Amidst the coronavirus, the quarantine, and the nightmarish kerfuffle that comes with it, there’s one piece of good news: An extended return period at Apple Store locations once they open.
Following Friday’s shuttering of all of Apple’s retail locations outside of greater China for a two week period in an effort to cut down on the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in the United States and other countries, Apple published a FAQ addressing customer questions about repairs and returns.
When it comes to returns, Apple says that it will accept returns for up to 14 days after its stores reopen, giving customers who need to return a product or an accessory a grace period while the stores are shut down.
Q: I want to return a product I recently purchased but the 14-day return period will end before March 28–what should I do?
A: Don’t worry. We’ll accept your return up to 14 days after we reopen.
The policy excludes contracted iPhones in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and carrier-financed devices in the United States.
Apple has also stated that it is working to complete all repairs and should a device be awaiting parts, or is ready for pickup, an Apple employee will be in touch with the customer.
For repairs that are not already in progress, Apple directs customers to its online support staff who will be able to assist customers with mail-in repairs while Apple retail stores are closed.
The company has also stated that Genius Bar appointments will not be accepted until Apple Store locations reopen on March 28th. At this time, it is not clear if that date will be pushed back.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.