Apple to Drop Restocking Fees, Add Personal Mac Setup

[Michael Essany]

In what is already shaping up to be a big week in the world of mobile news, an interesting tidbit about Apple surfaced Monday and will likely remain buried beneath a tidal wave of Verizon iPhone stories to come for the remainder of the week - if not month. According to multiple published reports, beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, January 11th, Apple will end its practice of charging a 10% restocking fee on returned products at an Apple retail store.

The 14-day return period still applies, of course, but no longer will consumers find themselves out a couple hundred bucks simply for deciding to return a new - but otherwise still pristine - Mac. Fortunately, Apple's plan to drop the restocking fee will be accompanied by a new service that could make it significantly less likely that you'll need to return your newest Apple product - especially if that new product is a Mac.

Apple is introducing a new in-store personal Mac setup service. Similar to Apple store employees assisting customers in setting up their new iOS devices, the service will now be extended to new Macs as well. From Tuesday forward, when you buy a Mac at an Apple retail store, you will be personally walked through the setup process by an Apple staffer at a designated Mac setup area. Whether you need assistance in establishing your email or learning to navigate the new Mac App Store, there is now an official hand-holding service courtesy of Apple provided at no additional charge.

InformationWeek

[Captinsmooth]

I saw them doing this just the other day when I was at the apple store. They had a bunch of people and they were opening and setting up their new macs for them.

[rhollister]

I know the restocking fee was something that made me hesitant to try switching to a Mac, and I'm a geek. 14 days is more than enough time for people to realize the benefits of OSX. I think this is only gonna improve apple's bottom line.

It is also a vote of confidence in their product. The old "money back guarantee" has always been shown to work wonders.

[StealthBravo]

I love the idea. May make more people try it out.

[steve-z17]

Good idea Apple, way to help others!

[wirehedd]

I've always thought the idea of a restocking fee was indicative of shabby products as, no matter what happens, if you buy that product the company is keeping some of your money either way and you do not get it all back. I've never trusted any company that did this and luckily Apple products from the retailers near me here (I'm in Canada} have never charged it.

Looks better and better for Apple every day recently.

[Poseidon79]

I really like the personal set up courtesy. This will allow noobs to feel more comfortable crossing over from the dark side... cough cough... I mean Windows.

[mortopher]

Awesome, even more chaos to deal with whenever I do venture into an Apple Store.

[Niks2481]

Awesome, even more chaos to deal with whenever I do venture into an Apple Store.

Wow.... People never stop complaining... do they?

[mortopher]

Wow.... People never stop complaining... do they?

Everyone's a critic.

[CynicalDriver]

This will allow noobs to feel more comfortable crossing over from the dark side... cough cough... I mean Windows.

Funny... Jobs is always the one wearing black, and moving rather robotic... he's very Vader-ish.

Everyone's a critic.

LOL. I think your humor might be lost on some.

[EskimoRuler]

Definitely helpful if you've never dealt with a Mac before and have no computer knowledge. I never used a Mac before I got mine but most of the same stuff applys, documents and movies etc are in you user name area of the computer, blah blah blah.

Hopefully they teach them command Q,