Christmas gift new phone using trade in

Yes—the issue is not HOW to trade-in, but WHEN. The 14 day trade-in deadline does not allow for advanced ordering for the holidays—to be sure the gift-giver gets the gift under the proverbial tree on time.

As in: the deadline for my son to send in his old phone is December 20. The new iPhone upgrade is wrapped under the tree for December 25.

This is a serious shortcoming in Apple's Customer Service program re. holiday gifts.

If you want to buy a new iPhone with trade-in or utilize your iPhone Upgrade program, and order in advance to be sure you have it for a holiday gift, you run the risk of running into a trade-in deadline SNAFU.

In the past, I have called for an extension, and was told, "don't worry; the trade-in can be sent back after Christmas."

The year, even with all the warnings about shipping delays, I am told by the customer service woman on the phone that Apple is sticking to with deadlines. I have to call on a deadline date and order a new trade in box, and I run the risk of the trade-in value not being the same as originally quoted. (Though I think this is for straight trade-ins, and not the upgrade program.)

***Around the holidays, PLEASE, APPLE: create a 30 day trade-in window for holiday gift-giving.***

Hi cherilyn240,

We can certainly understand that you'd like to purchase a new iPhone now and complete the trade-in later. It's recommended that you connect with the Apple Online Store for additional assistance regarding holiday purchases. Use the link below and if necessary, select your country or region from the bottom-right corner of the page and click continue to have it reflect relevant information for your location.

Contacting Apple

Cheers and thanks for using Apple Support Communities.

Yes, I did call.

and was told that I like have to call back on the deadline date and re-order another trade-in box.

Suoer wasteful—of resources and my time.

Apple should just change the return window in the Upgrade program to 30 days.

I was told that an Apple retail store can only issue Apple store credit - not the Trade-in Refund. I've made a few calls to Apple and the best option seems to be to ask for a new trade-in box.

I'm amazed that Apple doesn't provide an extension for holiday trade-ins. Talk about a corporate Scrooge!

I agree. This is a challenge every year for me--so much so that I am dropping the Upgrade plans for my kids moving forward.

All Apple has to do, I think, is have a 30-day return window instead of 14 around the holidays.

You can trade-in at an Apple retail store. 

You can trade-in at an Apple retail store at any time. 