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I need a Mac Laptop until the 14/16 revisions are available for sale with a 30 day return policy

A

adamjackson

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jul 9, 2008
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I'm looking to purchase a base model MacBook Air next week since I need one for a return back to our office. I then need to keep it long enough for a WWDC announced / Late June shipping MacBook Pro revision to ship to me and then return the laptop.

Amazon - 30 day returns unopened / defective
B&H - Unclear
Apple - 14 days

I am acknowledging that I'm 'renting for free' here but I'm in a pickle and need to order a laptop that will get me by...or I can lug my 27" iMac to and from work for a month as a backup plan.
 
Your best bet is probably Amazon if you have an account in good standing. Or you could just actually pay for something you’re going to use but that’s up to your conscious or ethics 🤷‍♂️
 
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Costco has a good return policy
Screen Shot 2021-06-03 at 9.40.05 AM.png
 
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russell_314 said:
Your best bet is probably Amazon if you have an account in good standing. Or you could just actually pay for something you’re going to use but that’s up to your conscious or ethics 🤷‍♂️
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Amazon's fine print is what gave me pause. They mention it has to be either defective or new in box. I've owned every iPhone, iPad and MacBook Pro released since 2001 (well they were iBooks back then) and while I never cheat the system, I have zero conscious guilt about 'renting for free' a laptop for 30 days since I'm going to turn around and spend $4,000 on a new MacBook Pro when available.

4sallypat said:
Become a Best Buy Elite Plus member and you will have 45 days to return.
View attachment 1786343
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I do have elite status. I'll call them up and verify the return policy. Thank you. I didn't know I had extended returns.

EDIT: this was helpful. I do have 45 days to return and couldn't find anywhere that apple products or laptops have a restocking fee. My local store has a couple of open box MacBook Airs for cheaper than MSRP so I may grab one of those. I don't care about the physical condition of it so long as it works.
 
4sallypat said:
You have to be an ELITE PLUS member to get 45 days....

I am currently at Elite level by using the Citi BB card....
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I bought a ton of appliances there last year as well as two Hero 9s + a DJI drone so I lucked out on that one.

Here's my store's open box inventory:
download
 
adamjackson said:
I'm looking to purchase a base model MacBook Air next week since I need one for a return back to our office. I then need to keep it long enough for a WWDC announced / Late June shipping MacBook Pro revision to ship to me and then return the laptop.

Amazon - 30 day returns unopened / defective
B&H - Unclear
Apple - 14 days

I am acknowledging that I'm 'renting for free' here but I'm in a pickle and need to order a laptop that will get me by...or I can lug my 27" iMac to and from work for a month as a backup plan.
Click to expand...
What do you need to do with the machine? Maybe get an old used Mac off eBay and resell it. If you don’t need a ton of horsepower even the 2012 non retina MacBook pros aye very serviceable and can be had $100.
 
If you’re doing it for work, why wouldn’t your company rent you a computer? They want you to furnish your own computer? I never would use my personal devices for work. Or is this your own business?

But if you’re set on it, as others said Best Buy elite+ has the best. Be careful how many/what kind of returns you do. Best Buy and Amazon use a 3rd party company that tracks returns for them and I’ve known people who’ve had Amazon returns denied because they habitually returned items, usually towards their deadline. Best Buy has been known to deny them for abuse of their policies. But if you haven’t abused their return policy in the past, no issue.
 
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adamjackson said:
I'm looking to purchase a base model MacBook Air next week since I need one for a return back to our office. I then need to keep it long enough for a WWDC announced / Late June shipping MacBook Pro revision to ship to me and then return the laptop.

Amazon - 30 day returns unopened / defective
B&H - Unclear
Apple - 14 days

I am acknowledging that I'm 'renting for free' here but I'm in a pickle and need to order a laptop that will get me by...or I can lug my 27" iMac to and from work for a month as a backup plan.
Click to expand...
Don't rent a brand new Mac for 30 days. Buy an older used model off eBay.
 
