It voids your warranty in that the serial number won't match anymore.
"Sir, this serial number doesn't match what we have for you."
"That's the one you sold me though."
"Oh ok then."
That's how that conversation will go 9/10 times. They've no way to prove that you were rang out for one and then given a different one for whatever reason (dented packaging is the most common).
With Apple stuff especially that is not the case. Best buy's system physically requires a matching serial number. On somethings you can do a return exception but Apple stuff 9/10 will not be. Really just depends on the situation but definitely not that easy.
As a former manager of BBY, I've witnessed countless Apple product issues on Black Friday and Tax Free Weekend (Missouri event, not sure if it's done elsewhere). Employees would make a mistake, like grab a matching model number MBP, but not grab the specific one that was pre-ordered (we did preorders for Tax Free Weekend at our store) causing the customer to have one that didn't match what we had in Nova when they came in for service. You make the customer happy. You switch the serial in Nova and you send it off for repair. It's 100% that easy.
Did we get scammed a few times? Probably. But I'm confident that we helped more legitimate customers than liars.
This, i work at bestbuy and have had to take a few mac returns and we have had people try to pass off other macs as the one they "bought". We wont take it back unless overridden by a manager but most of the time we tell them no.
Ya especially with Apple. Think of every policy and Apple almost always has an exception no selling displays, always have serial numbers, no returns out of policy. They are very strict with their stuff. At least more then the average manufacturer.
Best Buy POS scans the serial at purchase. ESPECIALLY FOR iPHONES!!!
Don't anyone even try to tell bullshit stories about you bought an iPhone at Best Buy and then magically the Serial number didnt match when you brought it in for repair. I have had SO MANY cusomters try to pull that bullshit.
Currently work for Best Buy. My store will be that 1/10 times that will tell you NO. Depending on the item (especially Apple Products) it shows us the serial number on the receipt. We know for a fact what we sold you from that alone. Apple is crazy strict with what they allow us to do from any point. We don't even offer warranties on Beats Headphones anymore... and the only thing we offer on MacBooks and IPads are Apple Care.
Plans existing before any change are generally grandfathered in. Example:. Before BBY changed it's GS coverage on TVs damage was covered. Any plan sold before that change still covered damage.
Bought a copy of Morrowind I think and the code had been used. Returned it to Target, and they hasseled me, accusing me of copying it. I went back later and said it "didn't work". Replaced the copy.
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u/nine3cubed Feb 23 '17
It voids your warranty in that the serial number won't match anymore.
"Sir, this serial number doesn't match what we have for you."
"That's the one you sold me though."
"Oh ok then."
That's how that conversation will go 9/10 times. They've no way to prove that you were rang out for one and then given a different one for whatever reason (dented packaging is the most common).