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Apple Store vs. Costco

I used Costco in The USA and Japan. I asked a question about returns they said you can buy in the USA and return anywhere in the world that has Costco. I didn't of course, but the shared thought about this statement is mind-blowing. My Apple items are always from the Apple store (iPad I buy from electric shops in Japan) or Apple watch no, iPhone definitely only from Apple themselves!
 
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used to get exceptional service from apple in the UK, i'm sure their return policy used to be 30 days as well. It's not the same anymore, at least here in the UK.

These days I have had better customer service in B&Q DIY shop. Haggle price on clearance Items, return faulty products without receipt and if it's an own brand and they can see the fault, they replace without quibble, etc...
 
Night Spring said:
Amazon recently started a "no package" return service. You just have to take the item you are returning to a nearby UPS store, and they do the rest. It's so quick and simple, I absolutely love it. Obviously not available for all items, and probably only available in some areas, but you should keep an eye out to see if that option is available.
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I actually hate thing change because they seem to have taken away my ability to do returns at an Amazon Locker. Now I have to stand in line at the store instead of an almost instant return.
 
MisterSavage said:
I actually hate thing change because they seem to have taken away my ability to do returns at an Amazon Locker. Now I have to stand in line at the store instead of an almost instant return.
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Yes that was dumb of them to do that. I have to choose UPS since I have 3 close to me vs, an Amazon store, and those lines be ridiculously long for no reason. What I do is screenshot the return QR code and have everything ready for them to scan. I’ve been lucky to not stand in line longer than 5 minutes.
 
MisterSavage said:
I actually hate thing change because they seem to have taken away my ability to do returns at an Amazon Locker. Now I have to stand in line at the store instead of an almost instant return.
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Returns at an Amazon Locker? I never had that, how did that work?

The UPS Store near me is never crowded, there's never a line to speak of.
 
h4lp m3 said:

How is it that Costco can offer a 90 day return window on Apple products, while the Apple Store only offers 14 days? ​


Buy this one metric, it seems that Costco slightly edges out Apple as the better retailer. Or am I missing something? Is there any advantage to buying a MacBook, iPhone, or iPad from the Apple Store?
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Yes, the Costco 90 days can be useful at times, especially when an appropriate (most are not appropriate) discounted device is available. Costco has no issues with just taking back a pricey device 2 months used. E.g. I recently upgraded to a discounted iPad Mini from a v1 iPad Air, but decided after using it for two weeks that Mini was too small. Apple's 14 days is very good too, but sometimes can be a tight trial window.

However the downsides of Costco are:

1) If one is seeking discounts, mostly (not always; the iPad Mini I bought was 256 GB) only base model Apple devices are discounted. Base models often are bad choices due to quickly deteriorating relative performance over time. Simply investigating Costco options can easily lead unaware buyers into suboptimally short life cycle devices.

2) Costco provides zero support other than replacement. Since Apple provides all the support, IMO buying from an Apple Store is more appropriate when feasible. And at the Apple Store one can thoroughly test/compare models, investigate the ecosystem, ask tech questions, etc.
 
dwfaust said:
Find another place to drop it off. In Arizona we can drop Amazon returns off at UPS Stores, Kohl's department stores, Whole Foods and more.
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I only have an option to return to Whole Foods or Amazon Stores with no label or box needed, but the nearest Amazon Store or Whole Foods are more than 30 minutes away from me which isn’t convenient for me, so I’ll probably decrease my orders and hope those that are delivered don’t give me any problems.
 
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StaceyMJ86 said:
Yes that was dumb of them to do that. I have to choose UPS since I have 3 close to me vs, an Amazon store, and those lines be ridiculously long for no reason. What I do is screenshot the return QR code and have everything ready for them to scan. I’ve been lucky to not stand in line longer than 5 minutes.
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Last time there was one cashier and one very confused customer ahead of me that was making the transaction take forever. 😭

Night Spring said:
Returns at an Amazon Locker? I never had that, how did that work?
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When you initiated a return instead of indicating you wanted to drop it off at a UPS store there was another choice to pick a locker. You printed out (or could pay to get a printout) a return label. You slap that on the box and then entered a six digit code that was on the printout when you got to the locker. A door opens, you insert your package, and you got your refund when it was picked up.
 
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MisterSavage said:
Last time there was one cashier and one very confused customer ahead of me that was making the transaction take forever. 😭



When you initiated a return instead of indicating you wanted to drop it off at a UPS store there was another choice to pick a locker. You printed out (or could pay to get a printout) a return label. You slap that on the box and then entered a six digit code that was on the printout when you got to the locker. A door opens, you insert your package, and you got your refund when it was picked up.
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I loved that feature with the lockers because I have 2 lockers within 5 minutes from my home. They probably did that because more people have their purchases delivered to lockers because of the increase of thefts at their homes. All of mine are automatically delivered to a locker unless it don’t fit and then it’s delivered to my in-laws who are retired and home 99% of the time.

I did one return at a Whole Foods when I was in the area and I will not do that again. It was a disaster. The customer had a million items to return and they had to be wrapped up in a bag.
 
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pshufd said:
The transaction at The Apple Store is a little more convenient as everything is done where you are and they just bring it out to you. Costco, I think that you have to go to the cage area to pick it up. I'm not sure of what the actual transaction process as I've never purchased anything out of the cage.
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True, it is slightly less convenient- but the items are usually cheaper at Costco.
FOr example an iPad Pro 11" (m2) is normally $759 at Costco v $799 at Apple- and is sometimes on sale for $699, making it a full $100 off.

That along with the 90 day return policy for weirdos like me who have sensitive eyes and may need more than two weeks to determine if the iPad is going to work for me or cause eye strain, makes Costco the winner whenever possible.
 
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