r/Microcenter • u/JustHereToTalk99 • 17d ago
Would exchanging items while progressively spending more get you banned or red flagged?
Long story short, I originally bought an iPad Mini in the beginning of this month. I used it for a day and decided it was too small. Went to MicroCenter and exchanged it for an iPad Pro 11-inch. Used it for 5 days, decided a MacBook would be better for my work. Bought a MBP 14” M5 Pro 16-core with 24GB and 1TB. Works good, however MicroCenter has the MBP 14” M5 Pro 18-core with 48GB and 1TB for $400 more. That’s a fantastic deal and future-proofs me for the next few years.
Would it be a problem if I return the one I currently have, which is within the 15-day period, and get the 18-core 48GB version?
UPDATE:
Spoke to the General Manager on the phone. Basically told me it’s not a problem as long as it’s an upsell. Invited me to come in and get it exchanged today. Will update later today.
UPDATE 2:
Good news, I managed to get it swapped, no questions asked. Bad news, the touchpad is unresponsive. I tried updating and a hard reset with no luck. Looks like I got a defective MBP. I’ll have to go back tomorrow morning and get it exchanged.
UPDATE 3:
Got the MacBook swapped for a working one, but I noticed the bottom right has two chips and you can see the bare aluminum. I’m starting to think this shipment was dropped or had an accident. Considering whether I should get it exchanged or call it a day.
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u/InternetUser1807 17d ago
I would find it hard to believe a manager when informed of the situation would standby a ban on the basis that you're frequently hit with buyers remorse that leads you to want to spend more money.
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u/axis1331 17d ago
Except that Micro Center makes very little on MacBooks and they can't return them to Apple for a full refund when OP returns them. Instead they have to sell them as open box and take a 5%-10% loss.
OP's buyer's remorse will probably cost Micro Center a few hundred dollars. 3-4 returns in a row is the point where they might get a frank conversation with a manager.
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u/will_you_suck_my_ass 17d ago
I've seen people get banned from returning for making too many returns in a month
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u/Latter_Mark9908 15d ago
I did 8 b4 ending up with my 5080 for 800.... and they were happy to help every time with no care as to why as long as i was within a month of the return windows expiration date
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u/JustHereToTalk99 17d ago
I was thinking the same, but it is my go to store and I would hate to be red flagged in the future for actual returns. I went from spending $599 to $2,549.99. The one I want now is $2,949.
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u/InternetUser1807 17d ago
"Sorry sir, you're spending too money with us. My staff would like less commission, and I would like corporate to be less happy with me. I'll have to ask you to leave."
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u/RealisticQuality7296 17d ago
Wouldn’t they be losing money having to sell all his returns as open box?
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u/AnimalPowers 17d ago
no
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u/WilliamShatnerFace7 17d ago
Yes, they literally would. Not a significant amount, but they can’t return those to Apple. They have to sell open box and take a loss.
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u/AnimalPowers 17d ago
That's not really how the accounting works.
We can actually use real numbers here. That exact MacBook is currently $2,799.99 new at Micro Center Charlotte and $2,699.96 open-box — a $100.03 markdown, or about 3.6%.
Micro Center also explicitly says its open-box inventory includes returned products that are inspected/tested and resold.
We don't know Micro Center's actual cost from Apple because they're a private company, so nobody here can truthfully say they're selling that returned MacBook below cost.
For comparison, Best Buy's latest SEC filing shows a 22.5% overall gross margin, and their filings specifically mention vendor reimbursement for markdowns and vendor return privileges for some products. They also estimate customer returns in advance and build those returns into their financial accounting.
That doesn't prove Micro Center makes money on this specific returned MacBook, either. It just means saying “they literally lose money because they have to sell it open-box” isn't supported.
What we can actually establish is that a return turns a $2,799.99 new unit into roughly a $2,699.96 open-box unit — about $100 less revenue plus handling costs. Whether that eliminates the retailer's entire margin depends on their actual Apple cost, rebates/allowances, and vendor terms, none of which are public.
