Apple's Extended Holiday Return Policy Begins Today, Return Deadline Set for January 8, 2019 - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple's Extended Holiday Return Policy Begins Today, Return Deadline Set for January 8, 2019

by

Apple today announced that its annual extended holiday return policy begins today in the United States and several other countries around the world.

apple gift wrap
Under the policy, eligible products purchased between November 14, 2018 and December 25, 2018 can be returned until January 8, 2019 in the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, and select other regions. You can return something ordered online or purchased in store, and Apple's policy states that the items can be sent back to Apple for free through the mail or dropped off at any Apple Store.

In countries like Japan and Spain, the policy is slightly different and extends from November 14, 2018 to January 6, 2019, with a return deadline of January 20, 2019 in these regions.

In all regions, items excluded from the return policy include Apple or iTunes gift cards. Otherwise, most products can be returned, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and more. The devices can be opened and used prior to being returned, but they must be undamaged and in their original packaging.

As with any holiday purchase, make sure you keep your receipts when buying on Apple.com or in an Apple retail store, to ensure that your purchase falls within the timeframe of the extended holiday return policy. If you bought something from Apple prior to today, it will fall under Apple's typical 14-day return policy.

Top Rated Comments

travis64 Avatar
104 months ago
I bet people just rent macbooks and iphones every year during this time
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
104 months ago
Yikes I only just got my Halloween decorations down yesterday. :eek: And of course I found out I still forgot a couple of things. One bat, one black cat and a Sock monkey wearing a mask and cape. :p

Anyway last year when I returned my iPhone X (due to it giving me migraines) well within the holiday return date and within all of the specified parameters, I still got a real runaround at my local Apple Store when we returned it.

First they tried to say we were past the return deadline. Not true, we had many days to spare.

Then they tried to tell me they could not locate a record of the purchase. They claimed some sort of issue prevented them from finding it in their system. My husband showed it to them on his iPhone. Then they tried to insist my phone was part of some special promotion or something which made absolutely no sense, because no such promotion existed at the time my husband bought the iPhone. I can’t explain it here to you all because they made everything up as they went along. Like if they dragged it out long enough I would give up and go home. It was awful.

Then they tried to deny the terms spelled out on the web site saying it didn’t apply to their store. We had to pull up the web page and show them the fine print of the return terms.

They finally approved the return but said they were doing us a favor in doing so because we really didn’t meet the terms. But they couldn’t explain how we didn’t meet the terms. I’ve never seen such a weird runaround.

It was a process that should have taken ten minutes but was dragged out for about twenty minutes or so. It was just so weird and atypical.

Normally the FEW returns or exchanges that we have done at that store over the years are a breeze. Apparently they are wary of the holiday ones. Or at least some store managers are.

So, buyer beware. Definitely save every bit of documentation both electronic and paper.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
104 months ago
I bet people just rent macbooks and iphones every year during this time
It certainly does seem to provide an opportunity for an extended free trial for those so minded.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jimthing Avatar
104 months ago
What if the MacBook is opened? Free or restocking fee?
Free.
[doublepost=1542216584][/doublepost]I just wished they offered interest free credit again, like they used to do. They do it for the iPhone (the "iPhone Payments" plan: 20 months UK / 24 months US), so why not the more expensive Macs/iPads?!

Instead they want to make more money, by offering Barclays or Paypal finance at a whopping 15%, in a market where you can get a personal loan for less than 3.5%. So bleeding obvious they're making money from these loan companies, on top of increased pricing across the board, all to raise their ASP and thus increase shareholder value.

Sure pension funds rejoice, but we're all paying for it through the nose.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
seatton Avatar
91 months ago

I’m sure that happens a lot. I’m glad that I can buy gifts now knowing that I can return them if the recipient already has it or doesn’t like it. :)
Thanks for your info today. I went to an Apple store near my office this evening and purchased Apple Pencil 2. My return date is Jan 8.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
91 months ago

Guys, do you think 2019’s extended return policy will begin tomorrow?
Yes, it began today (Nov 15th, 2019) in the US for 2019. Same return date - Jan 8, 2020. I believe it is worldwide - I saw an australian mate say the same.

Also see https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-holiday-return-period.2211070/page-2?post=27983789#post-27983789
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone duo feature

Apple Says iPhone Duo Not Available on Walk-In Basis in Three Countries

Monday October 19, 2026 11:00 am PDT by
For a limited time, the iPhone Duo and the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be limited to customers with a pickup reservation at Apple Stores in Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates, according to notices posted on Apple's localized websites for those countries. The notices suggest that the iPhone Duo will not be available for walk-in customers at Apple's retail locations in Japan, South...
hero medium 2x feature1

Apple Store Pickup System for iPhone Duo Just Went Live Again in U.S. and Canada

Saturday October 24, 2026 5:12 am PDT by
The option to reserve an iPhone Duo for Apple Store pickup resumed in the U.S. and Canada between 5:10 a.m. and 5:15 a.m. Pacific Time today, but inventory is extremely limited, with most stores having no pickup slots available today. To search for iPhone Duo availability at your local Apple Stores: head to the iPhone Duo order page, select your desired color and storage and so forth,...
2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Stores Reportedly Rolling Out New Anti-Theft System for iPhones

