Apple is providing two-hour shipping to its retail stores for just $5 on “eligible in-stock items.” If you need a gift to an Apple-loving person in your life this holiday shopping season, the $5 shipping might be a convenient way to get the gift in a pinch. The company says it provides planned courier distribution of qualifying items “in most of the metros.”
That low $5 charge won’t last long, though—in fine printing on Apple’s website, the company claims it’s a short time deal. And you can’t use it on personalized Macs, on engraved goods, or orders charged with funding or via bank transfer.
Apple said the move would mean quicker delivery times for consumers living farther from fulfillment centers than from stores, according to people who asked not to be named, addressing internal policies. The goods will be distributed via United Parcel Service Inc. in Canada and FedEx Corp. in the U.S. through land shipping and can be shipped as early as the day after the customer orders, Apple told its employees. The service would apply to consumers who live within 100 miles of a store, people said.
If you don’t need your order within two hours, Apple says it provides free next-day delivery to any Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple TV, or Apple Watch, and free two-day shipping to almost anything else The company also has a handy guide that details when you’re about to order a free product shipping by 24 December, even though certain products, such as the HomePod mini, are already in stock.
Apple also allows you to request returns for “eligible items purchased between November 10, 2020 and December 25, 2020, until January 8, 2021.” Make sure of taking advantage of such a big deal. It doesn’t come often.