iPhone 16/Plus Stop ordering and returning

[UnifiedMelody]

helpful for very big purchases, especially things like macbook pro [m3 max]... initially bought a base model spec thinking it would be sufficient 14c 30g, 36gb/1tb but realized ram was capping. was able to exchange and pay diff for the unbinned version and more than happier lol i had the option to exchange and still fork out the diff with no repercussions. most retail in aus will refuse a return after purchase as they will struggle to sell post-opened items. apple is fine

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Well, some people just can’t visit local Apple Store in a single day trip. For example New Zealanders, as there’s none for them. But I do distaste folks who deliberately buy a dozen devices with no intention to keep them. As in, abusing the system repeatedly.

I don't need to visit a store to know I won't like a color. I knew the day of the reveal that I did not like natural or desert. IRL viewing not required.

 

[seabee3]

I have never done this but I can imagine that there are those that buy multiple for launch day because of how Apple handles things.
Example: If someone buys a Pro and decides they want a Max, they cannot exchange it because the Max won't be in stock for x amount of weeks, long after the return period has ended. The person wants a phone on launch day and since there is no chance to see/feel a phone/color beforehand, ordering the two they are deciding on is the only way to guarantee they will have SOME phone within the first few weeks.

 

[weckart]

In the EU, at least, it is 14 day return policy, no questions asked, with free return costs. So, one can try anything within the 14 day period without losing any money. So, why not? A company's business or profit is not our concern!

Nope. Not covered by the EU directive. If the seller offers free return postage within the cooling off period, fine. If the seller states that returns are at the buyer's expense (if goods are not faulty) then you will pay to play. Also, not "anything". There are plenty of exemptions from this provision. Try returning any software or recorded medium that has been opened, for example. You'll get short shrift from everyone. Local laws over and above the directive may be more generous to the buyer but you would have to be more specific in your arguments than just the EU, then.

Not for nothing but continually returning stuff is going to get your account deleted. Amazon and ASOS have not been reticent in wielding the ban hammer.

 

[ozapple]

It certainly disrupts apples green credentials! I bet they don’t account for all these returns

Well it’s not as though they’re chucking all these returned phones in a big old bonfire at Apple Park so everyone can roast marshmallows over them after work..

They actually do repurpose them as refurbs/replacements etc…

 

[Charlesrfinal]

I know 2 ppl that preordered a 16PM and then thought about the investment required and returned.

Its dumb.

Edit, one of them put pictures of their new phone on social media, then returned it. Life these days, is all for the clicks.

Me, I've had a launch day device since the 3GS. Now every year I trade in my current after I get mine.

 

[TheWraith]

I really think this thread is people showing off that they are so evolved and would never return a phone—it's a lot of posturing. Many folks here should get over themselves and get some new hobbies.

The only people who need to care about Apple's return rates is...Apple. And I feel sure they have a handle on it.

And don't worry: if there were savings because less people returned phones, I am completely certain none of that would be passed on to the consumer.

 

[chmania]

Nope. Not covered by the EU directive. If the seller offers free return postage within the cooling off period, fine. If the seller states that returns are at the buyer's expense (if goods are not faulty) then you will pay to play.

I'm sure you live in the EU to state that. 😏
It is standard where I live in the EU, return is free of charge within that 14 days.

"You have 14 days to inform the seller that you want to terminate contract and return the item. You don’t have to explain your decision or provide any reason for that. These 14 days are counted starting from the day your purchase was delivered to you.

However, if the seller did not inform you in any way about the right to terminate the contract, then the deadline to terminate the contract will be extended by 12 months from the last day of the 14-days period.

After terminating the contract, the contract is considered as void. This means that the seller have to give you back the price you paid and you have to send the item back to the shop.

The seller is obliged to return to you all payments you made (including delivery cost) for the item within 14 days from the date of receiving the statement."

The above is from a law office. When the contract is void, you've not bought anything, and not spend anything. All the expense is seller's. Buying anything from the internet is quite safe, but one must buy from well known distributions or selling platforms. Best never buy from the manufacturer direct.

 

[Bustermd]

Its always something that's bothered me as it is wasteful. It doesn't matter if Apple allows it, or even tacitly encourages it.

But, if you're going to do it, just own your behavior. Don't blame Apple or anyone else. No one is forcing this behavior on you, it is a choice you are making.

Edit: I should add that by this I mean people that buy the phone just to "try it out", or to see if they like the color or the size, or just to see it and use it with no intention of ever keeping it. Not people who return it for a legitimate reason.

 

[chmania]

Not people who return it for a legitimate reason.

The legitimate reason always is "I don't want it" - the right to refuse. 👍

 

[SnyG]

I just can't even relate tbh. Just pick a colour at purchase and own the decision. It is a mass produced consumer electronic, not a wedding dress. Apple should charge a restocking fee to customers who have a history of ordering multiple devices and commiting these devices to the refurbished sector IMHO.

Agreed. I got the pacific blue 12 pro max at launch and when it turned up, I really didn’t like the colour at all. I never did end up liking the colour, but I just slapped a case on it and enjoyed the rest of the phone until I upgraded. Now I know to avoid blue phones!