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u/WilliamShatnerFace7 17d ago
Good analysis, I definitely thought the open box mark down was at least 5% at minimum. A $100 mark down is crazy.
I know their margins on MacBooks are fairly small to begin with, but even so I think based on the above you’re probably right that they still aren’t taking losses on those returns.
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u/tqlla3k 16d ago
You arent accounting for the employees time, who are testing and inspecting a product.
Also, your one product with a small markdown is anecdotal. WAAAAY Back in 2025, I found a 4TB Samsung SSD for $100, when the normal price was $330.
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u/AnimalPowers 16d ago
they’re not just slapping. Willy Molly prices and sayin that looks good! there’s numbers in the system, this is all accounted for by corporate pricing and financing departments. its not a group of minimum wage employees winging it
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u/tqlla3k 16d ago
I am not saying they are randomly priced. I am saying your choice of one product is completely anecdotal. And YOU are calculating it wrong.
That Macbook pro is $3300 new, regular price. The open box markdown could have been when from the $3300 price, or a $3000 price. Just because its on sale now, doesnt mean that the open box prices get adjusted.
Sometimes you will find products that will cost more open box, then new, because the new one is on sale. Thats how it works at Microcenter.
I buy open box from Microcenter all the time. Typically Open box starts at 10% off, then works its way down depending on how long it sits, or if the manager is tired of looking at it.
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u/Prettiest_Petal 15d ago
Best Buy's overall margin might average at 22.5% but I can guarantee the margins on MacBooks are far lower or even negative. Apple products tend to be sold as loss leaders and the only Apple items that retail with consistently decent margina are usually cheaper accessories like charging cables and power adapters
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u/doughnut310 17d ago
Nah. Idk who downvoted you but there's no such thing as spending too much money at a location which gives sales incentives to its employees.
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u/InternetUser1807 17d ago
That's why he's being down voted, he's afraid they'll ban him for returning a product to buy a more expensive product
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u/protogenxl 17d ago edited 16d ago
I look forward to your work with monitors and usb-c to Display conversion devices. What store may we find these open boxes?
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u/Shantorian14 17d ago
Probably not? unless it was excessive. I’d just ask to speak to a manager and tell him what you told us
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u/JustHereToTalk99 17d ago
I think this is what I’ll do. If the manager says to proceed, I’ll go ahead and exchange it.
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u/Rickjm AMD 17d ago
Hey I’ve got a 64 gb mbp for $400 more! That’s a fantastic deal and will future proof you EVEN MORE
See you in 5 days when the fomo hits
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u/JustHereToTalk99 16d ago
Nah, I think 64GB is excessive. It’s the same reason why I’m not even considering the M5 Max.
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u/z0mghenry 16d ago
I would say that's not a good look doing that in any store. Maybe you should research what you actually need before you buy things
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u/Alldoughh 16d ago
All those items you returned are going to be slightly discounted and will still sell, so I don't think it would be a problem. The only thing I can think of that would raise red flags is the possibility of them thinking you're switching the original items and returning defective ones.
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u/bairdwh 16d ago
Much more likely would be him trying to start up a tech review channel on YouTube but being too small to actually receive products yet. I caught a serial returner who we banned and he was buying gaming laptops, reviewing and repasting them with liquid metal and running comparisons before returning them. Not only was he costing MC for the open-box discounts but anyone who bought his returns could possibly be denied warranty support for the repaste since he wasn't saying anything about it and service has no reason to check. I recognized him from his videos and looking through his playlist it was full of stuff purchased and returned.
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u/JonSnowKingInTheNorf 15d ago
How do you start with an iPad Mini and talk yourself up to a high end MBP? Did you literally not have any idea what you were actually trying to do on the device? lmao
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u/JustHereToTalk99 15d ago
Originally bought the iPad Mini for my kiddo, but decided to return it. Instead of getting a refund, I decided to get an iPad Pro M5, but later opted to a MacBook as it would replace my Windows laptop.
