Exchange with Item Purchased Online with Monthly Installments and Trade-in

[tekksan]

Hello,

I was thinking of exchanging an item I bought via the Holiday Exchange period. I bought a MBP/Applecare online with the Apple Card 0% monthly installments and a trade-in. My understanding is if you return in store, they issue the trade-in amount with a gift card. An Apple employee told me I would be able to exchange the MBP in store, get the amount of the trade-in via gift card right there at that time and immediately purchase a new MBP with my Apple Card with monthly installments and apply the gift card.

I have read other people saying they were not able to do this because you can't they didn't get the gift card when they made the return (it took a day or two) AND that they couldn't get the 0% APR monthly installments if they used a gift card as part of the purchase.

Has anybody done anything like this and if so, how did it work out for you?

TIA

 

[chrfr]

If you're doing a return/exchange, that is not a trade-in and they would apply the full return back to whatever means you used to make the purchase.
I've done some in-store trade-ins and they've applied that discount to the new purchase, even when bought with the 0% installment plan.

 

[tekksan]

When I bought the online MBP, I traded in my old MBP and got like $1055 off the new online purchase so if I initiated a return of my online purchase, I would get the $1055 back in the form of the gift card. I've heard people not getting that card for a day or two AND others saying they were not able to get the monthly installment 0% when they used a gift card for part of the new device.

 

[california_kid]

This is how the process works:

• You go to an Apple Store and return your original purchase.
• Your remaining installment balance is canceled.
• Your installment payments are refunded to your Apple Card.
• Your Apple Card will get charged for the cash back amount.
• Trade in
  • If you have not accepted the trade in value, Apple will ship it back to you.
  • If you accepted the trade in, Apple will give you a gift card for the same trade in value.
• Transaction is now complete

Now you want to buy a different Mac on an installment plan and the gift card. This is what you do:

• Make sure you have enough credit line on your card to cover the new purchase. It will take a few days for the prior installment to release the credit hold. Installment plans use up the full purchase price against your credit line.
• Use your gift card to split the charge with your Apple Card
  • The online store does not have this option so you have to go to a physical store.
• Use the installment option on your Apple Card
• Transaction is now complete

Gift cards can be used on the initial purchase with split payment, but gift cards cannot be used to make monthly installment payments.

 

[tekksan]

Wow, that is perfect. Thanks so much for the detailed response!

 

[california_kid]

One more piece of advice - given the surge in holiday staffing, make sure the salesperson confirms all of this before you initiate the return. If you feel like the salesperson doesn't know what they are doing, kindly ask to get a manager/supervisor.