Know The Rules: Holiday Return Policies : The Apple Store
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The Apple Store can be a bit of a Scrooge during the holidays, and although the company’s standard restocking fee has been lowered from 15% to 10% this year, the stingy reputation is not likely to change. Here’s why: Both Apple’s retail and online policies state that items purchased between October 31, 2008 and December 24, 2008 may be returned through January 9, 2009. The online policy is called the "return-and-refund policy," which at least implies that refunds are available. However, the retail policy explicitly denies refunds, by stating “If the item is returned in the original box, unopened, with the original packaging, we will exchange it or offer you an Apple Gift Card. Also note that the Apple store charges a 10% restocking fee for virtually every return. But the truly disturbing part is this quote: "Please note that Apple does not permit the return of or offer refunds for the following products: Product that is custom configured to your specifications, including personalized products..." So, if I were to buy a 17” MacBook Pro (list price $2,799) and customize it with some hardware bells and whistles, plus the Applecare service plan (new list price, $5,814), my reward is that I can’t return it? It’s important to note that the Apple Store is no longer the only store that sells Apple products. You may well find better return options elsewhere. |
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Circuit City allows there 14 day items to be returned until January 17 - however there is a 15% restocking fee if the products are open
This is not true. If you are returning an item at Best Buy, with a receipt you will get the full price you paid plus tax no matter what the lowest selling cost is (assuming no restocking fee). Even if you don't have a receipt most best buy stores will at least look it up with just the purchasers telephone number and give you store credit in full of what was paid.
Are you certain that's correct? I had written to them in mid November (unrelated to this article) asking about the holiday return policy, and their reply included: "Because technology changes so quickly, the return period for digital cameras, camcorders ... is 14 days." I called Circuit City while preparing the article, and was told the same thing. The return policy posted on their Website is also very specific, and never mentions January 17th:
"We're sure they'll love their gifts—but just in case, we've extended our return policy during the holiday shopping season.*"
And now the asterisk:
"*Other normal return guidelines apply, see below for details"
Among the return guidelines:
"Digital cameras, camcorders... must be returned within 14 days of the sale date...."
If January 17th is accurate, thank you for the correction. Did they give you any documentation, for example, a URL?
Your argument about having a receipt is off-basis here because the article is talking specifically about not having a receipt. Secondly, while many stores can look things up by your phone number or credit card(more often than phone number), that doesn't necessarily mean that you'll have the credit card number of the person who bought you the gift.
After New Years, Best Buy gives their shoppers about a week to return any product with out a receipt. Even if you bought it 6 months ago. You only have about a week, a day after new years. If i recall correctly, it can be new or used/open product. Store Return Policy still applies for restocking fees.
But you dont need a receipt. As many gifts come with out a original receipt.
2 years ago i returned a Video Game that i didnt want, it was still new, sealed box, but i bought it 4 moths before x-mas. And a pack of 100 CD-R's. I got full refund on both products, Cash.
So they just let everybody in with no proof of where they purchased the items, used items are not a problem, and they give you back cash. You wouldn't happen to have some support for this (like a URL to the policy, or a press report, or ... anything)?
So they just let everybody in with no proof of where they purchased the items, used items are not a problem, and they give you back cash. You wouldn't happen to have some support for this (like a URL to the policy, or a press report, or ... anything)?
Well, I suppose without documentation, all we can do is try it, and offer up the old adage for deal hunters: Your Mileage May Vary.
Regarding Newegg's return policies: I just recently found out about them the hard way. I bought a DVDR just days ago. Got a very good price for it. When I connected it to my television I quickly found there was a fatal compatability problem among other problems with the DVDR so I went about getting my RMA for the device. To my horror
I found out that the product I bought was non-refundable. I went back to the product page and put another of the same DVDR in my shopping cart. Sure enough just below the product number in the cart was the following statement: "Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable
30-Day Return Policy". The problem is when I originally ordered the DVDR I just never saw the statement.....it just did not register.
Maybe I just saw the "30-Day Return Policy" and not the "Non-Refundable", who knows. But I can't argue that Newegg did not cover themselves: it's there in black and white. In my own defense I will say this: I have bought plenty of electronic products over the years esp. digital camera equipment from many sources (Best Buy, Amazon, B&H, etc.) and I had never before delt with this customer unfriendly a policy. It is an atypical return policy and it just took me by surprize. Buyer beware of Newegg!