If Under 14 Days Old...

Per Apple Policy, all open box returns (regardless of situation) are subject to a restocking fee at the call of the Store Manager. What this means is that the store will most likely offer to replace the unit for you at no charge to you, per policy, however if you want to return the unit you will most likely be hit with the restocking fee.

Good luck though,

David

By my reading, Apple's policy is unclear with respect to refunds for DOA goods. If reported to AppleCare within 30 days, Apple promises to replace defective merchandise, but I can't find any policy statement concerning refunds for DOA items. ...that's why I always pay by credit card.

http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/salespolicies.html

...as always, net.LegalAdvice is worth exactly what you paid for it,

Looby

The Apple Warranty is very explicit;

Apple One (1) Year Limited Warranty
...If a hardware defect arises and a valid claim is received within the Warranty Period, at its option and to the extent permitted by law, Apple will either (1) repair the hardware defect at no charge, using new or refurbished replacement parts, (2) exchange the product with a product that is new or which has been manufactured from new or serviceable used parts and is at least functionally equivalent to the original product, *or (3) refund the purchase price of the product*...When a refund is given, the product for which the refund is provided must be returned to Apple and becomes Apple’s property.

The Apple Warranty is very explicit;

... _at its option_ and to the extent permitted by law, _Apple will_ ... blah, blah, blah

Yep, that's the policy for non-DOA products. But if it's DeadOnArrival (and reported as such in the first 30 days), the option to repair or replace -- with BRAND NEW merchandise -- belongs to the customer, not to Apple. ...but the sales agreement never mentions "DOA" and "refund" in the same sentence.

...when in doubt, pay by credit card,

Looby

Apple's policy is clear--if your item is defective, but the defect does not rise to the level of DOA, it will repair or replace the item at no cost so long as it is under warranty. If you want to return it, you have 14 days to do so, but your return is subject to a 10% restocking fee if the box has been opened. Perhaps the store manager at your local Apple store will not charge the restocking fee, but that would be a special courtesy to you. Apple's policy is that the restocking fee will be charged. If customers don't think this is fair, they have the option to buy from an Apple reseller that may have a different return/refund policy. For example, Best Buy will provide a 100% refund within 14 days if any product is defective in any way, open box or not.

Apple's policy is clear--if your item is defective, *but the defect does not rise to the level of DOA*,

If it's so clear, where did the phrase "rise to the level of DOA" come from? I'll have to guess that it's +your interpretation+ of the following passage from the actual policy statement:

+"An Apple-branded hardware product is considered DOA if it shows symptoms of a hardware failure, preventing basic operability, when you first use it after opening the box.+ ... \[snip\] ... +AppleCare Technical Support will determine whether the product is DOA ..."+

If that's the section you're referring to, I won't quibble with your 'translation,' but I would argue that the policy, as stated, hardly rises to the level of clarity. The phrase: "preventing basic operability" is extremely vague -- especially in close proximity to the phrase: "AppleCare ... will determine."

Returning to the OP's question of whether "video glitchidness" (in his second iMac) rises to the level of DOA -- and whether a two n' oh DOA-count rises to the level of a full refund, the written policy remains delightfully ambiguous.

...sure hope he paid with a credit card,

Looby

Apple clearly defines DOA--hardware failure when you first open the box and turn the computer on for the first time. It's as simple as that--there's really no room for interpretation. There are plenty of possible defects that don't rise to that level. For example, if you have hardware failure after two days of use, sorry, but it's not DOA. Also, if you open the box and find that the computer is filled with numerous annoying glitches, plus lots of cosmetic marks, gashes, chips in the case, and such, and you just want your money back, sorry, but Apple gets to keep 10% of it.
I assume Apple has such a tough return policy to prevent people from taking advantage of them. Maybe in the past Apple's policy was more generous, and people were returning as "defective" products that they damaged on their own. I would strongly recommend that BEFORE paying for any purchase at any store with this kind of return policy, you insist on opening the box and inspecting the merchandise, at least to make sure there aren't any cosmetic defects or shipping damage. I think that being able to see what you're buying before you pay for it is a basic consumer right. If the store won't let you do this, then either take the risk, but be prepared to accept the consequences if the product is damaged or defective, or take your business elsewhere.

If the store won't let you do this, then either take the risk, but be prepared to accept the consequences if the product is damaged or defective, or take your business elsewhere.

...OR, you could just put it on a credit card,

Looby

I bought it on a credit card but I don't really want to resort to a dispute over it. I want a working computer...

I hear ya, bro. I'm fighting exactly the same battle at the moment. I just want an iMac with a screen almost as good as a run-of-the-mill el-cheapo monitor from any of dozens of mass-market vendors. Already gave away my Windoze fossil, and never want to go back to an MS platform -- but iMac brightness gradients are too painful to tolerate. No room, no budget for a Mac Pro; need more speed & power than a Mini. Either 20" or 24" would be fine; gloss vs. matte is not an issue.

...are you listening, Steve?

Looby