Brightstar

I decide to recycle my iPhone 8 thru Apple's recycling partner "brightstar". What a joke! Never again will I recycle through this program. I sent in a perfectly good working iPhone 8. Once they evaluated the phone, the offer came back as 0; saying the phone was unable to load the the software. Interesting. When I sent the phone in it was at the "HELLO" screen. I reject the offer and had it sent back. Lo and behold it isn't working. ***? Talking to Brightstar is useless, they claim no responsibility, saying it was damaged before shipping. BULLCRAP! If I had kept the **** phone I could have sold it myself. Beware of using this program, it's a scam. Beside if you do get "money" back, it in the form of an "Apple Store" card; meaning you can only use it but buying hardware, no iTunes or APPS. Another joke.

Posted on Nov 7, 2018 11:34 AM

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Posted on Nov 7, 2018 11:46 AM

Update. I received the "broken" iPhone 8 back. Sure enough it was not working. Interestingly, I was able to restore the IOS and now have a working iPone 8 again. So, if I could get the IOS reinstalled, why couldn't 'brightstar'? What a bigger joke than I first thought.

4 replies

Nov 7, 2018 11:54 AM in response to josefj

This support document explains how the program works Trade in with Apple GiveBack - Apple and immediately identifies that it is an Apple Store Gift card if it is not instant credit while at the Apple Store. There have been other complaints about the program, and others have provided feedback to Apple. I suggest you do the same. http://www.apple.com/feedback


No where did it say you were going to receive money back. Sorry you misunderstood the program terms.

Nov 7, 2018 1:22 PM in response to josefj

There is a difference between iTunes Gift card and Apple Gift Card. The document says Apple Gift Card. Why Brightstar didn't reload the iOS, is not relevant, since they are a separate company, not Apple. How they handle the devices is up to them. You can always ask them why they didn't try to reload it. You used the phrase "money", when you referred to what you got back. As long as you notified Apple, the only other thing you can do is to contact Brightstar if you wish.

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Brightstar

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