Many customers eagerly awaiting the delivery of their Verizon iPad 2 are left disappointed when they check their order status to discover that their package is being re-routed on its way from China – all the way back to Apple. But why?
Devices being returned so far appear to be Verizon iPads. However, it’s not clear why Apple is recalling them – or why they are not contacting customers to let them know.
The issue was first discovered when one disgruntled customer reported his experience to 9to5 Mac:
Apple may be having problems with Verizon iPad 2. I was supposed to receive my ipad2 64gb today but all of a sudden fedex sent it back to apple and said that apple requested it’s return. Apple’s customer care seems to be unaware or unwilling to acknowledge the problem. I went on the discussion boards on apple.com and there are a number of people discussing the same thing and all posters so far have all ordered Verizon ipad2’s.
Other customers have voiced their concerns in a thread on the Apple Support Communities forum, and it seems as though there’s a rather large number of them who are experiencing this problem.
One customer writes:
… I ordered mine early may and yesterday I was thrilled to see it actually say out for delivery! Then I got the delivery exception. Called fedex and heard the same thing you did. Called Apple and they had no clue why just that it would be delivered tomorrow(today). Called fedex again and they assured me that the package was already on it’s way back to it’s origin. Now this morning my tracking number reads undeliverable, return to sender. So, my 1-2 weeks turned into 3 to ship and it some how took fedex 2 weeks to get it to my city and now this. I wonder how long it will be before I actually see my iPad.
Another writes:
So same bunch of crap is happening to us as we type….ipad2 makes it all they way from CHINA to within 40 miles of our house and they are returning it to the sender!! In Elk Grove! I called Fedex and they said it was an Apple request. Apple says it’s a fedex problem – and I quote “why would we ask to return your ipad that you have been waiting for”. She went on to say that it should be delivered to us in “1-2 days”. I wonder if they weren’t hacked or something and a bunch of return to sender requests were sent out. I just can’t believe it frankly….
And another:
Exactly the same thing happened to me yesterday too!! I got the same response from FedEx, the customer service rep there said the package was flagged “return to sender” several times. I don’t believe they even attempted delivery as there was no tag left on my door either! Apple was clueless but did tell me they had a lot of calls from customers with the same problem. He said he’ll pass the information on to his manager & a new order will be placed for me. I’m thinking they had tech problems with this batch of iPad units but aren’t admitting it! Its frustrating that they won’t admit what the problem was. So back to the waiting game I go.
At the time of writing, there are around 60 posts like this from customers with the same problem, but none have received a satisfactory response from Apple that details the reason for recalling their iPads or when they might receive their order.
Another 9to5 reader claims Verizon iPads are also being removed from retail stores:
I was in the apple store in Lakeside Mall (LA) and I saw two people coming from back of the store (exiting the stock room) and leaving the store with a cart full of boxes. The boxes had \”verizon 64gb\” and \”verizon 32gb\” written on the outside of them. I assumed they were iPads. This may relate to your story of Apple recalling Verizon iPads. -Rory
Have you had problems with your Verizon iPad order?
Update: Here’s why they are being recalled.
If someone activates a cellular connection on the device, then wants to view or edit account information, they can’t. They receive a message that it is activated, and that\’s it. I saw someone open at least 6 looking for one that didn’t do it. It’s device specific, not software.
Anyone with a Verizon iPad 2 noticed this issue? Got a serial number to share?
