Best Buy apparently plans launch a 30-day return policy in the coming days, and will include Apple’s iPad and iPhone in that program. If true, Best Buy will be offering a return and exchange plan that’s twice as long as Apple’s own return policy.
News of the planned return and exchange policy changes comes courtesy of unnamed insider sources talking with TUAW. According to their source, the extended return and exchange window will go into effect next week.
Best Buy extends iPad return window
Along with the longer return window, users won’t have to pay restocking fees, and Best Buy will offer price matching during the first 30 days after purchase, too.
The policy coincides with a report from Engadget claiming the big box retailer is removing the iPad 2 from its inventory system, presumably in preparation for the still unannounced iPad 3. Best Buy has also dropped iPad prices by US$50 — a common practice ahead of an Apple product refresh.
Word surfaced earlier in February that Apple is planning a media event for the first week of March to introduce the next iPad model and will start selling the device about a week later.
Apple hasn’t confirmed the media event is taking place, or that an iPad upgrade is coming soon. With the growing number of reports, however, it seems likely we’ll get our first look at the next iPad model come March 7.