Apple Introduces 14-Day Return Window For Apps in EU; U.S. Customers Get The Shaft

There’s some great news this week for Apple consumers living in Europe. Apple has introduced a new return policy for iTunes, App Store, and iBooks purchases that will allow consumers living in Europe, including Germany, France, Italy, and the UK to return digital purchases.

Apple’s original terms and conditions stated that a user had the right to withdraw from a transaction “without charge and without giving any reason until delivery of the product has started.” However, once the product delivery had started, the purchase was final aside from some exceptions.

The new terms and conditions now includes a 14-day return window for European consumers that states:

You have the right to cancel your order, return a product or cancel a service contract for any reason. To return a product purchased from the Apple Store or cancel a service contract, please send your intent to return or cancel to us anytime prior to the date 14 days after the date you, or a person indicated by you, acquired physical possession of the product(s), or from the date of conclusion of the service contract.

The change to Apple’s terms and conditions appears to be in response to a new consumer rights directive in the EU that requires a 14 calendar day right of cancellation or return period for goods and services that are purchased in EAA countries. Those wishing for a refund will need to send a notice of cancellation within the time period either through Apple’s Report a Problem feature or a written statement.

Unfortunately for U.S. consumers, the terms and conditions still state that “All sales and rentals of products are final.”