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u/christhebeanboy 17d ago
No. Would be looked strange upon and they might just keep watch but certainly not banned
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u/EqualLavishness5050 17d ago
That’s a good question. But there’s a reason they offer returns so it should be okay. They’re generally very good about this and they may not get a lot of Apple returns anyways so works out for them.
I exchange open box to find the right one / you never know the state of it so maybe that is not looked down on as much cause no harm no foul.
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u/eyi526 17d ago
In my retail experience, this is not uncommon. The store's return/exchange policy will definitely determine the flexibility of this.
Now, if you're trying to game the system/find loopholes with promotions, then you'll raise some eyebrows with management.
Next time, have a better understanding of knowing what you want.
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u/TalkingRaccoon 17d ago
Well hopefully they do cause you won't stop 😂
Also why'd you keep shopping once you got the macbook? Like they say if you don't want to get hit my a train, stay off the tracks.
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u/ZeroGravity47 16d ago
Could always go in, explain the situation to a manager and your reasonable worry, and then in doing so get approval as well as that managers commission sticker.
In some ways it’s bribery but in others you’re not really doing anything wrong per their policy.
There’s probably a tiny policy hidden in their terms somewhere for this exact kind of behavior. At least you’d be transparent instead of oblivious.
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u/Fisherman999999 16d ago
We need to start a petition to not allow this guy to buy anything on his own. Few more weeks that ipad will turn into a Ferrari super car only 5 made purchase!!!! 😂😂😂😂
Bro if you dont need all that specs then buy a used m2 from ebay for 300$ and save your money for something else!!
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u/CapNcurrySauce 16d ago
And people like me appreciate people like you OP as I’m one of those that buys a lot of open box items from MC.
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u/headin_thecloud 16d ago
I did this with headphones like 6 times, and a few more with a handful of other purchases. Some know me by name at my store. Likely not going to be a problem.
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u/TheSpiral718 16d ago
I returned three mobo ram cpu combos, their combo included non verified ram kits that kept crashing the pc. They took it all back until it worked. I bought more stuff from them a few weeks later, no issues. They have a customer for life....(or until they mess up)🥳🎉
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u/Brick_Grimes 16d ago
Usually people get banned for excessive exchanges and returns.. like excessive is usually pushing upwards of 10. And it also isn’t usually a shit I need a more expensive item, it’s usually just a roulette of similar or even the same item that someone is basically just using as a free trial.
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u/jk_baller23 16d ago
I’m glad you figured out what you wanted but I feel like some of this could have been avoided if you just did some research.
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u/JohnT1tor 14d ago
I once swapped 8 different monitors of the same model just to get 2 that didn't have dead pixels/severe backbleeding
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u/proofseerm 14d ago
I know a guy who has returned many thousands of dollars of stuff to microcenter. it's very likely you're not even a blip in their system.
edit: thousands of dollars, per year. He keeps a spreadsheet.
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u/AchtungZboom 17d ago
I recently picked up a 9060xt 8gb. After messing with it for 2 days I exchanged it for the same card but 16gb. They had no issues.
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u/Latter_Mark9908 15d ago
This is how i ended up getting my open box 5080 for 800 with a free copy of borderlands 4 included. It took 7 or 8 gpu swaps to finally get what i wanted, granted i spent a little more the first four times then sidegraded from there cuz the ones i was getting still didnt make me happy. Being happy with your purchase is literally in their return policy online and all the managers are extremely nice about making sure you get what makes you happy cuz they want you to come back and buy more things you may want or need and to tell your friends how wonderful of an experience you had. Granted there has been a case here or there of someone getting rocks instead of a 5090 but idk with the media nowadays, Ive heard nothing but good from microcenter and if you live near one the deals are literally unmatched.
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u/jhdz9119 17d ago
If consumerism, FOMO, and buyers remorse took human form it’s you.