iPhone 16/Plus Stop ordering and returning

[mkjnkn]

The amount of people I see on this forum ordering the latest iPhone and then returning within the return window is really frustrating. I would suggest it’s only so those doing it can take part in the pre-order/new release hype with no real intention of keeping the device. But it takes away a phone from someone else waiting during launch, not to the mention the environmental impact and administrative burden.

Has it bothered anyone else seeing this practice be mentioned on here?

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

The amount of people I see on this forum ordering the latest iPhone and then returning within the return window is really frustrating. I would suggest it’s only so those doing it can take part in the pre-order/new release hype with no real intention of keeping the device. But it takes away a phone from someone else waiting during launch, not to the mention the environmental impact and administrative burden.

Has it bothered anyone else seeing this practice be mentioned on here?

Its usually indecisive people who can't decide on a particular size or colour and need to go through several combinations before they settle. Or people who want the experience of opening the new iPhone without the means to keep it. It is pathetic but been like that for over a decade and some of the threads here are comical. You also get those who put their iPhones under a digital microscope and post a thread asking if the 0.005mm dot imperfection is worthy of a return.

Blame the FOMO culture on social media I say.

 

[Diorama]

I’m surprised it doesn’t lead to more beef on here to be honest; sometimes you’ve got people desperately trying to get hold of a phone, and in the same thread someone who ordered three colours for launch day to see which one they liked best, lol.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

Makes me laugh when people receive a phone and then complain about the specification or lack of differences from their old phone and send them back. Surely they know what the new specifications are.

 

[KhunJay]

It's on Apple for allowing this.
Im sure its backed by some consumer psychology that says out of every 6 who return, 4 will keep it.
Regardless, it's a facility that is abused.

 

[Prabas]

Now imagine how many phones youtubers return when they do 'I BOUGHT EVERY COLOR AND SIZE IPHONE!! DO NOT CHOOSE WRONG!!! WATCH THIS VIDEO!' and after they're done with the video, they return like 10 phones. I'd say at least make returns a bit harder for a month after release or something.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Now imagine how many phones youtubers return when they do 'I BOUGHT EVERY COLOR AND SIZE IPHONE!! DO NOT CHOOSE WRONG!!! WATCH THIS VIDEO!' and after they're done with the video, they return like 10 phones. I'd say at least make returns a bit harder for a month after release or something.

Depending on the Youtuber, they are often sent them by Apple to review and are not part of the consumer stock. The problem lies when people watch those videos and spend thousands on a credit car just to open every colour combination to make their decision. Can you imagine those sorts of people in the workplace or navigating through the decisions of life?

 

[Jackbequickly]

We all pay for this when we purchase an Apple device.

 

[Antarctica]

It's on Apple for allowing this.
Im sure its backed by some consumer psychology that says out of every 6 who return, 4 will keep it.
Regardless, it's a facility that is abused.

Apple doesn’t care because like @Jackbequickly said, we are all paying for that…

 

[KhunJay]

so what happens to the returned phones....I never see iPhones under "Refurbished"

 

[Jackbequickly]

so what happens to the returned phones....I never see iPhones under "Refurbished"

Likely sold as new.

 

[Total Respray]

In my view it’s the safety net of the return that adds value to buying direct from Apple. Otherwise one can nearly always find the product cheaper at another retailer without the refund option here in Europe (especially a couple of months after launch).

 

[h.gilbert]

not to the mention the environmental impact

Come on now

 

[stocklen]

The amount of people I see on this forum ordering the latest iPhone and then returning within the return window is really frustrating. I would suggest it’s only so those doing it can take part in the pre-order/new release hype with no real intention of keeping the device. But it takes away a phone from someone else waiting during launch, not to the mention the environmental impact and administrative burden.

Has it bothered anyone else seeing this practice be mentioned on here?

I actually agree with you but its on Apple for making it so easy.

In the UK we have distance selling laws that mean things bought online can be sent back as they were bought unseen.


I very much disagree from a waste perspective people who frivolously buy with no intention of keeping. What's the point of ruining the packaging along with, yes, the environmental impact of the delivery and return when you aren't going to keep it.

Confused what colour to get? confused what size to get? Go into a store and look at them! You don't have to order every colour and size to see which one you fancy. it not a jumper.

YouTubers are most commonly doing this. Seeing someone unbox every colour of iPhone 16 and every colour of iPhone 16 pro just to say "I have them all!" for clicks and views is all very well but what happens with the many phones you don't want. Do we really need to see the unboxing of each colour?

