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 Display Cracking

Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue

Friday October 30, 2026 3:20 pm PDT by
In a memo shared with Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers this week, and later obtained by MacRumors, Apple provided technicians with guidance on how to diagnose and address the iPhone Duo's inner display cracking issue. If a customer reports the issue, Apple advised technicians to inspect the iPhone Duo and repair or replace it in accordance with their standard procedures....
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...
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,...
Latest Stories
macOS 27.2.1 Fixes eMudhra Certificate Flaw in Command-Line Tools
macOS 27.2.1 Fixes eMudhra Certificate Flaw in Command-Line Tools
13 minutes ago
Anthropic Launches Claude Fable 5.2 and Mythos 5.2
Anthropic Launches Claude Fable 5.2 and Mythos 5.2
1 hour ago
Apple Releases macOS Golden Gate 27.2.1
Apple Releases macOS Golden Gate 27.2.1
2 hours ago
Apple Releases iOS 27.2.1 With Bug Fixes
Apple Releases iOS 27.2.1 With Bug Fixes
3 hours ago
Apple Releases watchOS 27.2.1 and visionOS 27.2.1 With Security Fixes
Apple Releases watchOS 27.2.1 and visionOS 27.2.1 With Security Fixes
3 hours ago
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Gets $99 Amazon Discounts, Starting at $699.99
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Gets $99 Amazon Discounts, Starting at $699.99
3 hours ago
Apple Pay Ad Features Martial Arts Convenience Store Food Fight
Apple Pay Ad Features Martial Arts Convenience Store Food Fight
3 hours ago
Apple Continues to Say Some AI Features Will Have Fees for Extra Usage
Apple Continues to Say Some AI Features Will Have Fees for Extra Usage
3 hours ago
Apple Announces Türkiye Expansion Plans as Tim Cook Visits
Apple Announces Türkiye Expansion Plans as Tim Cook Visits
4 hours ago
Singapore Saved Apple $2.7 Billion in Taxes This Year
Singapore Saved Apple $2.7 Billion in Taxes This Year
4 hours ago
Apple Music's 2026 Artist of the Year is Olivia Dean
Apple Music's 2026 Artist of the Year is Olivia Dean
5 hours ago
This Could Be Your Last Chance to Pre-Order the HomeView at a Discount
This Could Be Your Last Chance to Pre-Order the HomeView at a Discount
5 hours ago
Some HomePod Mini 2 Buyers Returning Units Over Mac Speaker Issues
Some HomePod Mini 2 Buyers Returning Units Over Mac Speaker Issues
5 hours ago
MacBook Pro With PROLED XDR Display: Details You Might Have Missed
MacBook Pro With PROLED XDR Display: Details You Might Have Missed
5 hours ago
Satechi Offers MacRumors Readers 30% Off Select Accessories in Early Black Friday Sale
Satechi Offers MacRumors Readers 30% Off Select Accessories in Early Black Friday Sale
6 hours ago
Leaker Envisions a Shorter iPhone With a New iOS Layout
Leaker Envisions a Shorter iPhone With a New iOS Layout
6 hours ago
Apple to Give You More Control Over When Your Mac Passwords Lock
Apple to Give You More Control Over When Your Mac Passwords Lock
7 hours ago
Siri Is Getting a Better Memory
Siri Is Getting a Better Memory
7 hours ago
iPhone 18e Could Feature Bigger Display and Battery
iPhone 18e Could Feature Bigger Display and Battery
8 hours ago
Apple's Siri Boss May Leave - Here's Who Could Take Over
Apple's Siri Boss May Leave - Here's Who Could Take Over
8 hours ago
Apple Launching Two More New Products This Friday
Apple Launching Two More New Products This Friday
8 hours ago
Apple Store Subscription Sign-Up Controversy Exposed
Apple Store Subscription Sign-Up Controversy Exposed
17 hours ago
Siri AI Rumored to Become 'More Like an Agent' as Early as Next Year
Siri AI Rumored to Become 'More Like an Agent' as Early as Next Year
1 day ago
Apple Taking New Approach to Developing iOS 28 and macOS 28
Apple Taking New Approach to Developing iOS 28 and macOS 28
1 day ago
Early Apple Black Friday Deals on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More
Early Apple Black Friday Deals on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More
2 days ago
'Backglow' Lets You Customize New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo
'Backglow' Lets You Customize New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo
2 days ago
Top Stories: Apple Product Launches, iOS 27.3 Beta, and More
Top Stories: Apple Product Launches, iOS 27.3 Beta, and More
2 days ago
More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try
More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try
3 days ago
Hands-On With Apple's New OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro
Hands-On With Apple's New OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro
3 days ago
Apple Store With All-New Design Opening Soon in Southern California
Apple Store With All-New Design Opening Soon in Southern California
3 days ago