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bobright

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jun 29, 2010
4,817
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So I'm looking to get my iPad either on sale through Walmart or using my Rewards zone at Best Buy. The question is though which will give me less hassle if I have to return it due to to a faulty screen etc? Hopefully there is no restock fees. Am I better off just going through Apple what are the benefits of going that route?
 
So I'm looking to get my iPad either on sale through Walmart or using my Rewards zone at Best Buy. The question is though which will give me less hassle if I have to return it due to to a faulty screen etc? Hopefully there is no restock fees. Am I better off just going through Apple what are the benefits of going that route?


If you have any problems just take it to Apple no matter where you bought it. They'll swap it out for a white box unit which are 100% factory new, they just do not have the normal retail packaging.
 
Return for refund, Walmart is easier. Return for warranty, as mentioned, you can always go through Apple regardless of where you bought it.
 
Which store has the easiest return policy and no re-stock fee if you simply don't like it?
 
So I'm looking to get my iPad either on sale through Walmart or using my Rewards zone at Best Buy. The question is though which will give me less hassle if I have to return it due to to a faulty screen etc? Hopefully there is no restock fees. Am I better off just going through Apple what are the benefits of going that route?

No restocking fees at Best Buy. You can return it within the allotted period for any reasons whatsoever with no hassle at all.

Warranty is a whole other process through Apple. They have a 'Care' program.
 
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Which store has the easiest return policy and no re-stock fee if you simply don't like it?

To me, returns couldn't be easier at Best Buy. I'm a MyBestBuy Elite member (replaced Reward Zone) and have a 45 day return period. Everytime I've returned items to Walmart, the process is easy (really no questions asked, no hassle) but the wait time has always been longer than Best Buy because I always seem to have to wait behind people returning all the random items in the store. Best Buy, during off-peak days/hours (ie. not holiday)...I usually have only 1 to 2 people in front of me at the counter.

Best Buy does not charge restocking fees. I've returned PS Vita memory cards, Nexus 7 (two) and an Magic Trackpad with no questions, hassle or restocking in the past year.
 
I hate returning anything at Best Buy, in fact, I simply hate Best Buy. :pThey ask you for your driver's license on a return and if you return (XX) number items over a specific period (forgot the exact details) you can no longer make returns for a few months (unless they have changed that policy).

They probably won't be around much longer because most people only use them as a showroom and then order things elsewhere. The will go the way of Comp USA and Circuit City (their obituary has already been written) sooner rather than later.

They are TRYING to get better with their recent price match and no restocking fee policies but that is because they had no choice. Their financials haven't been too hot either.

As you can tell I can't stand that place (long story) and continually hope for their demise but unfortunately the employees will suffer the most so on one hand I don't want them to go but on the other ..... farewell BB. :(

I can't speak of Walmart because other than for a rare food item I don't go there.
 
The easiest thing is to not buy it if you are already thinking of returning it. :rolleyes:
 
I was a customer service manager at Walmart. My position allowed me to oversee and make a judgment call on most returned items. Walmart, by far, has the easiest and most lax return policy of any retailer.. just keep your receipt and it doesn't really matter if it's outside of the return window - with enough persistance you get the item returned no matter what.
 
If you have any problems just take it to Apple no matter where you bought it. They'll swap it out for a white box unit which are 100% factory new, they just do not have the normal retail packaging.

They are almost never factory new, except at the very beginning of a product launch, they *may* be new but they very possibly will already be factory refurbs from ones that failed initial QA/QC.

Personally if I'm buying something sealed box brand new that's defective and I'm within my return window, the last thing I want to do is swap it at Apple for an over the counter refurb out of a white box - I want a full exchange for a new, sealed retail box item.
 
Depending on the Best Buy, it can be a pain. Walmart tends to be a bit easier in my experience.
 
Got my 4 at Wal-Mart last year, then a few days later found a killer deal and bought another 4 at a different store. Took the opened and used iPad back to Wal-Mart and got a full refund, no problem.
 
like others have said, best buy asks for your id every time u return something and depending on how much u return, they will flag you and not allow any returns for a period of time which sucks.
 
White box replacements are factory fresh units right around launch time, and for a few weeks after, but then they are "remanufactured". This directly from the Genius Bar last week, as I received a remanufactured 5S to replace a faulty one.

No biggie, just saying.
 
As far as returns themselves, both aren't too bad.. I just prefer to never step foot in a Walmart unless necessary
 
I'd say Walmart. Bestbuy has changed their policies a lot recently so they're good, too. What I have concerns whenever I buy a new tablet is the dead pixels and back light leak. Apple does exchange the new one for you but I was asked where the pixels were and blah blah.
 
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