Apple stops returns & exchanges for retail purchases in Hong Kong

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in General Discussion
In parallel with the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus launching in Hong Kong, Apple has simultaneously halted all returns and exchanges for Apple and Beats products bought at the company's local retail stores.




The change is noted on the company's website. Previously, people were able to return or exchange products within 14 days, so long as they had their original receipt and packaging.

Why Apple would clamp down the same day as a major product launch is unclear, but the decision might be related to China's black and gray markets, which take advantage of Hong Kong's lower import duties and taxes. Smuggling iPhones into mainland China can be lucrative, even though Apple has launched iPhones there simultaneously for several years.

Hong Kong is likely to see a crush of iPhone sales in the next few weeks, in no small part because of scalpers and smugglers. By stopping returns and exchanges, it may be able to better manage the chaos involved and deter anyone from trying to commit fraud.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 6
    normmnormm Posts: 653member
    Their web page must have been hacked.  They would never word it this way: just two words have been changed from what you would expect this to say.
  • Reply 2 of 6
    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • Reply 3 of 6
    krawallkrawall Posts: 162member
    Yeah odd. 'Cannot be returned' but then explain how it works to return items. 

    And what are 'other' products you might have bought from apple. 
  • Reply 4 of 6
    hkmacfanhkmacfan Posts: 1member
    I am living in Hong Kong, being a customer of Apple HK I really can understand the reason based on what I have seen in the stores

    1. Many people in Hong Kong have been ordering hundred iPhones in the past when the new iPhone launched, if they could sell them in a profit (what you called     scalpers who are not illegal here), then everything would be fine, however, if they could not sell it with a profit then they would return back to the store, which was a non lost bet, in addition since these people would bought the iPhones with their credit cards, in return they earned points.

    2. There are few very smart iT people here, they bought the iPhones and replaced many parts inside the new iPhones, then they would return back the iPhones to the stores in a box just like an unopened one (really could not understand how could they did it so professionally). In the past the store staff would not open the box, when they realised it was already too late
  • Reply 5 of 6
    charlitunacharlituna Posts: 7,217member
    it is most definitely due to resellers. it's too big of an issue in that area not to be. even tricks like trying to limit purchases have failed because folks just create new apple ids, pay in cash etc.
  • Reply 6 of 6
    charlitunacharlituna Posts: 7,217member
    hkmacfan said:
    2. There are few very smart iT people here, they bought the iPhones and replaced many parts inside the new iPhones, then they would return back the iPhones to the stores in a box just like an unopened one (really could not understand how could they did it so professionally). In the past the store staff would not open the box, when they realised it was already too late
    i heard that in the US if you return an iPhone, especially if it was full price and/or paid in cash or gift cards, the system requires that it be inspected by a service tech and approved by a manager first. apparently the process is that the sales person opens the box, even if it is in plastic, in front of the customer to verify a phone is inside and the right color. then it goes in the back where they make sure it powers on, takes a charge, reports the correct serial number on the markings, software and with some connector that will read it off the logic board, maybe a few other checks. only then can it be returned.
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