Tips for the iPod Holiday Gift Shopper: Where to Buy, How to Pay, etc.
| by Joe Leo, Columnist |
continued... from: previous page
In a companion piece to last week's "iPod Holiday Shopping Guide '07" feature, we wanted to let you know where the best place is to get your iPods that you'll be gifting this holiday season, as well as the best way to go about purchasing them.
And while the answer of where the best place to get it may seem an obvious no-brainer--and based on the previous info, the "worst" place to get it a no-brainer as well--if you want to "get your rock on" this holiday with a brand new iPod for yourself and/or others? Make sure you use some common sense when purchasing iPods for those people on your holiday shopping list.
Because you'll end up literally getting your rock on, or rather, a rock in that box instead.
(Today's piece was originally supposed to be included in a part two to be published today--an entire package--where we were going focus on each new iPod's pro and con attributes and then let you know where to buy them and how to go about doing so. Instead, we've decided to separate the other angle and write about it in its own piece).
The first thing to consider is where and who you're buying the iPod from. The best way to buy them is from brick and mortar stores where you can buy the product, and if there's anything wrong with it, simply take it back to the store along with your receipt (or gift receipt) and get a replacement or some type of refund per the store's return/exchange policies.
Buying iPods online, while saving you tons of time from having to go from store to store--only to find them sold out or backordered, or if there, maybe facing long lines of shoppers ahead of you waiting to pay for their purchases--do take time to process especially during the holidays. You run the risk of not getting it in time for the gift exchange process.
Add to that the price of shipping, and during this time of year, people usually use some form of expedited shipping, the cost of that iPod will rise and burn a hole your pocket. And if you have to return or exchange something, most online retailers charge a restocking fee on top of the return shipping charges that you have to pay to get it back to the online retailer.
The second thing to consider, going back to the first, is what the return/exchange policies are for the store you're buying from. And whether they charge restocking fees. For instance, while the retail Apple Store is sure to have lots of iPods, and every model in stock, compared to its Authorized Resellers, their return/exchange period is only 14 days.
And they charge a 10% restocking fee automatically, whether you touched or played with the item inside the box you opened. (Once the plastic seal is broken, the fee is charged). The only exception is in states where restocking fees are prohibited by law, and also, whether or not the iPod was defective. In that case, you can get a replacement or refund without the restocking fee.
Case in point, Best Buy has an extended holiday return policy. Anything you buy in store, iPods included, between the dates of November 1st to December 24th qualify for their special holiday "extended return period" where items can be returned through January 31st, 2008.
That's definitely some peace of mind!
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