iPhone 13 Returning IPhone Questions

[ronniejoe]

Bought an iphone online just recently at apple.com. Bought an iphone 13 even though I wanted to buy the iphone 13 mini the whole time and changed my mind.


Now I want to cancel the order and order the mini instead but see its processing and thus I read online I cannot cancel it.


Now when I receive it, I have to sign for it correct? They don't drop the package on your door right? Or they do that? Now could i refuse the package and tell them I don't want it and thus that way I don't have to go out of my way to return it back? I do not want to go all the way to the apple store to do this. But if i were to return it normally, it would be similar to like amazon where you print out the label and go to UPS to return it? Or could you even scan a QR code and then show the UPS office the QR code so you don't need to print the label?


I did read you have like a two week return policy but because its bought now, you have till January to return it.


My question is... should I just open it up and use it for a bit before I return it? Should i order the iphone 13 mini right now so in essence I would have two iphones shipping soon to me? Thus the first iphone 13 and then the iphone 13 mini? Thus I would have two phones to play around with until I decide which one to return?


Note, I feel kind of bad using a phone to try it and then send it back as if I do that, well apple going to sell it as refurbished so you costing the money so to speak. I assume lot of people do this though?

 

[Fred Zed]

Open it up and test it for screen uniformity. If it’s good , keep it. Regardless of what model want now 😂

 

[Shadowbech]

Bought an iphone online just recently at apple.com. Bought an iphone 13 even though I wanted to buy the iphone 13 mini the whole time and changed my mind.


Now I want to cancel the order and order the mini instead but see its processing and thus I read online I cannot cancel it.


Now when I receive it, I have to sign for it correct? They don't drop the package on your door right? Or they do that? Now could i refuse the package and tell them I don't want it and thus that way I don't have to go out of my way to return it back? I do not want to go all the way to the apple store to do this. But if i were to return it normally, it would be similar to like amazon where you print out the label and go to UPS to return it? Or could you even scan a QR code and then show the UPS office the QR code so you don't need to print the label?


I did read you have like a two week return policy but because its bought now, you have till January to return it.


My question is... should I just open it up and use it for a bit before I return it? Should i order the iphone 13 mini right now so in essence I would have two iphones shipping soon to me? Thus the first iphone 13 and then the iphone 13 mini? Thus I would have two phones to play around with until I decide which one to return?


Note, I feel kind of bad using a phone to try it and then send it back as if I do that, well apple going to sell it as refurbished so you costing the money so to speak. I assume lot of people do this though?

When did you order the phone? I believe the extended return policy kicked in as of 11/1/2021. So any orders before that date do not qualify, but any orders placed on or after 11/1/21 does qualify for a extended holiday return, so you’d have till 1/8/22.

You could refuse delivery, which will then be Sent back to Apple warehouse automatically. You could call apple and see if they can intercept the package and have it redirected to AR (Apple Return warehouse).

You could technically accept the package. If you initiate the return on your online order, apple does provide you a shipping label. Whetherr it’s UPS or FEDEX (Fedex if you live U.S.A).

Why not test both the 13 and 13 mini while you have it to play around and then decide what you want. Lol

 

[ronniejoe]

I just recently ordered the phone.


So you want me to order the mini as well right now? So i get the 13 first, and probably get the 13 mini few days later?

 

[ronniejoe]

Okay so whether I order the mini or not, when I test it out, just play around with it and do not put my sim card in it or anything like that right? Or no issue with that? But if i do return it... well i will definitely if i order the mini as well if i have two phones, any issue with logging into my email and things like that?


Thing is when i return it, i want to make sure that phone is completely wiped if you know what i mean such as my data. So you would do factory reset before you send it back right? Or do most people just play around with it web browsing and youtubing and the decide which to send back? Then again you want to know if your voice calls are good etc. So you put your sim card and use it for a short while to see how it works? But do you ever transfer any of you information from icloud etc to your new iphone if you are deciding whether to keep it or not?

 

[ronniejoe]

Okay so to you all who buy two iphones to try them before you return one of them, i assume you guys put your old sim card in it obviously. But do you guys transfer all your data to the new phone or not? When you put your old sim card in the new sim, the only thing that is transferred is your phone number contacts only right?


Thus you dont want to transfer everything like your documents/photos and email login on your phone?


Because if you plan to return one of them, best to use it as you do normally but make sure you dont transfer anything into it? Or it doesn't matter because when you wipe it... everything will be deleted?


