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Apple Called Out for 'Brutal' Mac Trade-In Values Following Launch of New Models

sracer said:
That's a lot of words to say, "you're trading it in wrong." ;)

Apple's trade-in values have never been reasonable IMO. Neither have the prices they charge for refurbished products.

From the article: "Apple is facing criticism online for offering poor Mac trade-in values following this week's launch of new MacBook Pro and Mac mini models."

Maybe that is poorly worded, but what was the trade-in value for that $50K Mac Pro BEFORE this week's launch of the new MacBook Pro and Mac Mini models? Was it just as bad?
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So don't use it, Apple doesn't have a monopoly on 2nd hand Apple products. I look at it this way, for as long as I can remember the recommendation in the Mac community was that you never get Ram from Apple because the markup was too much. It's a little different now with Apple Silicon but I would say that for the Mac Pro specifically, you would have to be either silly or not want to go to the effort of finding third-party ram to max out a Mac Pro from Apple.
Who cares what Apple is offering, you don't have to take it and you shouldn't even consider it an option. This service doesn't feel like a way to save money on a Mac, no matter what the advertisements may say. It seems more like a way of getting more Apple products recycled.
Also, remember this, the $50k Mac Pro is $50k because of its upgrades, the machine itself starts at $6k, and a few hundred more for rack mount. Yes, you are trading it wrong.
 
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Smartuser said:
Sure, but then it's ridiculous to constantly advertise trade-ins on their site. There is an expectation that if Apple offers something, that it'll live up to some standards of quality and fulfillment of expectations and not be just a joke.
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Exactly. They offer trade-ins as a talking point. Just like every base model of everything they sell doesn’t have *quite* enough storage, but they can advertise the base price. They only offer trade-in so they can talk about recycling and how great Apple devices hold their value. Completely ignoring the irony that Apple apparently values their own products less than anyone.
 
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On par with GameStop trade-ins. 🥲


Oh youll give me 25 cents for Super Mario Bros 3 and then sell it for $8, cool.
 
I'm not surprised. I got $175 for my black titanium apple watch 7. I was just being lazy and could have gotten more, but I was done with wearing a watch.
 
Trade in values went downhill back around 2020 when I was selling my 2017 i7 12" and 2015 15" MBP (before going 13").

Within a few weeks of me selling both locally for top dollar, the trade-in prices on Apple's web site went down by nearly 1/3rd.

I still check periodically out of curiosity on some of my newer equipment and all trade in's suck at this point.
 
MacRumors said:


Apple is facing criticism online for offering poor Mac trade-in values following this week's launch of new MacBook Pro and Mac mini models.

apple-silicon-mac-lineup-wwdc-2022-feature-purple.jpg

Yesterday, MKBHD researcher David Imel tweeted that Apple offers just $970 in trade-in credit for a Mac Pro configuration that it still sells for $52,199. The viral tweet caused an uproar among Twitter users towards Apple's trade-in program: "That's a slap in the face," said one user. "Apple trade-ins have always been boo boo. I'm surprised you thought you would get even 1/5 of the price," another one said.



On Reddit, users also piled on, sharing their past experiences with Apple's trade-in program and the "low value" returned for their Macs. "My base model M1 Pro trades in at $725. 63.7% drop in value in a single generation. Not great," one Reddit user said. Another user, on the flip side, shared how Apple gave them $700 last year for an Intel-based 2016 MacBook.
On the MacRumors forums, users are also sharing their thoughts about Apple's trade-in program regarding Macs after the launch of new models. One user said Apple quoted them the same $970 value for a 14-inch M1 MacBook Pro, while a third-party offered almost $1,100.

The credit Apple will give you for trading in an old Mac depends on several factors, including its specific configuration and condition. On its website, Apple offers a list of estimated trade-in values for its Mac lineup, quoting up to $670 for the MacBook Pro and up to $1,250 for the Mac Pro.

Article Link: Apple Called Out for 'Brutal' Mac Trade-In Values Following Launch of New Models
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My i7 Mini (bought in Spring 2020), with 32GB RAM, 1 TB SSD would get me zero in a trade in.
It cost over 2500 CHF then.

