computer trade in trouble

I recently sent in perfectly good Airmac for a 340 dollar credit towards my new computer. Mysteriously the say it is zero value due to extensive damage. I highly doubt this as I used their provided package which was like Fort Knox. What is going on? Nobody knows. what the other parties are doing, either. Is Apple just doing this to avoid paying out on the trade ins? I told them to return it, and if I see its not damaged how do I report this??


MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Oct 5, 2023 2:06 PM

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2 replies
Question marked as Helpful

Oct 5, 2023 2:18 PM in response to littlepeppy5

My $290 estimate dropped to $70 because of dead pixels I've yet to see.


Unfortunately, there is no recourse for this situation. I elected to keep my 21.5" 2015 iMac as a backup to our production iMacs. Replacing the slow internal HDD with a 1TB SSD provided a six fold increase in read and write speeds. It's now a pleasure to use.


You can tell Apple, but the decision of the outfit Apple contracted with is final.


Product Feedback - Apple


You can always complain to the feds ... consumer protection bunch, but don't expect those gears to grind very fast if they grind at all.

Question marked as Helpful

Oct 5, 2023 2:28 PM in response to littlepeppy5

Not shady, just business as usual. If there is anything "wonky" it's possibly misleading users with "pie in the sky" estimates which are always going to be high.


My wife got full payment of her estimate for a 2015 27" iMac, so it does happen. Honestly, if you want to feel really put upon, trade in your car.


caveat emptor applies.


Let us know how it turns out for you.

16 replies
Question marked as Helpful

Oct 5, 2023 2:18 PM in response to littlepeppy5

My $290 estimate dropped to $70 because of dead pixels I've yet to see.


Unfortunately, there is no recourse for this situation. I elected to keep my 21.5" 2015 iMac as a backup to our production iMacs. Replacing the slow internal HDD with a 1TB SSD provided a six fold increase in read and write speeds. It's now a pleasure to use.


You can tell Apple, but the decision of the outfit Apple contracted with is final.


Product Feedback - Apple


You can always complain to the feds ... consumer protection bunch, but don't expect those gears to grind very fast if they grind at all.

Question marked as Helpful

Oct 5, 2023 2:28 PM in response to littlepeppy5

Not shady, just business as usual. If there is anything "wonky" it's possibly misleading users with "pie in the sky" estimates which are always going to be high.


My wife got full payment of her estimate for a 2015 27" iMac, so it does happen. Honestly, if you want to feel really put upon, trade in your car.


caveat emptor applies.


Let us know how it turns out for you.

Oct 5, 2023 2:39 PM in response to littlepeppy5

If you took photos of your device, you could prove its condition. Without them it will be impossible to prove. Tell them to return it in the same condition it was in when you sent it. You can complain to apple, but it may not do any good. i will never use that process. I only do trade ins directly with Apple in the store.

Oct 5, 2023 5:51 PM in response to littlepeppy5

You should have received an option to accept the new trade in value or have your MacBook Air returned to you. I'd suggest you have it returned to you.


I had a very similar experience earlier this year with a MacBook Pro I wanted to trade in. I got the estimated value online from Apple, yet when I got an updated value it was zero. So I had them return it to me. I took it to the Apple Store, who told me there was nothing wrong with it, and in fact rarely see used MacBooks in pristine condition like mine was. The Apple Store gave me a gift card that day with a value higher than the estimated trade in value. So if you have an Apple Store nearby, I suggest taking your trade in there and explain what happened...you might get treatment similar to what I received.


BTW, I should mention that Apple contracts this trade in service with a third party company...it's not Apple. But it is concerning this is happening to others.

Oct 5, 2023 7:12 PM in response to MacMikeInOK

It actually appears to be a regular occurrence, hence my decision to not ever use the online option. In store works fine - I got a new iPhone a few months back and they applied the trade in value offered in store immediately as a deduction from the purchase of the new one. There are a couple of trustworthy companies online that'll buy your device; in fact, their offer for an MBA was significantly higher than Apple's and they will send you a check within about a week.

Oct 11, 2023 2:40 PM in response to littlepeppy5

OK everybody- UPDATE. got my computer back today from my declined trade in from CTDI in Jeffersonville, IN. They stated it was worth nothing and was bent and couldn't even be opened. Well GUESS WHAT? Just as I suspected, it's fine. Works perfect in the same perfect condition I sent it in. So Beware an Apple trade in. What is really going on? They just probably don't want yet another Airmac, so they tell you it's a zero hoping you won't bother asking for it to be returned. Hmmmmm....

computer trade in trouble

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