How can I tell if my store-bought MacBook Air was returned?

No, Apple will not sell returned devices as "New" in physical Apple Stores.

All returned devices are subjected to a refurbishment process and then placed on their online Refurbished store for sale and identified as refurbished, never as a new device.

The real question, is what has led you to think this?

Is there anything about the Mac that seems off that would lead you to think it may have been returned?

Or is this just a random though you had?

That would be considered a refurbished product, which they only sell on the website, not in-store.

All in-store purchases are brand-new and shouldn't be refurbished.

If there is anything else, please let us know.

Thanks,

TheAppleGuy22

smidgeondutchrabbit wrote:

i want to know if my device was once owned by someone else for less than 14 days and they returned it

NO. As has been sad multiple times: Apple will never sell a returned device as new.

smidgeondutchrabbit wrote:

i want to know if my device was once owned by someone else for less than 14 days and they returned it

If you bought it in the Apple Store (or the Apple Online Store) it was never owned by anyone else. Three people other than me have told you that in this thread. Three people (including me) have told you that in your other thread.

What is it that's concerning you that makes you doubt these answers?

smidgeondutchrabbit wrote:

we got it from an apple store and talked with a specialist and got the macbook from that apple store. is there a chance someone couldve once owned it for less than 14 days and have returned it

No.

First off, how long ago did you buy it? Apple holds a 14 calendar day return policy. Also, like sberman said, we can't tell where you bought it from. If you told us where you bought it from, it should help out a lot.

Here is the Refund Policy link

Returns & Refunds - Shopping Help - Apple

Thanks,

TheAppleGuy22

Is this the same Mac you were asking about before?

if you buy a new macbook from apple that … - Apple Community

Yes.

Of course, you told us nothing about the store. We don’t know whether it’s an Apple Store, Authorized Apple Retailer, or someplace else. We don’t even know if the Mac is new, much less whether it was in a factory sealed box.

If you want to be certain a Mac is new, buy it from Apple.