Trade in

Ask your local store, but I have done this very thing, the last 3 years. Ordered my phone online at apple.com, specified my trade, then once I got my phone, instead of mailing the phone in, I dropped my phone off at my Apple store directly.

I know, so no worries. But you should have absolutely no issues returning your phone to your Apple Store this year.

That's great; I tried that one year and they said once Apple sends you a shipping box the accounting gets screwed up if they take your phone in-store.

Nah....doesn't work that way. It's all tied to the new phone.

One of the first things you are asked when you place an order for a new iPhone at Apple's online store is if you have a trade-in. Did you not see this?

Ok, then that message has already provided you with the answer on how you can trade-in your current phone.

Just relating my experience; I'd prefer to give my phone back in-store given all the issues we've seen with FedEx before.

Usually not.

If you want to drop off your device in-store, pick up your new device in-store.

If you receive your new device from the Internet store, you'll get a box to use to ship your old device back to Apple.