 

[Bustermd]

The legitimate reason always is "I don't want it" - the right to refuse. 👍

Right to refuse? Refuse what? Who's forcing you to buy it?

Consumer protection laws that legislate a mandatory cooling off period are to protect people's rights to change their minds for whatever reason. That is fine.

The behavior that is being called out here is people exploiting a return policy when they never had any honest intention of buying the product, and no intention of ever keeping it. That is being wasteful.

Like I said... just own it. Don't try and take the moral high ground.

 

[weckart]

I'm sure you live in the EU to state that. 😏
It is standard where I live in the EU, return is free of charge within that 14 days.

After terminating the contract, the contract is considered as void. This means that the seller have to give you back the price you paid and you have to send the item back to the shop.

The seller is obliged to return to you all payments you made (including delivery cost) for the item within 14 days from the date of receiving the statement."

The above is from a law office. When the contract is void, you've not bought anything, and not spend anything. All the expense is seller's. Buying anything from the internet is quite safe, but one must buy from well known distributions or selling platforms. Best never buy from the manufacturer direct.

I live in the UK. The law has not changed since Brexit. What operated while the UK was a member is still in force. I have also lived and worked in a few EU countries as well, so spare me your snide emoji. What you posted above is also ambiguous. "The seller is obliged to return to you all payments you made (including delivery cost).." says nothing about return postage. That is the issue. There is no assumption that you get to return stuff free if the seller states otherwise. A big seller like Amazon can afford to swallow those costs but smaller retailer who still fall under the act may not be able to be as generous. As said, the law where you live in particular may be more favourable to the buyer but you cannot assume that things are identical in all 27 member states.

Also, you need to take a look at the directive rather than pick quotes from the summary of a law office. Unless you return the items pretty much as you found them, the seller has a right to charge wear and tear up to the entire value of the purchase. The law only allows you to handle the goods sufficiently in order to reach a decision as to whether it meets your needs. There are a lot of ifs and buts in the directive.

 

[C7 POWER]

Likely sold as new.

Not if they have been opened.

 

[chmania]

Consumer protection laws that legislate a mandatory cooling off period are to protect people's rights to change their minds for whatever reason. That is fine.

The behavior that is being called out here is people exploiting a return policy when they never had any honest intention of buying the product, and no intention of ever keeping it.

The return policy is mandatory, so free people can do whatever they want, try it out, send it back for whatever the reason, which is personal, and not obliged to explain to anyone.

This didn't actually cross my mind as I buy what I want, when I want, never falling for the hype. Good that OP brought this out. One can actually try any MacBook, iPhone or any other device, and sent it back within 14 days. I asked this question about buying something in instalments basis, from a law firm. The reply is interesting.

"Regardless of whether we bought the product in instalments or financed it from our own funds, we always have the right to return the goods within 14 days of receiving them. If we bought the product in instalments, i.e. we concluded a credit agreement together with the purchase agreement, this is a so-called tied credit, which will automatically terminate when the seller receives information about the withdrawal from the contract.

And what to do in a situation when we have already repaid the first installment of the loan? In such a case, the lender is obliged to return the funds paid to us. The remaining part of the settlement takes place between the seller and the lender. In a situation where we withdraw from a credit agreement, the institution with which we incurred the obligation is obliged to forward updated data to the credit information office within 7 days."

There's a lot of info in that answer, but I'm including only what's relevant. Technically as the OP says, people can abuse consumer law, if they want. Not everyone would do that, but it is quite possible.

 

[chmania]

I live in the UK.

Understood.

. As said, the law where you live in particular may be more favourable to the buyer I said, where I live.

Also, you need to take a look at the directive rather than pick quotes from the summary of a law office.

The directive is a directive, but the law is for the given country. Quite favourable to the buyer.

 

[kargurin]

Do you not test drive a car before you commit to the purchase? Kind of a similar mindset. Same goes for Amazon. The amount of returns Amazon gets is insanely high compared to Apple. The fact that you are so worked up about it is honestly kinda weird.

Amazon is known to ban people who abuse returns. I rarely return items from them.

 

[jagolden]

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?

Yes. I think doing that is cheap, lazy, selfish, and shows what a low-like the person is.
It’s a form of stealing or theft. Once opened and fired up, then returned, it can’t be resold as new so the manufacturer taks a little hit.

 

[Jackbequickly]

Not if they have been opened.

How do you know? You don’t.

 

[C7 POWER]

How do you know? You don’t.

Yeah they do, Apple has the pull tabs on either side to tell if it’s been opened

 

[iObama]

Biggest corporation in the world.

Stop being mad at consumers on behalf of the biggest corporation in the world.

 

[warriors2017]

All the trouble processing returns and restoring to refurbished units just so a few people can get off on their selfish habits

 

[Jackbequickly]

Yeah they do, Apple has the pull tabs on either side to tell if it’s been opened

Really, I did not know that! You do not know.

 

[5167767]

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 agree with you. I never buy anything with the intention of returning it.

 

[DDustiNN]

All the trouble processing returns and restoring to refurbished units just so a few people can get off on their selfish habits

I’m sure Apple is really struggling to pay the bills 😂