Resolved Apple Store question about logistics of returning and repurchasing iPhone

[jent]

Hope this makes sense. I'm in the U.S. and live near an Apple Store for reference.

I just purchased an iPhone (full price, unlocked, not associated with my carrier) and will be reimbursed by my job for it. The iPhone arrived today but I haven't even opened the UPS box and am a bit buried in work so am in no rush to do so. I realize that Black Friday is coming up, and Apple sometimes has gift card promos. If that happens again this year, can I return and repurchase my exact same iPhone solely for the purpose of getting the gift card? Obviously this would be within the regular return window, which I believe is 14 days. And like I said, I haven't even opened it. I know iPhones are usually in their own separate category (at least they were in the past, with a different return policy as I recall), which is why I write this post to understand what is or isn't possible.

I also bought AppleCare+ with the purchase. In retrospect I wish I did it separately, so that I could get 2% cash back with Rakuten and/or 3% cash back with the Apple Card (the card I use for work purchases is not an Apple Card and I prefer to put work purchases exclusively on it and keep things separate, but since I already got myself in this predicament, I'm open to shuffling things around however I have to if it helps earn a few bucks).

Just curious how all of this works and if it's a huge headache for the staff or quite straightforward. And if it's doable, is there anything I need to avoid in the meantime, like opening or activating the phone. Thanks for your help!

 

[cateye]

FYI, in past years, the gift card deal has not applied to iPhones. Only Macs and select other products. That doesn't mean this year can't/won't be different, but Apple is pretty maniacal about protecting the margins on their cash cow.

 

[NoBoMac]

Don't open the box, don't activate, that's for sure.

Over the years, seen threads here that this is possible. Or not. Luck of the draw on who you get, what store, manager, etc. Success stories but also stories of "Genius and their manager denied me".

 

[CMoore515]

FYI, in past years, the gift card deal has not applied to iPhones. Only Macs and select other products. That doesn't mean this year can't/won't be different, but Apple is pretty maniacal about protecting the margins on their cash cow.

This. I highly doubt they'll include iPhone in their Christmas deals.

 

[Apple_Tiger]

Unfortunately iphone is excluded from this deal

 

[nburwell]

Apple announced their Black Friday promotion and the 16 series is not part of the gift card promo.

 

[NoBoMac]

^What they said.

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[jent]

Thanks everyone! Moot point now. I'll open up and enjoy my new phone.

 

[FlyingDutch]

FYI, in past years, the gift card deal has not applied to iPhones. Only Macs and select other products. That doesn't mean this year can't/won't be different, but Apple is pretty maniacal about protecting the margins on their cash cow.

At least in EU, gift card applies only to some older models like iPhone 15 and 14

 

[cateye]

At least in EU, gift card applies only to some older models like iPhone 15 and 14

Yah, this is true in the U.S. as well. Not sure if they've done that in the past, but it's true this year, at least. But I guess I was thinking more of the OP's situation where they were hoping to score a gift card for buying a current-model phone and that seemed highly unlikely.

 

[FlyingDutch]

Yah, this is true in the U.S. as well. Not sure if they've done that in the past, but it's true this year, at least. But I guess I was thinking more of the OP's situation where they were hoping to score a gift card for buying a current-model phone and that seemed highly unlikely.

That’s something I don’t like about Apple marketing: they know they don’t need any discount to sell the last generation, so they’re not giving any. I bought mine a few weeks ago, so I should be happy about that, but I’m not