With the Apple Store (US) online and in official Apple Retail store locations
they will accept most returns within a 14-day time frame; and one must
contact Apple ahead of physical return (before deadline) for consideration.
Near three years ago I bought a Mac mini (i7 server) from online Apple store
as they still had new models of previous build no longer being produced; so
I had thought for about a year to get one. Opportunity to to get new unused
unopened in retail carton (unlike refurbished in generic apple box) also at a
discount seemed like a good idea. But I had second thoughts because it was
evident after ordering the product, they had no way to tell me which OS X it
was to ship with. Certain uses and other applications rely on that information.
Anyway, I had 14-days from (within the first 14-days from purchase, including
the time it took to ship from eastern US to far western US) to ask if I could
return it and get authorization. I didn't even open the box until 18 days after
purchase. And found out that even those items never opened (in US) get sent
back for refurbishment although never used and never personalized.
{Apple representative said at the time of my considered return, the ticket would
be left open so if I chose to keep the unit (and to open box up & run it anyway)
the product wouldn't be handled any other way. I had until day 13 to tell them
that I was returning it. And they said, at that time, another 14 to send it back.}
This would have been sent to the Refurbishment Center totally unused; later
sold via online Special Deals page or shipped to an official Apple Store as a
factory refurbished model. Being a Late 2012 i7 quad-core server + dual 1-TB
hard drives and server edition Mavericks 10.9 (which I didn't know w/o startup)
made it desirable even in the second-hand market. And that's a niche category.
At several months after purchase and put into use, the Apple policy in US would
not have applied to your unit. The amount offered if re-useable as a computer is
the highest they may offer, if accepted; or the recycle price. Both less than retail.
And common wisdom indicates a private sale to a private party you can talk to
and see they aren't a fake sale or scam operation, is often a better bet. ~Or see
if an Authorized Reseller who also offers Apple authorized repair services would
consider a partial trade, against some other product that they have in stock.
