Carrier Returning an AT&T iPhone by Mail.....

[blairh]

I returned an iPhone by mail last Friday. (Purchased via Loyalty via a 30 month agreement.) I first went to my local AT&T store and they had issues processing the return on two different occasions, so I mailed it back.

I'm looking to pre-order the 12 PM, but my gut says this return will not be processed in time. Currently my account says I cannot upgrade until I pay off the balance from the agreement. (I never opened/activated the iPhone.)

I called the Loyalty department and they said they need to receive and process the iPhone before I can pre-order the 12 PM. They said it should be processed in time for November 6th, but I'm not so confident.

USPS tracking simply says the item was received by the 'returns agent'. A google search led me to Pitney Bowes tracking which simply says 'in transit' and has no update since last Saturday.

Curious what others have experienced when returning devices in the mail back to AT&T. Would love to know how long it took for you to receive your refund and have your account back to the accurate standing. Thanks.

 

[Bballrob]

6-8 weeks

 

[blairh]

6-8 weeks

Well that would be an absolute disaster.

 

[iambkk]

I returned my iPhone 12 this Monday Oct 26 via USPS. No update in PB tracking site, shows "In transit". Heard it usually takes 3-4 weeks, godddd!!!!!

 

[blairh]

I returned my iPhone 12 this Monday Oct 26 via USPS. No update in PB tracking site, shows "In transit". Heard it usually takes 3-4 weeks, godddd!!!!!

Hope I’m not jinxing myself but my original MA return from last Friday left PA en route to TX. Find it hard to believe it won’t arrive in TX next week.

 

[iambkk]

Hope I’m not jinxing myself but my original MA return from last Friday left PA en route to TX. Find it hard to believe it won’t arrive in TX next week.

yeah, AT&T return policy suckssss. We can't return phones back to stores if we didn't like em and only option is to ship the phone back which takes weeks to process and just do yoga during that period? which year are we in.... 80's? 🤦‍♂️

 

[blairh]

yeah, AT&T return policy suckssss. We can't return phones back to stores if we didn't like em and only option is to ship the phone back which takes weeks to process and just do yoga during that period? which year are we in.... 80's? 🤦‍♂️

You can return phones at their stores. I mailed mine back because my local store tried on two different occasions and was not able to do so. I wish I never mailed the phone back and just waited for them to process the return in store. Fingers crossed I can get this all settled before the 12 Pro Max pre-order.

Also my return just arrived in Atlanta today. Progress at least haha.

 

[iambkk]

You can return phones at their stores. I mailed mine back because my local store tried on two different occasions and was not able to do so. I wish I never mailed the phone back and just waited for them to process the return in store. Fingers crossed I can get this all settled before the 12 Pro Max pre-order.

Also my return just arrived in Atlanta today. Progress at least haha.

Oh is it? I tried returning it to store, they won't accept. Customer Service says the same, since I ordered the phone online only way to return is to ship it back using the return label.

 

[Joho2078]

I returned mine but that's because I got another from tmobile.

 

[blairh]

Oh is it? I tried returning it to store, they won't accept. Customer Service says the same, since I ordered the phone online only way to return is to ship it back using the return label.

Completely false.

 

[iambkk]

Completely false.

Wow! Damnnnn. Any way lets see how the return goes....

 

[Ta0jin]

Completely false.

That’s AT&T for you. Bad information and the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.

 

[SegNerd]

Judging from forums.att.com, quite frankly I wouldn’t be surprised if you are never credited for the return.

Although my own bad experience with AT&T was not related to a lost phone, I believe there is sufficient evidence that AT&T has serious problems with losing phones.

 

[iambkk]

Judging from forums.att.com, quite frankly I wouldn’t be surprised if you are never credited for the return.

Although my own bad experience with AT&T was not related to a lost phone, I believe there is sufficient evidence that AT&T has serious problems with losing phones.

Agree, heard few cases. Good luck to us!

 

[ssledoux]

I’ve returned through the mail. If you do it in store you may have to pay a restocking fee. It takes a month or so to get the credit back to the account, but I feel like my upgrade was available again sooner than that.

 

[Altemose]

I think part of the problem with AT&T and the constant back and forth between customer service and a store is that they do not offer any distinguishing identification between a corporate store and a authorized retailer, unlike Verizon and other carriers. In my area, the nearest corporate store is at the mall (30 mins away), but customer service will tell you "any store can help you" when in reality a lot of services are only offered at corporate AT&T locations. To make matters worse, we have three AT&T locations at the Christiana Mall in Delaware to add a layer of complexity.

 

[iambkk]

I’ve returned through the mail. If you do it in store you may have to pay a restocking fee. It takes a month or so to get the credit back to the account, but I feel like my upgrade was available again sooner than that.

May I ask how long did that take from the day you returned to AT&T receiving it back in the mail? and did you return it recently?

 

[ssledoux]

May I ask how long did that take from the day you returned to AT&T receiving it back in the mail? and did you return it recently?

I don’t remember exactly. I’ve done two returns though. One I wound up having to call when the charges were still on my bill. Gave them the info and they handled it immediately. The other seemed to go through fairly quickly, like within 14 days. Both were this year.

 

[iambkk]

I don’t remember exactly. I’ve done two returns though. One I wound up having to call when the charges were still on my bill. Gave them the info and they handled it immediately. The other seemed to go through fairly quickly, like within 14 days. Both were this year.

Great, thanks

 

[Joho2078]

Completely false.

I've been told the same as him. Doesn't matter to me. It'll get to them

 

[iambkk]

You can return phones at their stores. I mailed mine back because my local store tried on two different occasions and was not able to do so. I wish I never mailed the phone back and just waited for them to process the return in store. Fingers crossed I can get this all settled before the 12 Pro Max pre-order.

Also my return just arrived in Atlanta today. Progress at least haha.

Mine updated this morning - "Inducted into Pitney Bowes Network" - Atlanta GA. Hopefully to TX in couple of days 🤞

 

[blairh]

Mine updated this morning - "Inducted into Pitney Bowes Network" - Atlanta GA. Hopefully to TX in couple of days 🤞

Nice! My last update as of now is still Atlanta as of yesterday at 3 PM. I will hound the Loyalty department once it arrives in Fort Worth, TX until they change my contract status. I am never purchasing from AT&T ever again (will use Apple only) and I think honestly I'll go unlocked moving forward to avoid any contact status/upgrade issues.

 

[iambkk]

Nice! My last update as of now is still Atlanta as of yesterday at 3 PM. I will hound the Loyalty department once it arrives in Fort Worth, TX until they change my contract status. I am never purchasing from AT&T ever again (will use Apple only) and I think honestly I'll go unlocked moving forward to avoid any contact status/upgrade issues.

Exactly what I thought. Will never go with AT&T to buy a phone. Return process is a disaster!

 

[mzd]

Ugh, this is not promising. Was planning to mail my 12 back today with the hopes of ordering a 12 mini on launch 🙁

 

[chhhrrriiisss]

I returned my at&t phone to apple two days ago by mail and I’m already eligible for an upgrade on at&t again. I’m assuming you’re returning to at&t and not apple. I generally avoid purchasing from at&t at all costs.