I suspect that Apple may in the future do something to stop this - I mean they have the accounts of people who always send stuff back and order many or each so perhaps someday they will put a lower limit on it.

And yes, when stock is low or preorders are tight and many people miss out on their ability to get a phone on launch day.. it is annoying seeing YouTubers with many units they simply don't want.

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

There’s a culture of “try it, return it”. I don’t have any data on if it’s statistically significantly higher now than it’s been in the past.

Returned phones get verified and refurbished to be used for replacements, refurbished phones, all kinds of things. It takes a while for them to enter the supply chain when newly launched.

 

[klasma]

Has it bothered anyone else seeing this practice be mentioned on here?

Nope. It’s legitimate to try before you buy via online shopping, and it’s not the buyers’ responsibility to ensure that there is enough stock available for everyone at launch. Personally I rarely buy at launch anyway, it’s much more relaxing to upgrade mid-cycle.

 

[klasma]

In my view it’s the safety net of the return that adds value to buying direct from Apple. Otherwise one can nearly always find the product cheaper at another retailer without the refund option here in Europe (especially a couple of months after launch).

If you’re in the EU, you have the right to return when buying from any online retailer for 14 days as well, no questions asked. Apple isn’t special there.

 

[Total Respray]

If you’re in the EU, you have the right to return when buying from any retailer for 14 days as well, no questions asked. Apple isn’t special there.

With Apple you can open and use the product while still getting a full refund. Many/most third party resellers won’t do this for opened goods without some kind of financial penalty, unless defective.

 

[waquzy]

It's been mentioned here before, but it's the FOMO culture. They want to be the first ones to get the device, to post it on socials and then when the dopamine wears off, it's like nah... I don't really need it after all, so they return it.

 

[mectojic]

It's actually a great deal though. You can pretend to "own" the latest and greatest device, and hey, if it doesn't feel like a meaningful upgrade to you, just return it.
What's wrong with that?

 

[BaggieBoy]

Apple (in the UK at least) have been known to refuse orders from people who return many devices. I saw a post on another forum from someone who‘s orders kept being cancelled for this very reason. Problem was the had a lot of credit on their iTunes account they were trying to use up.

 

[jtgil]

Makes me laugh when people receive a phone and then complain about the specification or lack of differences from their old phone and send them back. Surely they know what the new specifications are.

You presume too much my friend.
You start from the assumption those people are intelligent, if at all. They think themselves clever for beating the system somehow too…

Depending on the Youtuber, they are often sent them by Apple to review and are not part of the consumer stock. The problem lies when people watch those videos and spend thousands on a credit car just to open every colour combination to make their decision. Can you imagine those sorts of people in the workplace or navigating through the decisions of life?

Bro you on fire with the facts in all the threads I find you!

But yeah, you don’t want these kind of people in your life in general, these people life’s are a train wreck or about to be one. I’m glad I don’t associate with people grasping in this manner, and if I hear people playing return (not just with Apple) I just tell them straight they are stupid.

The problem also is that the abuse of this system by the people will make Apple one day probably restrict the return process, and those that genuinely need to return the product will see themselves not being able to. (I cannot think of a situation right now were one would need to do a return in 14 days)

Right now, like others said, we pay for it and the return numbers are most likely insignificant that Apple allows this. I’m sure they have done return number studies and they bank on most people that were being indecisive to not return in the end.

 

[weckart]

Likely sold as new.

Most likely they go into the pile of replacements sent to people and stores for when a phone stops working within its warranty period. Any surpluses end up in refurbs online after a while.

If you’re in the EU, you have the right to return when buying from any retailer for 14 days as well, no questions asked. Apple isn’t special there.

Yes but unless the item is faulty you have to pay for return postage and return it in the same condition as it arrived, so it's not free browsing.

 

[Lotuskid]

Much ado about nothing

These aren’t limited supply items, or a zero sum game.

If someone bought multiple because they were unsure of size/color/storage preference that’s their right as a consumer to make the best decision for themselves and apple allows this

Someone else didn’t ’miss out’. The factories are doing their best to pump these things out. They can check store inventory on the Apple Store app or just order theirs for delivery and wait the 1-2 weeks it’ll take to arrive.

Not the end of the world or the fault of the very low percentage of people that might buy more than one

And if they really wanted it asap they should have also woke up and preordered etc to get it in their hands sooner

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

It bothers me too. I have never returned a product. That’s mostly due to the fact that I’ve never bought a product until I knew exactly what I wanted. The only way I could see this happening is if I bought something like an iPad Air 13” on launch day, and the color was just completely awful in person and I realized I just couldn’t do it. But, I also have avoided that scenario thus far