Don’t waste your time with Apple Trade-In (2024)

Bojack62 said:

Sent in my iPad Pro in a flimsy cardboard box with a cardboard cradle to protect device. No foam or air bubble bag or packaging. No Nicks or scratches what so ever. Did a screen burn in test available on web. No noticeable burn in. Cleaned it before packing and sent off. Two days later receive email that said $0 tradein value Due to LCD display burn in damage/streaks/discoloration across the screen. Should we keep it? Or send it back? When I got it back the screen appeared to have scratches all over, but wasn’t scratched. I was able to remove “scratches“ with soft micro clothe. Scratches were a thin white waxy substance. The back of it had a grey colored glue all over it like the glue on duct tape. I had to use some dish detergent and green plastic scrubby to get it off. Don’t waste your time with Apple trade-in. It’s just a ploy to get you to upgrade your device.

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Sounds like your trade-in didn't qualify for full trade-in price.

As many others have said, if it at all possible, do the trade-in in-person an Apple store. If you have an Apple store even at all accessible in some way, make an appointment, and make the trek. It’s worth it to be able to have the employee verify it in person, and then lock-in the price that you’re quoted.

If you do some searching on these forums or on Reddit, unfortunately it’s somewhat known that the official Apple mail-in trade-in uses some 3rd party, that has a bad rep for 1) damaging your device and sending back a more damaged one, or 2) claiming it was more damaged than it was submitted as and offering you “$0” (or much less) and upon asking for it to be shipped back, receiving something that was in fact totally fine, or 3) getting shipped a totally different device back after (2)… Also even if you were to give them the benefit of the doubt and what they claim is true, anytime you ship something, there’s the possibility it gets damaged in transit / even if you pack it really well.

Separately, my view on Apple trade-in: for some devices, the Apple trade-in value isn’t that much lower than the true secondary market price (eg. on Swappa or Ebay), such that it’s worth a slightly lower price w/ Apple trade-in for the ease of not having to sell it, deal with potential scam buyers, fees, etc. However for other devices, the Apple trade-in value is so much lower than the true secondary market price, it’s worth it to try and sell it yourself. I find in general, iPhones have decent trade-in values (especially if you have the base model, as storage upgrades get 0 credit on Apple trade-in), whereas Macs often don’t (especially more recent ones). iPads are probably in-between, and vary more on a case by case basis.

And here's another voice for recommending trade-in in the Apple Store. Reason being that you get a gift card with the promised value immediately. You can then use the gift card and place an order online as usual (or in the store if you prefer).

I did use the trade-in with the trade-in kit once before I knew of all the horror stories and it actually went just fine. Promised amount showed up on my credit card within 48 hours of sending it in. I would do it in the store the next time though.

mebehere said:

The main problem I have with trade-ins is getting the money back on Apple gift cards. it’s like I can never get my money out of gift cards.

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It can be worth it if you are going to use the gift card on something newly released that can't be had cheaper anywhere else. So for example if you need a new Apple Watch in the next few weeks and want to buy it day 1 when Apple launches the Series 10 in September.

I have a couple gift cards just sitting in my account until something new comes out that I really want. Like either a new Apple Watch or preferably new Airpods Max. For anything else like a M3 Mac those are cheaper at Best Buy and I'd just be wasting the gift card.

Another thing about the convenience of in store trade in, is that if you trade in after ( at least within the return window or maybe even a month ) you can choose to instead of getting gift cards get it applied to your earlier purchase.

I purchased my current iPP 13in, but didn't bring a trade in at the time. Someone offered to take an older iPad air off my hands, and went back on it. I was able to bring the Air in for trade a week or two later, and they applied it to my balance on the iPP. A nice option to have.

Big Stevie said:

I may be trading in my iPhone 12 for the new 16 in September. If buying from the Apple store, do they allow you to hand over your existing phone a few days after purchase? I prefer to transfer data from one handset to the other, but if trading in at the time of purchase I guess that can't be done? Would the alternative be an iCloud back up prior to going to the store to trade in?

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I did my own backup before taking it in and built the new device off of it.