Wondering if Apple trade in is a scam

Definitely a scam. We have our employees trade in their computers during upgrades. 3 Macbooks so far and 1 iphone. Every single one has 1 or 2 broken pixels and the trade-in value is docked by about 50% as a result. There are no broken pixels detectable by the human eye at least. Sadly this is not run by a third party but by Apple. Screwing us to make more $$.

@DennisWSanDiego

They are actually super accessible for leaving feedback (whether they will actually do something with it is another ha ha but if a lot of people come with the same complaint; I'm sure they will consider it)

https://www.apple.com/feedback/

But in this case they actually gave me the number of the retail department which I called: 800-692-7753

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.

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!

This is a discussion thread where lots of people are sharing their experience with the Apple trade-in program. The question posed by the thread is: is it a scam? In my experience, and plenty of others here, the answer is yes.

you pop up with your level 7 acting like Apple is somehow unaware

its not self-immolating to helpfully let you know that I’ve already submitted explicit feedback, and it’s not revealing my hand to guess others have as well.

apple is knowingly engaging in a trade-in process that incentivizes third-party companies to maximize their profit by adjusting the value of the trade-in as originally quoted by Apple. It is deceptive and Apple knows it is deceptive, they were more than happy to read the fine print back to me.

The Cure, as long as Apple does not want to help their customers, is to help prevent people from falling into the trap.

omg they said the EXACT same thing to me! "3 white spots" so they brought it back from $310 to $110.

Yeah 3 white spots my *ss LOL I don't think so. They can send it back and I'll sell it for $500 instead.

You're right: a FAT scam, bad rep for Apple.

Well, I actually spoke to an Apple representative (for some other question I had) and when I brought this up as well they were very surprised and told me to submit a complaint about this. I suggest that, to make them aware of this lousy trade in experience we are ALL having, we all file a complaint and hopefully (hopefully) the more people complain, they will finally do something about it. (what they don't know, they won't change so not saying anything will definitely not help).

Suggest sending Apple your feedback Here. Not that it will change the value given but to voice your opinion

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.

I just received the exact same response from the trade in department that there are 3 white dots on the display of my daughters MacBook. I even took pictures of the screen before sending it in and there were no white dots. As a stock holder and customer this is extremely disturbing to read that this exact thing is happening with so many customers.

i had an iphone 6+ that i was perfectly happy with, but succumbed to new phone fever. They start off with a lead in that says up to $200 trade, but l wonder what that would be for. My 6+ was valued at $50. Okay it was an old phone. I just got a message that the camera was not working. It was working fine when I shipped it. I had them send it back. I'm sure I can do something better with it than let them throw it away.

I am trying to find a way to post this or a similar review somewhere other than this user forum. Not all Apple users use these forum and i feel the phone(y) trade in program deserves a more wide spread audience.

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.

Me, too - nearly the same scenario. They offered $390 and then told me it has white spots - which I have never seen - and "revised" the offer to $140. Like I'm going to give them nearly new, $1,700 computer for $140. And what does it say about Apple if they can't make a product that will last a couple of years without having "white spots" (whatever that means)? No thanks - I'll use it as a back-up or donate it rather than let some scam artist rip me off. Really bad look for Apple.

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]