iPhone 17 Anyone ever use Amazon Trade-In for iPhone?

[Gator5000e]

I just checked and Amazon would value my 16P 256 phone at about $455.00. Apple is telling me the trade in value would be $580.00. While the Amazon deal is about $125 less than an Apple trade in (if the values hold up upon receipt of the phones by the companies that handle the trade-ins), the Amazon trade-in credit would go directly to my Amazon account for which I could use it for anything sold by Amazon. If I use the Apple trade-in, I will be limited to buying only Apple based products and services.

So, is it worth it to accept a lesser trade in value and have the trade-in money available for anything on Amazon?

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[yoheywut]

I'd definitely NOT take a $125 haircut... Wouldn't you be using the Apple trade in value towards a new phone? If not, I'm sure you will find use for it down the road (iCloud storage, a few months of Apple Music, AirPods, a gift etc).

 

[Gator5000e]

Stop making so much sense. You are right of course but the way these trade in plans work, you pay full price for the new phone. Once you get it, you send in the old phone. You get a gift card or credit to your account. I don't have an Apple Card so the credit would go to my Apple account. I don't see a lot of future Apple purchases in the near future unless they release a really nice new AppleTV (but my 2nd Gen ATV 4K is still working very well). So that credit would just sit in my Apple account with deductions for iCloud and movies and stuff that I may rent or buy. But again you make a lot of sense. Thanks for the reply.

 

[timeconsumer]

Stop making so much sense. You are right of course but the way these trade in plans work, you pay full price for the new phone. Once you get it, you send in the old phone. You get a gift card or credit to your account. I don't have an Apple Card so the credit would go to my Apple account. I don't see a lot of future Apple purchases in the near future unless they release a really nice new AppleTV (but my 2nd Gen ATV 4K is still working very well). So that credit would just sit in my Apple account with deductions for iCloud and movies and stuff that I may rent or buy. But again you make a lot of sense. Thanks for the reply.

Has the trade in process changed this year? I always buy full price unlocked and I’ve always got my trade in value credited back to the credit card I used for the purchase.

 

[Gator5000e]

Well, now that you are asking I can't remember how they handled the trade in. I will have ti investigate further.

 

[Gator5000e]

Dr. Google AI said this: The last point confuses me. The second point agrees with you. The trade-in value is credited to the card you used to purchase the phone with. But that last point says if your trade-in is less than the purchase price, you get a gift card. I don't get it.

For purchases made online and paid in full:

• When you order: An estimated trade-in credit is given.
  
  When the credit is applied: After you receive your new device, Apple sends you a trade-in kit to send back your old device. Once Apple receives and verifies the trade-in device's condition, the credit is applied to your original payment method, up to the total purchase price.
  
  For any remaining amount: If your trade-in is worth less than the total purchase price, you'll receive an Apple Gift Card by email for the difference

 

[timeconsumer]

It looks like if you trade in without making a purchase, they put it on a gift card.

If you trade in with making a purchase it will be applied to your payment method. To check this, you can go through like you’re buying an iPhone 16 (can’t do this with the 17 models because they’re not available for purchase yet) when you get to check out there’s an option to “see how Apple Trade In works”:

Apple Trade In

Here’s how it works.​

After you complete your purchase, we’ll send you an email with next steps on how to complete your trade-in. We’ll also provide a trade-in kit and prepaid shipping label.

If you pay monthly​

We’ll apply the value as an instant credit to lower your monthly payments.

If you pay in full​

We’ll credit your payment method after we receive and verify your old device.

Before you trade in​

Be sure to prep your device. (Opens in a new window)

Use the trade-in kit to send it in​

We’ll send you a free trade-in kit. You may receive it along with your new device. Otherwise, it will be mailed to you separately as soon as your order is ready for delivery or pickup. Once you receive the trade-in kit, you have 14 days to prepare and send in your device. And if you are trading in an iPhone or an iPad, feel free to include your device’s case in the kit so that it may be directed to recycling where available.

We’ll confirm your trade-in value​

When our trade-in partner receives your device, it is inspected to verify its condition. If everything checks out, your trade-in is complete. If your device doesn’t match the condition you described, you’ll receive a revised trade-in value.

And if the value of your trade-in was more than the cost of your new device, you’ll receive an Apple Gift Card with the remaining amount.

 

[Gator5000e]

Thanks.

 

[comptr]

I did the trade in last year for the Apple Watch and what they did is change me the full price on my Apple Card and when I went to the store to pick it up they checked the watch and made sure it matched the condition I told them and they then refunded me what the the trade in amount was back to my Apple Card and I ordered the watch online for in-store pickup. I am doing the trade in this year for my personal ultra 1 watch and iPhone 16 Pro Max and when I called apple to check yesterday as I was ordering the watch they told me its the same as before but sometimes the store may not know how to handle a trade in when you order the device for in-store pickup.

 

[fehhkk]

I got $825 for my 16 Pro Max 512GB, go roostr has never let me down.