'Trade in' an iPAD?
 

Does anybody know what would happen if I get an iPad this Sunday/Monday (64 GB) and return it within 14 days. This would allow me to use it for lectures while in Korea but I could then purchase the 3G version when I return.

you would have have to pay a 10% restocking fee.

a better option would be sell it on ebay. not surprisingly, people are paying insane amounts, especially from places where the ipads are not being sold yet. a quick check shows a few 64 gig ipads for over $1000.

Thanks, so the fee would apply even if I turned around and ordered the more expensive version? Unfortunately I have a batch of international trips that would interfer with Ebay right now.

As long as you open it the fee applies. =(

They can't sell a used item as new. They basically restore the firmware on it, check it out to make sure it works and everything is there in the box and sell it as a refurb.

Sell it privately. Keep it in brand new condition perhaps with a case or something to protect it from scratches, with all the cables, packing material, boxes, etc. Somebody will buy it from you. You can restore the firmware on it before you ship it.

-David

This whole thing sounds pretty slimy to me. YMMV.

:td::td:

If I could purchase the 64 gb with 3G before leaving on my next international trip that would solve my problem but am trying to work with the options on the table. I'm sure Apple will do what is in their best self-interest.

Agreed. Do you buy suits to give lectures in too? And then return them?

Would it be "not slimy" if he buys it, decides he doesn't like it, and then returns it? As long as Apple charges him the restocking fee - given they've taken into account scenarios as described above - what's the problem? It would be slimy if he tried to repackage it to look like he hadn't used it in order to avoid the restocking fee, but I dont' see what's so wrong with what the OP is asking.

You can try to justify it any way you wish, it is the intent that I am talking about. You either have ethics or you don't. As I said, YMMV.

I'd be more worried about whether I could effectively use the iPad "out of the box". I'd be really concerned if I was the one giving the lectures

Returning items like this makes the price go up for everyone. If you want an item, buy it in good faith with the intention of keeping it. You have the responsibility to make sure it is what you want before you buy it. Of course you can ethically return a defective item. But please don't contribute to the ongoing escalation in prices by returning a perfectly good item that you bought just to use for a short while. It ain't right, and I think you know that.

It sounds like the OP wants to buy the 3G version(and keep it) but cannot do so before the trip so he has to buy the non-3G, which he would like to trade in for a 3G after he gets back. I am not sure why the 3G version is unavailable, maybe it goes on sale later.

IMHO the "trade in" option of returning it, paying a restocking fee and buying the 3G is sort of in a grey area.

Selling it to a willing buyer on ebay seems to be a more ethical option instead of "forcing" the store to accept a return.

Yea, may be calling apple and requesting an exception would be possible for something like this? So he doesn't have to pay the restocking fee?

Wait for the next version that multi-tasks, called iPeed, or Maxipad (internal R&D name).

PS - the iPad is WAY WAY over-priced for what it is / does. I doubt Apple is going to feel a dent in their profit margin from someone doing something like this.