Though, admittedly, their market-value on auction sites has also tanked.
I would get a couple of hundred for it, I guess.
 
MacRumors said:


Apple is facing criticism online for offering poor Mac trade-in values following this week's launch of new MacBook Pro and Mac mini models.

apple-silicon-mac-lineup-wwdc-2022-feature-purple.jpg

Yesterday, MKBHD researcher David Imel tweeted that Apple offers just $970 in trade-in credit for a Mac Pro configuration that it still sells for $52,199. The viral tweet caused an uproar among Twitter users towards Apple's trade-in program: "That's a slap in the face," said one user. "Apple trade-ins have always been boo boo. I'm surprised you thought you would get even 1/5 of the price," another one said.



On Reddit, users also piled on, sharing their past experiences with Apple's trade-in program and the "low value" returned for their Macs. "My base model M1 Pro trades in at $725. 63.7% drop in value in a single generation. Not great," one Reddit user said. Another user, on the flip side, shared how Apple gave them $700 last year for an Intel-based 2016 MacBook.
On the MacRumors forums, users are also sharing their thoughts about Apple's trade-in program regarding Macs after the launch of new models. One user said Apple quoted them the same $970 value for a 14-inch M1 MacBook Pro, while a third-party offered almost $1,100.

The credit Apple will give you for trading in an old Mac depends on several factors, including its specific configuration and condition. On its website, Apple offers a list of estimated trade-in values for its Mac lineup, quoting up to $670 for the MacBook Pro and up to $1,250 for the Mac Pro.

Article Link: Apple Called Out for 'Brutal' Mac Trade-In Values Following Launch of New Models
Click to expand...
$120 for my 2015 21" iMac.
 
People will complain about anything. Macs have to have the best resale value in the PC industry. Over the years I have regularly been ably to sell my old Mac for as much as half of the original price when selling it 2 to 3 years old.

What do you expect a corporation to do? Pay top dollar?
 
I don't understand why some people get so upset about Apple's trade-in values. No one is being forced to trade through Apple.

If you don't feel the trade value is fair, sell your device somewhere else. Pretend that Apple doesn't have a trade-in program, which had been the case for many years anyway.
 
darkpaw said:
This isn't new, but it is more pronounced now.

Buy a Mac mini for $1,500. Don't open it. Grab the serial number off the back of the box, and put that into the trade-in form. You just spent $1,500 and Apple will give you $350 for an unopened, brand new, completely saleable device. There's no check on how old the device is, or how it's been used; it simply has a base value, then adds a couple of dollars for each of the upgrades you spent $000s on.
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Ironically, their trade-in value is illustrating the actual non-inflated non-hyped price of the devices.
 
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Everyone knows Apple’s trade-in offers on Macs are low. This is nothing new. I guess people crying on Twitter is new though. Oh wait no that’s not new either. You can sell it on craigslist or Facebook marketplace for considerably more. I’ve done it multiple times. I would never trade in my Mac to Apple for their prices. Of course you take some risk so the choice is yours.
 
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They did the same thing when they announced the new watches last year. The day before the announcement they lowered all trade in values.
 
webkit said:
I don't understand why some people get so upset about Apple's trade-in values. No one is being forced to trade through Apple.

If you don't feel the trade value is fair, sell your device somewhere else. Pretend that Apple doesn't have a trade-in program, which had been the case for many years anyway.
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It makes me question the value and price of their products.

I don't know about you but its an insult to purchase an already overpriced mac at MSRP, $2000+, then the second it's shipped, you enter the serial number into their trade-in portal and are advised that they'll give $475 as a trade-in for the very device that is literally being shipped to you.
 
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Ummm... well, seeing that new (or new-ish) Apple machines are (IMO) unreasonably expensive, I am actually not really hurt about this situation. I buy my Apple hardware used now. For folks who are in the same boat as I am, this probably translates to some downward pressure on the used market.
 
