Exchanging an iPad Questions: Tax and iBooks

[BrynnFlynn]

Figured I'd combine them into one.

So I just purchased my brand new iPad on Friday while I was home for the weekend in tax-free NH. Score, right? Well, not so much--I noticed one stuck pixel last night. I wouldn't ordinarily complain, but it's bright green and stands out on my wallpaper, and I really like my wallpaper, and if I'm paying $500 for it you better bet your behind I'm going to do my best to get a perfect one. So yeah.

Anyways I'm back in NY with the horrendous 9% sales tax, and I made an appointment to get the iPad even exchanged (since I'm still within the 14 day policy). My question is as such: when I return it, with the receipt, within the 14 days, will I be required to pay sales tax on the new iPad? Common sense says no, but the evil wanna-be lawyer in my head is leaning towards "You're screwed." I don't really have $50 to be dropping on sales tax, not when I just spent $500 on the foolish thing.

My other questions is this: I purchased several books for iBooks, will I be able to easily get them back? Same for the apps; I made all my purchases through the iPad because I've had issues with syncing just one file type in the past (deletes everything regardless of sync status, tons of fun).

Another question: what's the most secure way I can wipe the old iPad?

 

[HengenJL]

I honestly don't know about the sales tax.

As for your purchases, both apps and books, you should just be able to download them again. Upon attempting to "buy" them again you should receive a message stating "you have already bought this item before, do you wish to redownload it?" you will not be charged for redownloading an item you already purchased.

 

[Southern Dad]

I do not believe you will be paying sales tax. Here is my reason for my belief: It is strictly a warranty replacement. My receipt said $0.00 when I left the store.

 

[BrynnFlynn]

I do not believe you will be paying sales tax. Here is my reason for my belief: It is strictly a warranty replacement. My receipt said $0.00 when I left the store.

Thank you. Do you know if this will continue if it needs replacing again? I'm in NY most of the time, and if I have to truck out to the Apple Store (an hour away, ugh) I don't want to have to worry about whether I've got $50.

 

[Phil Lee]

I had my iPad swapped out due to dust under the screen. I wiped it before I went to the Apple store then restored my new iPad from the backup when I got home. All my purchases synced up with no problem.

I can't answer the tax question as I'm in the UK.

 

[r0k]

You can connect to iTunes to wipe your iPad and restore it to factory settings.

You should not have to pay tax on a warranty replacement or exchange unless you are being charged (ie they are out of stock on the 16 gig and you let them give you a 32 gig for $100 more, there would be tax on the $100). No wait. There might be tax on the entire $600 if they give you a $500 credit and then bill you $600 for the new one. But as long as you aren't paying anything for the replacement, there is no reason to pay any tax at all.

But...

When you fill out your NY state income taxes (don't quote me on this as it's been a few decades since I filled out NY state tax forms), isn't there a question asking if you bought anything online or out of state asking you to turn yourself in and pay the tax? I know there is such a question on Michigan income tax forms.

 

[BrynnFlynn]

You can connect to iTunes to wipe your iPad and restore it to factory settings.

You should not have to pay tax on a warranty replacement or exchange unless you are being charged (ie they are out of stock on the 16 gig and you let them give you a 32 gig for $100 more, there would be tax on the $100). No wait. There might be tax on the entire $600 if they give you a $500 credit and then bill you $600 for the new one. But as long as you aren't paying anything for the replacement, there is no reason to pay any tax at all.

But...

When you fill out your NY state income taxes (don't quote me on this as it's been a few decades since I filled out NY state tax forms), isn't there a question asking if you bought anything online or out of state asking you to turn yourself in and pay the tax? I know there is such a question on Michigan income tax forms.

Beats me... My parents refuse to let me learn to do my own taxes (control issues), so I honestly have no clue. They said they had them in stock last night, so assuming they saw my service request they'll hopefully have the smarts to hold back at least one for me tonight.

 

[Night Spring]

If you are returning the iPad and buying a new one, then I'd think it highly likely you'd get charged NY sales tax, as the return and the new purchase are technically different transactions.

If you've made a genius appointment for in-warranty service, you won't get charged anything, but they'll swap your iPad with a white-box model specially reserved for warranty replacements.

 

[Hammie]

If it is a stuck pixel (which if it is green it is), then it should right itself if you watch a movie on it. Cars has always been a good recommendation in the HT world.

 

[BrynnFlynn]

Just as an update, I took it to the Genius Bar yesterday, pointed it out, and got a replacement no problem. It was a brand new one too! Of course, I found 1 stuck pixel right out of the box, and noticed some significant back-light bleed when I got home, but I'm honestly okay with that, especially since I A: have a year of AppleCare, and the guys said this would be covered, and B: plan to upgrade to an iPad 2 anyways. So, I'm pretty happy.

Oh, and no sales tax!