Wondering if Apple trade in is a scam

Exactly what's happening with my situation...

Did the trade-in program - purchased a new MacBook Pro with the belief that we would be receiving $690 for my perfectly good 2016 MacBook Pro - no screen issues when it left my house whatsoever - and I'm a graphic designer, so I would notice if there were any abnormalities in my screen. The trade-in program gets back to us a week later with notes saying that we gave them the wrong model information - which is impossible, and that there are "3 or more white spots". Bringing the trade-in value down to $220! That's $470 less than what we were initially told - a whole different price ballgame.

The trade-in program is definitely a scam, and I think we all need to make a stink about it. They're ripping us off.

And like many people here, I'm a loyal Apple customer - for literally 30 years!

To get an idea just how ridiculous this is, at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202471, Apple states that "The pixel density of Retina displays is so high that your eyes can't detect individual pixels at a normal viewing distance." And yet, if the trade-in company's sensors detect 3 or more pixels (out of more than 4 MILLION) that are "white" (not working, I assume) -- remember, Apple says your eyes can't even detect those pixels -- the value of your trade-in computer is less than half what they originally said. No, I requested they return it. I can either sell it to another company, or just give it away and feel better than being ripped off like this.

They told me I would get $250 as trade in for my iPhone X, after I described the condition. And then I got the trade-in offer email which adjusted and offered $63. Definitely bait and switch. I have the same reason “hairline fracture”

I just let them send it back, got it back in the same perfect condition I sent it in. Seems they are hoping you just say keep it. So Apples estimate was $45, got 0$ adjusted offer for cracked screen, took it to Experimax and got $70. Get your phone back and take it to a local, more reputable, shop. I decided Apple is a scam, no longer a question but a fact.

I have been ripped off by this white spot reduced offering as well. I missed the email offing $150 instead of $250 for my 2015 MacBook on the new M1 Pro deal. Then one day my machine arrives back to my door dirty? Apple scammed us all! I knew 25% back for my machine was too good to be true...

Wow same thing just happened to me!! Same excuse and everything. Same exact wording about the “three white spots.” I also checked my laptop before sending it and there was no issue with the screen at all, so I have no idea what they are talking about. I just spent thousands on a new MacBook for school. The least they could do is give me my measly $340. Ridiculous. I think I’m going to reject their offer. Just hope my laptop doesn’t come back with some defect that it never had to begin with.

FURIOUS! Same exact thing just happened to us. Great condition, we take great care of our devices. This was a MacBook Pro i5. quoted $590 trade in value and then offered $250 which revised again to $210. with NO explanation why, except "3 white spots". -- we did not have spots or steaks on screen BTW. Both Apple and Phobio were confused as to why there were no photos associated with my evaluation... one Phobia employee finally was able to "obtain a picture" and emailed it to me. IT WAS NOT MY DEVICE, the quality of the photo was so poor, looked like a ton of dust specks were all over screen and the lights from the office building were reflecting harshly in it... he pointed out to me "3 white streaks on the screen (and button rubbings) that were "normal wear and tear" and nothing to worry about that is what happens to all devices." WHAT? so that equates a drop from $590 to $210? Makes NO SENSE at all.. I do not trust their evaluation, their production of the photo, or their handling of anything. Apple won't step up and back their product, their process or the fact that all of these people are having the same problem? After a couple weeks on the phone back and forth to Apple, who claims they can not do anything because Phobio is in charge of all of this, and Phobio claims that apple sets the protocols they just follow them, I accidentally hit the accept button while toggling between screens on my iPhone to get them information. Phobio told me in no way could I reverse that and if Apple told me I could (because they did), they misspoke / misinformed me. I am so disappointed in Apple.

[Edited by Moderator]

Just got my laptop back after rejecting the trade-in value and it has a HUGE scratch on the front of the laptop now that’s wasn’t there when I sent it in. They didn’t even back it in the bubble wrap envelope that you send it in. Also I see absolutely no “white spots” that they claimed my screen had. I was planning on reselling my laptop since they only wanted to give me $100 for it and now the value has gone down with this large scratch! NOT HAPPY AT ALL

Total scam. You buy a new laptop considering the trade in price, and then lo and behold it’s something else entirely. What does “white spots” mean anyways? One dead pixel? I didn’t notice anything wrong at all with my display.

Yeah, this is really sad. Working with Apple (or their representative), I got the following offer:

Your device: 

MacBook Pro Core i5 2.9GHz 13" (Early 2015) 512GB SSD

Estimated Trade-in Refund:

$350.00

Revised Trade-in Refund:

$120.00

Reason:

Display has 3 or more white spots

I declined and they shipped it back. I then reached out to another company that deals in used Macs. For this same item, they offered me $545 prior to inspection. Once received, they lowered the amount because the battery was swollen, and the screen was delaminating. But they sent me pictures to show me what they were referring to! Because of this, they revised the offer to $420 - still better than Apple's original offer. I gladly accepted, and received a check in a few days.

Sorry, Apple. While I've been a loyal Mac enthusiast since 1984, and am happy to hear you speak about helping the environment, you're totally failing when it comes to this trade-in program.

oh interesting; when I suggested we should sue Apple for selling products with white spots suddenly they DID read this thread, but only to remove my suggestion to sue them for selling us faulty devices... not to actually do something about their shortcomings.

same exact thing happened to me. spots on my screen that were not there were the reason for a 70% discount on my trade-in value. also, they hold it long enough so that you miss the ridiculous 14 day return window so i cannot return the new apple macbook pro purchased to replace it. now i'm stuck with two working macbook pro's which are essentially identical. Apple should be ashamed and has lost a customer.

If I had just bothered to search the web for comments I would have found the negative comments.

however, all I am out is the effort to drop off their mailer packet and the feeling that APPLE is not to be trusted.

I literally just had this happen to me. I just sent in my 2018 MacBook Pro as a trade and was quoted $690 as a trade-in value. I got the same notification as you all about the “three white spots” and now I’m only getting $270 for it. It literally makes me sick because I already bought my new MacBook Air with the new chip. Apple should not be affiliated with this kind of scheme.

level 7 K Shaffer thinks all the people in the lengthy thread didn’t first go to Apple with the evidence of the scam. I left feedback. I was on the phone for several hours with all levels of Apple employees, and my guess is that most people in the thread were as well. I can say with absolute confidence that Apple is AWARE of how fraudulent the trade-in process feels to their customers and they DO NOT CARE.