I was thinking put your old sim card into it and use it as is. And play around with youtube on it and etc.


But anything you should not do with it if you intend to return one of the iphones? I guess its like when you return or sell a laptop, you want to make your sure hard drive is completely wiped etc.

 

[Shadowbech]

I usually do transfer all my data to the new phone even everything. including apps and stuff. If you just want contacts, as long as it's in your iCloud and even if you start as a new phone and you log into your iCloud your contacts will still be on your phone.

It won't matter because before you return it, you have to wipe the phone clean anyways.

 

[ronniejoe]

Well here is the thing. I do not have subscription to icloud. Not only that, my iphone hasn't been backed up for months because i already used the icloud free online storage.


But would you say its foolish to try the two iphones without any sim card?


Thus use it just to youtube and web browse? That would be very bad idea right? At least make sure you have sim card in there to test calling, texting, facetime and use skype and whatsapp and wechat etc? Just to test it out?


But anything one should not do with their iphone if they intend to return one of it? Again I will be receiving the
iPhone 13 and 13 mini and try it for a bit before i return one of it.


Well if you don't put any sim card in it, could you use it as is? You always have to sign in with an apple id no matter what right? Again i haven't set up an iphone in years since my old iphone SE. But you always need to sign in with an apple id right?


So if you sign in with your apple id and also put your old sim card in it and use it like that, your phone contacts will show on the new phone or not?

 

[jaybar]

To the OP. iCloud storage is cheap. I think 50GB is 99 cents a month. You are spending $700 or more for a phone and not backing it up b/c of $12 a year? Makes no sense to me.

 

[ronniejoe]

Well I never used icloud ever and never needed it.


But if i just put my old sim card into the new iphone... what is actually transferred? I assume only my phone number contacts?

 

[now i see it]

The SIM card is an identification chip. It tells the phone what your network is and what your phone number is. It’s the passport to connect to a cell tower if you have a current cellular phone plan.

 

[Shadowbech]

Well I never used icloud ever and never needed it.


But if i just put my old sim card into the new iphone... what is actually transferred? I assume only my phone number contacts?

as above mentioned, nothing is stored in the sim card (unless you have stored contacts on sim card? Which I think is possible??).

If the contact is stored into the sim card, I would think that would just transfer over as well.

 

[ronniejoe]

Okay so when i put the old sim card in the new iphone. Then power it on, I have to then activate it by my apple id right?


Then when im on home screen, when i click on phone icon, it will show my sim card phone and thats all right? No contact numbers or anything like that would show?

 

[jaybar]

Well I never used icloud ever and never needed it.


But if i just put my old sim card into the new iphone... what is actually transferred? I assume only my phone number contacts?

You are dismissing the bigger issue. Whether you back up your phone to iCloud or your computer, you risk losing everything if the phone you purchase subsequently fails.

 

[jaybar]

I was trying to say you need to backup your new phone in some way. I was not very clear in my last post.

 

[eyoungren]

To the OP. iCloud storage is cheap. I think 50GB is 99 cents a month. You are spending $700 or more for a phone and not backing it up b/c of $12 a year? Makes no sense to me.

Yes, it's cheap, but free beats cheap. All my iDevices back up to the free 5GB that Apple gives you standard. Right now, I've used about half of that 5GB for each device.

Photos/Videos? Dropbox. Which also has the side benefit of putting anything I take a picture of on my computer hard drives. 2GB free.

Contacts, email, notes, reminders? IMAP for all your email accounts, which also with some services such as Google provide all the other stuff. Free.

App data? This is where I really do not care. I use my phone as a phone and any of the apps I use that require accounts, I've already made those accounts online. All I have to do is login. That's free too.

So, yeah, iCloud is cheap but the thing is…you don't have to use Apple's services.

 

[ronniejoe]

Do you all need to be careful with how you open your package and everything if you plan to return one of your iphones assuming you bought two? Any tips on how to be careful with the packaging etc?


Do most of you just ship it back via UPS or go to apple store to return it? I know with amazon, when you return you have to print a return shipping label... but last time they let you scan a QR code and you scan that at the UPS office and they return it that way. So does apple allow you to QR code a code so you don't need to print the shipping label when you return it at UPS office? Or do they use UPS or fedex?


Also I assume ton of you when testing two different new iphones before returning one of them, you would use it as much as you can before the battery goes to 0? Reason is to try to see how long the actual battery life is? But if you keep doing that until you return it... i know there are no fees for returning an iphone, couldn't a person make the battery health of that iphone really bad before it gets returned with the two weeks? I do know for iphones bought now, you have till January or so to return... so couldn't it be so worn out and when apple checks your returned iphone, they go wow this person just drained so much battery? Or none of this is a concern?

