Chance of swapping 20" for 24" without restock fee?

[Squeak825]

Ok, I am an idiot. I didn't read these boards enough before I bought a new 20" iMac. I went to my local Apple store, played with an iMac there and loved the way it looked -- however it was a 24" model.

Stupid me, I assumed they were the same screen, just the 20" was a smaller version.

I have had it for 7 days now, and I just am really disappointed with the screen. I can't seem to get the colors calibrated right (none of the colors seem true, and everything is too bright), even after using one of the profiles posted here.

I think I want to get the 24" model instead, but I don't want to have to pay the restock fee. What chances do I have of accomplishing that? Any suggestions on how best to do it?

Thanks!

 

[Jackattack]

Sadly the internet is not full of stories about returning a mac with any success, so you can imagine the fear I was in when I got my brand new 24" Alu iMac and front and center a dead pixel. I may have just been really fortunate but my apple store in knoxville, tn had no problem exchanging it for me. It was only 2 days after the original purchase however, not a week (even if a week is still within the return policy)

Anyway I didn't do anything special other than call and explain my situation and I guess I was one of the lucky ones. Basically maybe this will give you some hope that it can actually happen. I'm rooting for you! Best of luck!

 

[djc6]

I was able to return the 20" for a 24". I wrote about it here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/340723/

The restocking fee was never even mentioned by the assistant manager I worked with. I eventually brought it up and he said the fee is completely up to the manager's discretion.

 

[oduinnin]

I feel for ya, but ...

How would you like to be the sap that unknowingly hauls home the defective iMac you brought back? It happens. My daughter used to work for a well known computer store and they would just put those returned units back in stock unless the box was just too torn up to look new. With those, they sold as "open box" specials for 10-15% discount.

 

[Squeak825]

Just to follow up and close the loop:

I made a genius bar appointment for lunch today. Went in and explained my situation, and showed them the color shift on the screen. After some discussion, they tech said it was within standards, and was expected.

Based on that, I made the case that I was never use to that type of shift before (I have an ACD at work), and wanted to then upgrade to the 24" and get a comparable screen. The tech had to get the manager, but the manager approved it without any discussion, and no restock fee.

So, I now have the 24", and am anxious to get it set up tonight to see if I can notice a a difference -- and finally get happy with my machine.

 

[HLdan]

How would you like to be the sap that unknowingly hauls home the defective iMac you brought back? It happens. My daughter used to work for a well known computer store and they would just put those returned units back in stock unless the box was just too torn up to look new. With those, they sold as "open box" specials for 10-15% discount.

The 20" iMac is not defective. I went to the Apple store yesterday and took a look at them. The viewing angle isn't very good and because of this it makes the colors shift when viewing it at far angles. Someone else getting the iMac this OP returned is the same as buying a new one unopened, the screen will be the same.
It's obvious Apple did this for 2 possible reasons. Cost and most likely they want to sell more 24" models. All companies do this.

I don't know what company your daughter worked for but I worked for a major electronics firm for 11 years and if something is defective it gets RTV'd and not sold to another customer.

 

[Squeak825]

The 20" iMac is not defective. I went to the Apple store yesterday and took a look at them. The viewing angle isn't very good and because of this it makes the colors shift when viewing it at far angles. Someone else getting the iMac this OP returned is the same as buying a new one unopened, the screen will be the same.
It's obvious Apple did this for 2 possible reasons. Cost and most likely they want to sell more 24" models. All companies do this.

I don't know what company your daughter worked for but I worked for a major electronics firm for 11 years and if something is defective it gets RTV'd and not sold to another customer.

I asked the tech what will happen to the computer, and he said that since there is nothing wrong with it, it will get sent back to a factory, be reimaged, and sold as a refurb.

Yeah, nothing was wrong with the machine, I just couldn't handle was considered 'in-spec'.

 

[mrgreen4242]

I think it must finally be an advantage to having a partial color vision deficiency, but I just can't see the "poor" colors and gradient issues on the new 20" iMac. I went to the local Mac reseller (a CompUSA, no Apple Stores in my area) and played with it for quite awhile and just didn't see it. I watched full screen video (HD Apple trailer of the Bourne Ultimatum), I played with iPhoto (which was loaded up with about 300 stock-type photos), iMovie (which had about half an hour of video clips), browsed the web, etc etc... I just didn't see it.

Anyways, it's probably just my crappy color vision, but I'm glad you got a machine you're happy with!