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Apple to require more secure, stringent return process for Apple Watch Edition

AppleWatchEditionHeader

Beyond a unique sales process and exclusivity to select stores, even returning the Apple Watch Edition will have its own special process. Bringing the 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition back to an Apple Store for a refund will require the device to be scrutinized under micro-inspection by Apple Store staff, according to sources. While the return process itself is unique, the return timeframe will be the standard 14 days like most of Apple’s other products…

When an Edition is brought into the store to be returned, the Watch will first be visually inspected by a member of the floor staff to ensure that the luxury device is in proper condition and is not cracked nor engraved. Next, an allocated Genius Bar staff member will inspect the Watch with special tools, including microscopes and a gold weight scale, to ensure that no gold has been removed from the Watch to be sold on secondary markets.

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Critically, only Apple Store managers can process Apple Watch Edition returns, and the process can only be conducted once the device is approved for return by the aforementioned Genius Bar staff member. Exchanges, on the other hand, must be handled over the phone with the Apple Online Store team, and this applies to the stainless steel Apple Watch and Apple Watch Sport in addition to the gold Edition versions.

Apple tells employees to handle Apple Watch Edition returns with “extreme care,” and that the watches must be stored in dedicated “tamper-evident Apple Watch Edition return bags.” Additionally, both the Genius Bar member who inspects the Watch and the store manager must sign the return bag to ensure that the process was properly completed. The watches will then be stored in the store safe and then securely returned to Apple corporate.

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Comments

  1. chrisl84 - 9 years ago

    Buys that edition, takes a few selfies for tinder so they ladies think youre rich, returns it….now i know how they projected 40K Editions sold yesterday.

  2. Leif Paul Ashley - 9 years ago

    I’d imagine most buying the edition wouldn’t care if it broke the next day lol

  3. Tell me more about this “Band Swap” mentioned. I don’t care about Edition but doesn’t it seem to imply this is possible with other watches?

  4. friarnurgle - 9 years ago

    Looking forward to them showing up on the refurb store. /s

  5. charismatron - 9 years ago

    I’m not gonna lie: I’d hate to be the guy to verify an Edition return. It’s a good idea to have more than one person involved in such a nerve-wracking duty.

  6. Jamie Gilder - 9 years ago

    “Band swaps are not available for Apple Watch Edition” Interesting. Could lead that Sport and Steel could be?

  7. vandy75 - 9 years ago

    You have to call to return a sport watch? Angela strikes again. LOL. It’s time for her to go back to blueberry LOL

    • nsfw666 - 9 years ago

      It says you have to call to exchange your watch. Which makes sense because the stores don’t have any stock.
      It doesn’t say anything about no returns at the store. In fact the whole article is about the return process in-store.
      Maybe instead of laughing at Angela you should go back to school?

    • This is for exchanges (bringing in a Watch, and replacing it with one of equal value), and not returns. This is because the Watches are currently not held in store inventory, so a order has to be processed through the online sales team.

  8. Computer_Whiz123 - 9 years ago

    This is apple taking better care of their products…