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Apple Expands Third-Party USB Charger 'Takeback Program' Beyond U.S. and China

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Apr 12, 2001
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Apple is expanding its USB Power Adapter Takeback Program to countries beyond the United States and China, reports 9to5Mac. First introduced last month following the electrocution of a Chinese woman using a counterfeit iPhone charger, the recycling initiative is designed to allow iOS users to safely replace and dispose of questionable third-party power adapters.

appletakeback.jpg
Under the terms of the program, Apple will accept and recycle any third-party charger, no questions asked. The company will also provide an authentic replacement charger for a fee of $10 in the United States, which is $9 cheaper than the standard $19 cost.

While the trade-in program was initially aimed at U.S. and Chinese Apple customers, it has now been expanded to cover Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and the U.K. as well, with the website displaying appropriate pricing included for each country.

Apple is currently preparing its retail locations for the program's launch, providing training materials for employees. Trade-ins will be accepted beginning on August 16, with users able to bring any USB power adapter and an iPhone, iPad, or iPod to an Apple Retail Store or participating Apple Authorized Service Provider for a replacement. The program is set to last for several months, ending on October 18, 2013.

Article Link: Apple Expands Third-Party USB Charger 'Takeback Program' Beyond U.S. and China
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/08/12/apple-expands-third-party-usb-charger-takeback-program-beyond-u-s-and-china/
I would probably get flamed for this, but I think better solution would be to permanently lower the prices of 12W USB Power Adapter (for 10-inch iPad), 5W USB Power Adapter, and Lightning to USB Cable by $9 to $10.
 
Finally. A story about a cell phone exchange program I can afford.

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Is there any chance that this will be funding the next round of lawsuits? They get the possibly counterfeit adaptor to use as evidence and some money to use on lawyers. You get to pay to exchange your working power charger for a different one with an Apple on it. If the old one was not genuine than it is less likely that internal phone components are not going to be damaged over time when you exchange out.

I understand there are stories about counterfeit parts causing harm. I am also under the impression that people are smart enough to know they shouldn't use cheap imitations especially when paring with expensive electronics. Am I missing out on how this benefits the public at large more than it benefits Apple?
 
How is it that this is limited to certain countries only?

Is my knockoff charger not dangerous here in Denmark where I live?

Come on Apple, you need to make this program world wide!
 
So if I brought in a 5 Watt adapter with my iPad, would they give me another 5 watt or a 12 Watt?
 
A good first step. What Apple truly needs to do is to include two Apple charging cables with every new phone that uses the lightning connector. When changing the connector, Apple converted one of its greatest assets (the sheer ubiquity of finding charging cables for your Apple product anywhere you were) into a liability.

Because of that decision, Apple has created a market for extremely cheaply built cables sold by random Chinese sellers on Amazon and the like. Apple could put an end to the market, as well as make its longtime customers happy, by giving out more free lightning cables.

I personally walked into the Apple store about a month after I bought my iPhone 5 last year and demanded that they give me a free lightning cable. I told them I have six iPhones, and six iPhone chargers scattered all around my house. I am not willing to pay $30 for a new cable that cost Apple one dollar to make. I told the guy to walk into the back of the store where the repair Desk is, and get me a lightning cable. To his credit, he did exactly that. There is simply no reason why customers should be put through this amount of inconvenience for the sake of one stupid cable. I know several Apple fans who are specifically not upgrading their phone because they don't want to have to buy new cables. Is that a little ridiculous? Yes. But it's definitely the truth. Apple should know (And I'm sure they do know) just how much their decision to change the connector and not give out free cables has hurt them. That is one reason why they are illuminating the older model phones and replacing them with the 5C model.

Please excuse any typos, this was dictated with Siri and I did not carefully review my edits for non sequiturs and homonyms.

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VanillaCracker said:
Where's the profit in that though?
Click to expand...

Because instead of selling a very very few of the adapters at a ridiculous price, creating a market for cheap dangerous Chinese chargers, they would sell potentially many times more chargers at a much more reasonable price.
 
cameronjpu said:
Because instead of selling a very very few of the adapters at a ridiculous price, creating a market for cheap dangerous Chinese chargers, they would sell potentially many times more chargers at a much more reasonable price.
Click to expand...

Na, that's not how sales work. Trust me, they make more money this way. Low profit doesn't get you anything
 
Swan83 said:
How is it that this is limited to certain countries only?

Is my knockoff charger not dangerous here in Denmark where I live?

Come on Apple, you need to make this program world wide!
Click to expand...

So you have a dangerous charger, but you keep on using it because Apple doesn't give you a rebate on a safe one? :eek:
 
Swan83 said:
How is it that this is limited to certain countries only?

Is my knockoff charger not dangerous here in Denmark where I live?

Come on Apple, you need to make this program world wide!
Click to expand...

Hey Apple, I bought a cheap knockoff product. You should give me a real one for half price.. It's not fair that it's not available in my country. What a clown
 
It's really a good idea. Get people off the knockoff chargers, generate good publicity, and sell a lot of chargers at $10! I'm sure they're making a profit on those replacements, and they're selling them to people who would otherwise use a knockoff instead.
 
gnasher729 said:
So you have a dangerous charger, but you keep on using it because Apple doesn't give you a rebate on a safe one? :eek:
Click to expand...

I didn't say anything about still using it...

I just don't understand the decision to limit the program to certain countries.

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MacMan1620 said:
Hey Apple, I bought a cheap knockoff product. You should give me a real one for half price.. It's not fair that it's not available in my country. What a clown
Click to expand...

Please explain the difference if I lived in the states or in Denmark? Is it only dangerous to use the charger in the countries the program is active in?

I bought the charger long before the program was announced.

But hey, how I could I possibly be thinking that you would understand that.
 
glutenenvy said:
Finally. A story about a cell phone exchange program I can afford. Is there any chance that this will be funding the next round of lawsuits? They get the possibly counterfeit adaptor to use as evidence and some money to use on lawyers. You get to pay to exchange your working power charger for a different one with an Apple on it. If the old one was not genuine than it is less likely that internal phone components are not going to be damaged over time when you exchange out. I understand there are stories about counterfeit parts causing harm. I am also under the impression that people are smart enough to know they shouldn't use cheap imitations especially when paring with expensive electronics. Am I missing out on how this benefits the public at large more than it benefits Apple?
Click to expand...

Correct, this is of course, all about Apple, and imho, a masterstroke:

1) Great PR; Apple looking good for caring about their customers, who've 'strayed' and regretted.

2) Henceforth putting doubt in customers' minds, about the wisdom of saving a couple of bucks on non-Apple accessories.

3) Pre-emptive strike against future lawsuits; Apple having done everything reasonable in their power, to prevent injuries or fatalities partially involving their hardware.
 
glutenenvy said:
I understand there are stories about counterfeit parts causing harm. I am also under the impression that people are smart enough to know they shouldn't use cheap imitations especially when paring with expensive electronics.
Click to expand...

I can refer you to electronic engineer colleagues who boast(ed) on, and recommend(ed), buying the cheapest power adapter you could find if it only covered the required V and A ratings. Because, hey, power is power, right? and a power adapter is the most basic thing you can ask for.

(yes, I did the same :p)

(I should add: electronic engineering is a big field. In my particular part of it I have never worked with "big power", meaning anything more than a few watts, and never more than 24 V. I studied power adapters long ago, but not the subtleties nor not-so-subtleties of the real world of mains power. So my point is: unless you know what is really needed to make a good power adapter, I don't think many of us are "smart" enough to dismiss beforehand those el-cheapo power adapters in eBay. Rather, it's more like "Look, even power adapters are expensive at Apple, LOL. Mine costs 1.5$ and works the same! It gets mildly warm even when not in use but I just unplug it, no problem!".)

glutenenvy said:
Am I missing out on how this benefits the public at large more than it benefits Apple?
Click to expand...

Yes, but you did a marvellous job in doubting anything for the sake of it.
 
Last edited:
Radio said:
You're charging it wrong.

-Steve jobs
Click to expand...

That's right, if you're using a third-party charger you're simply doing it wrong. (Especially if using knock-offs).

Apple doesn't have to do this. It is a good program though, and anyone should take advantage of it.
 
I guess it's time I trade in my "Designed by Happy in Travel" model. Or maybe the other three with the identical serial numbers and prongs that routinely fall out.
 
So I can buy a knockoff from eBay for 0.99 than get 9 (well technically 8 since you have to buy one off ebay first) off an official charger?
 
doesn't matter to me, i always use the original accessories, but it's a good thing they are expanding this, there are many people using third-party accessories and risking their lives
 
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