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royzaboy
User level: Level 1 (8 points)

Unable to exchange 13-inch iPad Pro after receiving incorrect color

I purchased a 13" iPad Pro at the Apple Store in Edina, Minnesota yesterday, while I was passing through the Twin Cites. When I dealt with the sales person, we looked at the Space Black device and I bought it, along with a Magic Keyboard. This was an $1800 purchase. When I got home, I took the device out of the bag and packaging and discovered that they gave me a silver iPad. No problem, I thought, I'll call Apple and they will send me the correct iPad. Wrong! I was told I had to bring it back to the Apple Store where I purchased it, and do the exchange there. Well, that would be a 700 mile round trip for me, just to get to the nearest Apple Store. After being transferred to several different support people, I was still told that my only option was to take it back to the store where I purchased it from. Oh, they did give me a $15 coupon at Apple if I spent $100. I asked if I could talk to somebody else and they suggest that I post my experience on this site, or call the Apple Store. The Apple store transferred me to the same support number that I had just spent over an hour on the phone with.


Apparently, it seems that Apple Corporate treats the Apple Store as if it were an independent business and corporate had nothing to do with them or their sales. Since I traded in my 2 year old previous 13" iPad, I now have no iPad, unless I want to settle for a silver vs. black device. But, hey, I have a $15 coupon if I'm ever stupid enough to purchase another Apple device!

Posted on Oct 4, 2026 11:19 AM

9 replies

Jeff Donald
User level: Level 9 (64,078 points)

Oct 4, 2026 11:50 AM in response to royzaboy

Hi, I’m a former Apple Store manager. Online support should know the process. Your device can be returned to any Apple retail Store. It does not have to be the same store. Returns are accepted for up to 14 days.


What city or town are you in? Where is your nearest Apple Retail Store? What is the exact date on the receipt?

Katana-San
User level: Level 10 (124,115 points)

Oct 4, 2026 11:38 AM in response to royzaboy

Hello~ I am not sure why they would specifically tell you to post here on this site. We are just fellow forum members and can’t make any decisions on this situation. I suppose I would have checked my purchase before I left the store.


~Katana-San~

lobsterghost1
User level: Level 10 (233,174 points)

Oct 4, 2026 3:52 PM in response to royzaboy

You bought the iPad in the US. Do you not live in the US? By chance do you live in Canada? That would certainly be an issue if you bought a device in one country, but you live in another country. Apple USA won't ship an iPad from the US to Canada, for example.

Katana-San
User level: Level 10 (124,115 points)

Oct 4, 2026 4:53 PM in response to lobsterghost1

lobsterghost1 wrote:
You bought the iPad in the US. Do you not live in the US? By chance do you live in Canada? That would certainly be an issue if you bought a device in one country, but you live in another country. Apple USA won't ship an iPad from the US to Canada, for example.

Hello~ I didn’t think of that possibility…


~Katana-San~

lobsterghost1
User level: Level 10 (233,174 points)

Oct 4, 2026 5:15 PM in response to Jeff Donald

Jeff Donald wrote:
I’m thinking he might live in North or South Dakota. If he lives in Canada that certainly complicates the matter because of customs.

I guess we'll have to wait for them to tell us exactly where they live. If they lived in North or South Dakota, they could simply go to an Apple Store there and return the iPad and buy the color they thought they were getting.

Jeff Donald
User level: Level 9 (64,078 points)

Oct 4, 2026 10:28 PM in response to lobsterghost1

Simply going to an Apple Store can be an expensive proposition if you live in the area I circled. You could easily drive 1400 miles round trip. Spend over $1,000 USD (72.5¢ per mile per US gov.) to correct an Apple mistake. OP mentioned Minnesota, hence my thinking he’s in the void.


lobsterghost1
User level: Level 10 (233,174 points)

Oct 5, 2026 5:03 AM in response to Jeff Donald

Jeff Donald wrote:
Simply going to an Apple Store can be an expensive proposition if you live in the area I circled. You could easily drive 1400 miles round trip. Spend over $1,000 USD (72.5¢ per mile per US gov.) to correct an Apple mistake. OP mentioned Minnesota, hence my thinking he’s in the void.
https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/43ba8f28-391e-4755-8d3c-c7f65146fc93

Unless the Author comes back and tells us where they live, we're just guessing.

Jeff Donald
User level: Level 9 (64,078 points)

Oct 4, 2026 4:50 PM in response to lobsterghost1

I’m thinking he might live in North or South Dakota. If he lives in Canada that certainly complicates the matter because of customs.

Allan Jones
User level: Level 10 (85,896 points)

Oct 4, 2026 6:43 PM in response to royzaboy

...and they suggest that I post my experience on this site,


That was improper advice. No one here has the authority to make this right for you.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256370364