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Can we finally now see that Apple is not your friend. They are not your buddy. They are like any other company will to sell you WATER 2.0 because it is magical. I use Apple products but I am under no illusion that they are any more special than any other company. Key word being greed.
 
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wes2006ag said:
They did the same thing when they announced the new watches last year. The day before the announcement they lowered all trade in values.
Click to expand...
To be fair, when new hardware models come out, it does reduce the value of older models. This is why some people sell their iPhones before the new models come out and use their back up.
 
I’ll admit, I was weak this morning. I clicked into this thread to sift through the expected carnage (I don’t feel good about myself). It did not disappoint. My takeaways?

Someone spec’d, and bought, a $52,199 Mac.

No really… Just put down your devices and think about that a full :30.

Next? This bizarro expectation that any company that sells new items on a near-yearly cadence, should take back their own used items anywhere near actual street value. Seems a business model that would almost guarantee a short-lived business.

If trade-in value is important for you, your only avenue is private sale. Otherwise, enjoy it, hand it down to a likely super stoked family member or friend, donate it to an even more stoked non-profit or complain about in a niche tech forum.
 
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Smartuser said:
According to these, the average car is worth roughly 50% after four years.

Not 2% like the Mac Pro according to Phobio.
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Apples to oranges. Computer tech is a fast depreciating asset who's service life is much shorter than a cars.A 4 year old car has a lot more in common with the latest version, and a lot more useful life remaining, than a 4 year ld computer that may be close to EOL.


sevoneone said:
They are promoting it all over as a way to save on your new Mac. Offering less than 10-25% without at least disclosing that that the offer is not representative of the item’s actual value is a touch on the shady side.
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An item's value depends on what someone is willing to pay.

Part of the problem is what someone paid for the computer is an anchor point for what they think its value is; not what someone is willing to pay.

Apple's valuation is low; but then again I see plenty of CL adverts for a 4 or 5 year old computer that state paid $xxx and asking 70% of that pice. What a bargain..

Falhófnir said:
Has it ever been remotely cost effective to do a trade in? I've always seen more value in handing down the device to someone I know who can make use of it, or even just keeping it as a spare.
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That's what I typically do depending on the trade in offer. I kept my old Gen 2 SE as a backup since the trade in value was small; that way if a phone dies I can use it until I decide to buy a new phone.

Abazigal said:
Trade in values, by its very concept, would be much lower than finding someone to buy it from you directly online.

Say someone is willing to buy a used M1 MBA for $600 (example). Logic dictates that apple (or whichever company they are using) would offer a far lower price. They still need to take it in, find a buyer (which could be right away or months from now), and it’s incurring storage costs all this while. And of course they should still earn a profit for their troubles.

And the more expensive an item is, the harder it will be to move it, which would ironically depress the resale value even more.

You use Apple’s service for the convenience so you can get it over and done with. Never to get the best price.
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Good points. Trades offer an easy transaction with a known value vs trying to sell it yourself and risk scams, angry buyers, low ballers etc.

Every time I try to sell something on eBay the first few offers are over asking with a note that they need me to text them since they can't use eBay's system for "insert BS reason here."

Anyone looking to buy can checkout Apple's or other retailer's offers and selling prices to get an idea of what to offer since that is a floor for the seller and there is no need to go much above it; and refurb prices set a ceiling.
 
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ohthehorror said:
Can we finally now see that Apple is not your friend. They are not your buddy. They are like any other company will to sell you WATER 2.0 because it is magical. I use Apple products but I am under no illusion that they are any more special than any other company. Key word being greed.
Click to expand...
Wait, you mean a corporation is trying to make money and stay in business and not be my buddy? No way! I thought me and Tim had a thing going!

Seriously, though yeah, you are right. It’s just like how you want to get paid more and are not your bosses friend. When you ask him for a raise and he says well, can you give me a discount, I’m sure you wouldn’t agree with that. It’s called business.
 
😵‍💫
Trade-ins were convenient, sure it wasn’t the best price but it wasn’t bad. This, this is just ridiculous, and no doubt will prevent sales. I know I’ll take a second look and consider keeping my MBP 16” M1 Max.
 
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