Apple will drop restocking fees on January 11

A rumor out of 9to5 Mac suggests Apple will drop its 10 percent restocking fees starting January 11. These fees were assessed when a customer brought a product back within the 14-day return and could get quite expensive, especially for the high-end MacBook Pro notebooks or Mac Pro desktops.

The reasoning behind this rumored policy change was not divulged, but Apple may be following in the footsteps of Best Buy, which got rid of its restocking fees this past holiday shopping season.

This new no restocking fee policy may also explain why some Apple stores were covering their windows last night. Signage promoting this new policy would need to be set up by employees working under the cover of night. Coincidentally, this January 11 date is also the same day Verizon Wireless is hosting an event, we assume to announce the CDMA iPhone.

[Via Engadget]

View Tags

Source: http://www.9to5mac.com/46581/no-more-restocking-fees-at-appl…

Categories

Apple

A rumor out of 9to5 Mac suggests Apple will drop its 10 percent restocking fees starting January 11. These fees were assessed when a...

Add a Comment

Sign in »

8 Comments

Filter by:

used computers

I really liked your blog quite informative and interesting facts and figures you have discussed on your blog even the comments are very fruitful and helpful in enhancing the knowledge regarding the topic.

March 22 2011 at 6:07 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

junkie

Oops meant to say you are not currently charged a restocking fee if the item is *un*opened...

January 11 2011 at 5:04 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

junkie

I don't think this is about iPhones. I think it is about letting people try the Mac without risk. Also, note that you have a new service about setting up a Mac when you buy the computer. Currently you are not charged a restocking fee if the item is opened. Well if they set it up for you in the store, then the item is opened and you necessarily have a restocking fee. It's a little unfair then if the customer comes back unhappy and is out 10%.

Also, I think the windows were covered to training on these polices. I was walking by a store Sunday evening and it was not covered but I saw a lot of people in the store watching a presentation. It was after hours so I assume it was store staff getting trained or something.

January 11 2011 at 5:02 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Steve

I think this is a really great move. Since Apple re-uses any returned items for refurbs and things, they probably have little to lose, and a lot of good will to gain.

January 10 2011 at 3:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Greg

I'd bet money it's so people can return their AT&T iPhones.

January 10 2011 at 1:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Greg's comment

Derek

Same here. Awfully coincidental.

Apple could revert this policy in the next few months, but if the policy is what Charli mentions above (no fees within 14 days), then they could keep it around for longer. Even with that restriction, it's still a bold move. Perhaps they feel they are sitting on enough cash and are confident enough about their products that they see very low risk in adopting this new policy.

Still, awfully coincidental.

January 10 2011 at 2:24 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Charli

Oh and the info I got is that the no fee is only if you return something in the 14 days. If you try to return outside of that time and it is not a defective item, you will charged the 10%

January 10 2011 at 1:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Charli

Someone is a little logic missing. Dropping the restock fee is not something they wool change windows etc over and even if they did, it wouldn't be days before.

The UK stores were likely just taking down their holiday windows, just like the US did last week.

January 10 2011 at 1:05 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply