purchased with Personal Pickup may not list a return date, in which case contacting Apple is recommended.

Jan-8.jpg
Apple's holiday policy allows returns until January 8, 2016 (Image: MacRumors/iPhone1)

Apple has not officially posted its holiday return policy online, so we cannot guarantee its availability everywhere, but we can confirm an iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard purchased November 12 in Canada are eligible for return until January 8, 2016.

All purchases made before November 1, 2015 or after December 25, 2015 are subject to Apple's standard 14-day return policy.

Article Link: Reminder: Apple's Holiday Return Policy in Effect Until December 25
 
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Thanks for the tip. Might have to rent the iPad Pro for a few weeks.
Just kidding. I have no desire to replace my iPad Air 2 with that over priced tablet and expensive accessories.
 
The return dates are wrong. In Germany at least items bought after 7th Nov can be returned up to 20th Jan.
 
The receipts in U.S. Apple Stores (at least the Somerset Apple Store in MI) were printing the January 8th return date on the day the iPad Pro was released (November 11th). Store staff (sales and management) confirmed that this would be true on-line too.

On-line orders to be picked up in stores did not state this date, but chatting with on-line Apple support confirmed the return date would be January 8th. While waiting for them to confirm this, I noticed if I click on-line to return my iPad Pro it also gives me the Jan. 8th return date.

BUT if I click on my Apple Watch charging cable that shipped on November 2nd (ordered Oct. 30), it says that it is ineligible for return (contradictory to the Nov. 1 start of this policy stated in this article). Even though I've always been under the impression that return dates started on the day of arrival.

Also, cannot return AppleTV that arrived on Nov. 1 (ordered on Oct. 26).

Sorry I didn't share this info earlier, didn't realize it was headline news...

I was concerned that since the pencil wasn't coming in, I'd need longer than 2 weeks in case I hated the pencil and didn't want the iPad Pro because of this. (I love it regardless!)

Gary
 
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The receipts in U.S. Apple Stores (at least the Somerset Apple Store in MI) were printing the January 8th return date on the day the iPad Pro was released (November 11th). Store staff (sales and management) confirmed that this would be true on-line too.

On-line orders to be picked up in stores did not state this date, but chatting with on-line Apple support confirmed the return date would be January 8th. While waiting for them to confirm this, I noticed if I click on-line to return my iPad Pro it also gives me the Jan. 8th return date.

BUT if I click on my Apple Watch charging cable that shipped on November 2nd (ordered Oct. 30), it says that it is ineligible for return (contradictory to the Nov. 1 start of this policy stated in this article). Even though I've always been under the impression that return dates started on the day of arrival.

Also, cannot return AppleTV that arrived on Nov. 1 (ordered on Oct. 26).

Sorry I didn't share this info earlier, didn't realize it was headline news...

I was concerned that since the pencil wasn't coming in, I'd need longer than 2 weeks in case I hated the pencil and didn't want the iPad Pro because of this. (I love it regardless!)

Gary
Return period should be starting from the date that you receive your order, but the policy that dictates that return period and any other terms is the one that was in place when the order was made.
 
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It's not clear to me whether custom built items (like a new retina iMac with custom specs) are also returnable. Does anyone know?
 
Return period should be starting from the date that you receive your order, but the policy that dictates that return period and any other terms is the one that was in place when the order was made.

That's silly, because you could go return the item and have them re-ring it up so that I'd have the new policy in place..

Gary.
 
That's silly, because you could go return the item and have them re-ring it up so that I'd have the new policy in place..

Gary.
Just like you could go and do that at the end of the return period for any item and repurchase it again and get a new return period thus in a sense effectively doubling it. All of this has existed for a long time like that.
 
Just like you could go and do that at the end of the return period for any item and repurchase it again and get a new return period thus in a sense effectively doubling it. All of this has existed for a long time like that.

I understand that. A better policy would be whatever return policy worked best for you (when you ordered or when it arrived) to prevent that issue. I'm sure some people return the opened one and end up with a new one which generates a lot of cost to Apple (dealing with the open boxes).

If I've needed to extend a return date, I just go in an ask them and they have always taken care of it for me (return and re-ring).

Gary
 
I understand that. A better policy would be whatever return policy worked best for you (when you ordered or when it arrived) to prevent that issue. I'm sure some people return the opened one and end up with a new one which generates a lot of cost to Apple (dealing with the open boxes).

If I've needed to extend a return date, I just go in an ask them and they have always taken care of it for me (return and re-ring).

Gary
Well, then there you go, those who need it can get it "extended" then.
 
Ooh, I forgot about that, though I'm not planning on returning my iMac, it is nice to have the options in case something happens between now and January
 
Is the return date the date when the item has to be back in Apple's possession, or is it the date you must have initiated a return request by? So, taking 8 Jan as the extended return date for example, how would that work? Thanks in advance.
 
I keep getting conflicting information on whether or not an unlocked, sim-Free, iPhone 6s is covered under the Holiday Return. One Rep said that it is ineligible and falls under the standard Return policy. Another Rep said that it did fall under the Holiday Return policy because it wasn't being purchased with a contract. When I go to the Apple site, I don't see anything that precludes a return of an iPhone. I am purchasing this as a gift and I'm not sure what to believe and if I should just wait closer to Christmas so I can make sure that the recipient can return past Christmas.
 
Is it just me or are products purchased in the UK no longer returnable through Apple's website, despite previously having a 20th Jan return date?
 
I haven't seen any word on their 2016 holiday return policy. I've searched Apple's website and found nothing, and I've asked Apple employees who say that they haven't heard anything. I'd like to buy gifts early from Apple, but I'll wait until close to 12/25 without that extended return window.
 
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I haven't seen any word on their 2016 holiday return policy. I've searched Apple's website and found nothing, and I've asked Apple employees who say that they haven't heard anything. I'd like to buy gifts early from Apple, but I'll wait until close to 12/25 without that extended return window.

Same here! This is key to buying many of the Apple presents for my family. I wish apple would give us a straight answer.
 
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