Up until now, customers who have purchased an iPhone directly from Apple, via its online store, or its retail stores, have had 30 days to return the undamaged device for any reason. Now, Apple has lowered the return days to 14 days, in line with the other products sold in its stores.
9to5Mac has published an internal Apple document provided by one of its retail sources showing the changed return policy on the iPhone. They note that while Apple was set to have the policy officially go into effect on March 13th, the return policy on Apple.com already reflects the 14-day return policy for the device. (As shown above.)
Apple’s 30-day return policy contrasted with its carrier partners, all of whom only offer a 14-day return policy. While customers could still return an iPhone to Apple within the 30-day period, if it was past the carrier’s 14-day return window, the customer would still be responsible to the carrier for and Early Termination Fees and any other penalties from the carrier.
The policy conflict was potentially misleading to customers who thought they could return their device within the 30-day period and not be subject to penalties from their carrier.
Apple’s document states that Apple is making the change in an effort to have one universal return policy for all of its products, and to match the carriers 14-day return policies.