 

[ronniejoe]

Anyone can answer these questions? Again im planning to return one of the iphones.

 

[Fred Zed]

Anyone can answer these questions? Again im planning to return one of the iphones.

Yes. When opening the iPhone at the Apple store be sure to take one of these with you.

 

[MarkX]

Do you all need to be careful with how you open your package and everything if you plan to return one of your iphones assuming you bought two? Any tips on how to be careful with the packaging etc?


Do most of you just ship it back via UPS or go to apple store to return it? I know with amazon, when you return you have to print a return shipping label... but last time they let you scan a QR code and you scan that at the UPS office and they return it that way. So does apple allow you to QR code a code so you don't need to print the shipping label when you return it at UPS office? Or do they use UPS or fedex?


Also I assume ton of you when testing two different new iphones before returning one of them, you would use it as much as you can before the battery goes to 0? Reason is to try to see how long the actual battery life is? But if you keep doing that until you return it... i know there are no fees for returning an iphone, couldn't a person make the battery health of that iphone really bad before it gets returned with the two weeks? I do know for iphones bought now, you have till January or so to return... so couldn't it be so worn out and when apple checks your returned iphone, they go wow this person just drained so much battery? Or none of this is a concern?

The latest iPhones are the most simple to open and no tips are needed, if you do need tips then you have more problems than whether you may damage the packaging or not!

For returns check Apples return policy and do whatever suits you, send it back via courier or drop off at Apple store, it doesn't really matter what anyone else does.

As for battery use, its not a concern.

 

[Shadowbech]

Yes. When opening the iPhone at the Apple store be sure to take one of these with you.

And some white gloves too

 

[SisterBlue22]

If the order is in Processing, you should be able to cancel it - looks for a little Cancel hyperlink on the order page. The ability to cancel goes away once the order moves to Preparing to Ship status.

 

[ronniejoe]

Okay to confirm


If i ordered few iphones in November and plan to return one or even both of it... I have till January to return it as oppose to the two week return period right?


I only opened one of my packages. The iphone 13 mini only and it seems okay in terms of holding it. I still have the iphone 13 in the box. Would it be fine just returning the iphone 13 like that without opening the package? Thing is I don't want to risk damaging it etc. Thus I opened the iphone 13 mini first since that is the one I planned to keep.


Now for returning it, how do you return it by mail? Or do most people go to apple store to return it? Do they use UPS or Fedex? Is it similar to how amazon does it where you print the label and drop it off? However... the last time i had to return a regular package via UPS, amazon told me i could give them the QR code and the person at UPS store scans it and that was good enough. Does apple allow this? So that way I don't need to return to print a shipping label?


Like to know how the majority of you are returning your iphones here.

 

[Shadowbech]

Okay to confirm


If i ordered few iphones in November and plan to return one or even both of it... I have till January to return it as oppose to the two week return period right?


I only opened one of my packages. The iphone 13 mini only and it seems okay in terms of holding it. I still have the iphone 13 in the box. Would it be fine just returning the iphone 13 like that without opening the package? Thing is I don't want to risk damaging it etc. Thus I opened the iphone 13 mini first since that is the one I planned to keep.


Now for returning it, how do you return it by mail? Or do most people go to apple store to return it? Do they use UPS or Fedex? Is it similar to how amazon does it where you print the label and drop it off? However... the last time i had to return a regular package via UPS, amazon told me i could give them the QR code and the person at UPS store scans it and that was good enough. Does apple allow this? So that way I don't need to return to print a shipping label?


Like to know how the majority of you are returning your iphones here.

You have till 1/8/22 to initiate the return regardless if it was opened or not. Depending on where you live, in U.S apple will provide shipping label via FedEx.

You can return online orders directly to the Apple Store.

for apple. You must print the label and attach it And drop it off to Fedex. Once apple receives your item only then they will process your return and refund. Its not like amazon where you can just take it to wholefoods or Kohls or amazon locker.

 

[AppleWes]

Apple makes it pretty easy, I wouldn't overthink things.

(If you have an Apple Store nearby they can also process online returns quickly)

Returns & Refunds - Shopping Help

Find out how you can return an item, how long the refund process takes, what to do if your invoice is not with your order, and much more.

www.apple.com