Sunday October 25, 2026 8:18 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today reported that Apple is facing a growing problem where some people will buy iPhones or other products and either remove accessories from the box, open up the device and remove components, and/or remove the entire device, and then attempt to return the box hoping that the employee will not notice. When a customer seeks to return an iPhone, he said that Apple's...
Latest Stories
Apple Releases macOS Golden Gate 27.2
Apple Releases macOS Golden Gate 27.2
29 minutes ago
Apple Releases watchOS 27.2 With Siri AI Enhancements
Apple Releases watchOS 27.2 With Siri AI Enhancements
30 minutes ago
Apple Releases HomePod 27.2 Software With Sound Glow for Existing HomePods
Apple Releases HomePod 27.2 Software With Sound Glow for Existing HomePods
31 minutes ago
Apple Releases tvOS 27.2 With HomePod Surround Sound Support
Apple Releases tvOS 27.2 With HomePod Surround Sound Support
31 minutes ago
Apple Releases visionOS 27.2
Apple Releases visionOS 27.2
32 minutes ago
iPad Mini 2024 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?
iPad Mini 2024 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?
33 minutes ago
Apple Responds to iPhone Duo Display Cracking Reports
Apple Responds to iPhone Duo Display Cracking Reports
57 minutes ago
iPhone Duo: Watch Video Above an App in Portrait Mode
iPhone Duo: Watch Video Above an App in Portrait Mode
1 hour ago
AirPods Pro Hearing Aid Feature Launching in These Canadian Provinces
AirPods Pro Hearing Aid Feature Launching in These Canadian Provinces
2 hours ago
New iPad Mini Announced Today Has More Than 12 New Features
New iPad Mini Announced Today Has More Than 12 New Features
3 hours ago
Apple Raises iPad and Mac Trade-In Values
Apple Raises iPad and Mac Trade-In Values
3 hours ago
New iPad Mini Gains Adaptive True Tone Flash
New iPad Mini Gains Adaptive True Tone Flash
3 hours ago
Quickly Silence iPhone Duo Without a Ring/Mute Switch
Quickly Silence iPhone Duo Without a Ring/Mute Switch
4 hours ago
Anker Launches Halloween Sale With Sitewide Discounts and Labubu Bundles
Anker Launches Halloween Sale With Sitewide Discounts and Labubu Bundles
4 hours ago
OLED iPad Mini Fast Charge Needs a 35W Adapter, Sold Separately
OLED iPad Mini Fast Charge Needs a 35W Adapter, Sold Separately
4 hours ago
Apple Brings TechWoven to iPad With All-New $79 iPad Mini Smart Folio
Apple Brings TechWoven to iPad With All-New $79 iPad Mini Smart Folio
4 hours ago
All Current iPads Now Feature a Landscape Front Camera
All Current iPads Now Feature a Landscape Front Camera
4 hours ago
OLED iPad Mini Starts at $699 After Second Price Hike This Year
OLED iPad Mini Starts at $699 After Second Price Hike This Year
4 hours ago
New iPad Mini Available in Just Two Colors
New iPad Mini Available in Just Two Colors
4 hours ago
512GB OLED iPad Mini Gets Extra CPU Core and Dual Neural Engine
512GB OLED iPad Mini Gets Extra CPU Core and Dual Neural Engine
5 hours ago
New iPad Mini Offers Nano-Texture Display on Select Models
New iPad Mini Offers Nano-Texture Display on Select Models
5 hours ago
Apple Teases 'Exciting Week' Ahead After Announcing New iPad Mini
Apple Teases 'Exciting Week' Ahead After Announcing New iPad Mini
5 hours ago
New iPad Mini Is Apple's First Water-Resistant iPad
New iPad Mini Is Apple's First Water-Resistant iPad
5 hours ago
OLED iPad Mini Pre-Orders and Release Date Announced
OLED iPad Mini Pre-Orders and Release Date Announced
5 hours ago
New iPad Mini Uses 'Acoustic Display' for Redesigned Speaker System
New iPad Mini Uses 'Acoustic Display' for Redesigned Speaker System
5 hours ago
New iPad Mini Still Lacks ProMotion Despite Upgrade to OLED
New iPad Mini Still Lacks ProMotion Despite Upgrade to OLED
5 hours ago
Apple Announces New iPad Mini With 8.5-Inch OLED Display, A20 Pro Chip, and More
Apple Announces New iPad Mini With 8.5-Inch OLED Display, A20 Pro Chip, and More
5 hours ago
Apple Watch Users in Europe Report Daylight Saving Glitch
Apple Watch Users in Europe Report Daylight Saving Glitch
6 hours ago
iPad Mini 8 With These 10 New Features Expected Today or Tomorrow
iPad Mini 8 With These 10 New Features Expected Today or Tomorrow
6 hours ago
Gurman: Apple's Three-Day Announcement Run Could Start Today
Gurman: Apple's Three-Day Announcement Run Could Start Today
6 hours ago