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Deliro said:
If you’re doing it for work, why wouldn’t your company rent you a computer? They want you to furnish your own computer? I never would use my personal devices for work. Or is this your own business?

But if you’re set on it, as others said Best Buy elite+ has the best. Be careful how many/what kind of returns you do. Best Buy and Amazon use a 3rd party company that tracks returns for them and I’ve known people who’ve had Amazon returns denied because they habitually returned items, usually towards their deadline. Best Buy has been known to deny them for abuse of their policies. But if you haven’t abused their return policy in the past, no issue.
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Yep, I can't remember the last time I returned anything that didn't arrive damaged. Never returned an electronics item to Best Buy or Amazon so I'm sure it's fine there.

Apple_Robert said:
If I am not mistaken, Amazon charges a restocking fee once the computer has been opened.
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That's my assumption but I couldn't find it in writing.

Apple_Robert said:
Don't rent a brand new Mac for 30 days. Buy an older used model off eBay.
Click to expand...

I'm not really going to partake in any moral arguments here but I'm buying a used / blemished open box from my local Best Buy and returning it 20-25 days later where it'll go back in the open box cabinet for the next person.

I've sold dozens of used Macs on eBay and the experience seems to get worse every time where they always side with buyers no matter what.

I'm sure someone will recommend Facebook Marketplace but I don't have a Facebook account.

Looks like we're all good. thanks everyone for the help!
 
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Not sure why you wouldn’t use Costco. Has the best return policy and often the best deals.
 
profcutter said:
Not sure why you wouldn’t use Costco. Has the best return policy and often the best deals.
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I don't have one in my area. Have never shopped at Costco before. I think the nearest one is 3 hours south in Massachusetts.
 
Why not just get a chrome book if you’re looking for something more disposable
 
Don’t cheat on the little test only to fail the Big Test, friend. There’s a quite strapping iMac strap going for $40 on Amazon.
 
Don’t know how you check “Amazon status,” but we bought a Mac Mini, used it for over a month (it was the holiday season, or as it’s known among us, the “try everything out for longer” season) and we returned it saying it just didn’t fit our needs. No problems, no restock; Amazon is great.

Then we ended up buying the exact same thing about a half year later.
 
adamjackson said:
I don't have one in my area. Have never shopped at Costco before. I think the nearest one is 3 hours south in Massachusetts.
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Yep, that’s a good reason! You can order it online, but you’ll probably need to do returns in store.
 
I guess, I’ll be devil’s advocate...

Beyond the ethical debate, I’ll remind you new Macs announced at this year’s WWDC is still a rumor — one I’m doubting. My guess is an autumn (September/October) event for the prosumer tier updates to M series silicon.

In other words, if new Macs aren’t available this month or next, you’ll need to return whatever you get now and be back in the same position or keep something that doesn’t really fit your needs.

My recommendation is either do your best to wait it out or buy a computer that actually will satisfy your workflow.
 
Lots of people are going back to work. Lots of unknowns.

Are you sure you even have a cubicle back in the office, a chair? When you arrive in the office, won't they already have a PC or Mac to issue to you there?
 
Euroamerican said:
Are you sure you even have a cubicle back in the office, a chair?
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Quite a few people where I work are running into missing equipment issues upon returning to work, and I'm on a secure office campus for ONE company.

Euroamerican said:
When you arrive in the office, won't they already have a PC or Mac to issue to you there?
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I'm wondering the same thing, or even why a take-home laptop or other computer wasn't issued for working from home. Of course - that wouldn't be the case for a freelance worker...
 
Same where I work. Everyone took home stuff they were not supposed to, like docking stations and ergo sit/stands and whatnot. And frequently, it was not from their own cubicles. Then, when they are asked for committing to working some hours "in office", they are wanting IT to buy them duplicate equipment or resupply the cubicles that have been pillaged.
 
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