Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Exactly. Apple or any business doesn't understand this and tries to seek the biggest margins. The only people would trade-in are completely oblivious people.


agreed. but a lot of people don't want to have the hassle of dealing with craigslist, or others. this is also a nice way for a person like me to take the sting out of an outright unlocked max-capacity model iphone.
 
The only reason I would consider this program is that the battery life of my off contract, unlocked iPhone 4 appears to be degrading. Otherwise, I'll keep it and use it as my international phone.

If I do trade it in, will Apple do a full refurb and replace the battery and scratched glass before dumping it into the 3rd world?
 
The only people would trade-in are completely oblivious people.

Or perhaps busy people, or people who don't want to go to the bother of setting up an eBay account or putting an ad in the paper and just want to minimise any effort?

Of course they could just be a bunch of judgmental t**ts who spend so much time leaving stupid, inane and silly comments on web forums they find they have no time to do any of the above, and so this programme might just be a way for them to earn a quick buck when upgrading their phones, thereby partially funding their offensive web forum people bashing ventures. :p

Maybe I should look into this further. :D
 
Exactly. Apple or any business doesn't understand this and tries to seek the biggest margins. The only people would trade-in are completely oblivious people.

Of course you can get better elsewhere. They aren't going to have a program as some sort of charity gesture. They are in this to make money.

And more than the oblivious, the people that will use this are those that want to get a little something for their old device but don't want to have to deal with the hassle of Craiglist and all of the headaches that come along with it.
 
They'd have to make it worth while. iPhone has massive resell value and they'd have to make it worth while being offered far less than you would at a phone recyclers such as mazuma.
 
People saying CL gets you more... it ALWAYS will. It's a matter of convenience. It's a matter of impulse buying. It's a matter of not getting raped in the back alley where you agreed to meet the guy you were selling your iPhone to.

And also, it may be hard to believe for some, but not everyone is worried so much about that extra $50 they can get by meeting someone somewhere to sell their used phone. They pick up the new iPhone, they like it, and they can get some money off by handing over the iPhone they already have on their person. Sort of ties into my comment about impulse buying.

------------------------------------

I am mostly curious about what Apple will be doing with all of these handsets. There is mention of a recycling parter, but surely they won't be recycling perfectly working, fairly recent editions of their iPhone hardware?
 
I totally wold do this. Who feels like dealing with the people on CL anyway.

Rather get a little less trade it in same time I'm dishing out money for the new one
 
They'd have to make it worth while. iPhone has massive resell value and they'd have to make it worth while being offered far less than you would at a phone recyclers such as mazuma.

They may (I would always sell my direct) but there are people who don't know any better, those who don't want to be bothered, and those who just see a shinny new iPhone and spontaneously will do this. There's a reason why Pawn shops exists and this is really no different. Just appeals to a particular market and I bet they get lots of takers on this.
 
Apple is pulling every trick out of the bag to keep sales up until new products are released later this year. AAPL is down 1.6% so far today.
There's approximately a 1 in 4 chance that AAPL will be down 1.6% or more any given day in the last six years. A daily movement that small is just this side of meaningless.

(Based on historical price data from June 7, 2007 to July 5, 2013 assuming a normal distribution; the errors of assuming stock prices correspond to a normal distribution not being relevant here).
 
Yes but Apple sells phones too right? They could be in the middle. Let's say carrier wants $199 for iPhone 5S (assuming your 2 year contract is up) and Apple offers you $199 for your existing iPhone 5. For most people, it's a "free" upgrade. What were they going to do with their existing phone? Carriers don't have to get involved. Apple will pay the carrier the $199. And customer gives Apple their existing iPhone 5, takes home iPhone 5S. In terms of cash, Apple is down $199 but they also have the traded-in iPhone 5 which they can then sell, use for parts, refurbish, etc. and sell for $300 or something in a poorer part of the world. And voila, they've made back their $199.

right. but you will still get your upgrade pricing if you eligible. That is all I was saying.
 
Or perhaps busy people, or people who don't want to go to the bother of setting up an eBay account or putting an ad in the paper and just want to minimise any effort?

Of course they could just be a bunch of judgmental t**ts who spend so much time leaving stupid, inane and silly comments on web forums they find they have no time to do any of the above, and so this programme might just be a way for them to earn a quick buck when upgrading their phones, thereby partially funding their offensive web forum people bashing ventures. :p

Maybe I should look into this further. :D

One doesn't even need to sell on craiglist or ebay. Go to Gazelle, select sell iPhone 4S ($205 vs Apple's offer of $149), print out their shipping label, drop it off at the post office, get paid. No effort needed whatsoever.
 
I totally wold do this. Who feels like dealing with the people on CL anyway.

Rather get a little less trade it in same time I'm dishing out money for the new one

How about eBay? I have sold my previous iPhones (3G, 3GS and 4) on eBay when I upgraded to the newer model. I have never had any issues and usually got close to top dollar. I have a 64GB iPhone 4S right now that I bought at the iPhone 4S launch back in 2011 and AT&T just told me that I am now eligible to upgrade. Currently, used 64GB iPhone 4S's are selling on eBay for around $400. I don't plan on upgrading until I see what the next iPhone is like.
 
People saying CL gets you more... it ALWAYS will. It's a matter of convenience. It's a matter of impulse buying. It's a matter of not getting raped in the back alley where you agreed to meet the guy you were selling your iPhone to.

And also, it may be hard to believe for some, but not everyone is worried so much about that extra $50 they can get by meeting someone somewhere to sell their used phone. They pick up the new iPhone, they like it, and they can get some money off by handing over the iPhone they already have on their person. Sort of ties into my comment about impulse buying.

------------------------------------

I am mostly curious about what Apple will be doing with all of these handsets. There is mention of a recycling parter, but surely they won't be recycling perfectly working, fairly recent editions of their iPhone hardware?

Unless you're (in general) dumb enough to meet some place shady, I have been selling on craig for years. 1) Always meet in public places like Mcdonalds, starbucks. 2) never give address. 3) if the person insist of coming in, obviously say no, and it's best to meet at day time. And of course Cash only. I dont know why there are tons of people who say the got scammed? really? do some research, find out how to check for IMEI, check serial number, never buy an item that is sealed, always open it and check if working condition. To save time, always tell the seller you know a lot about that product and will check to see if every thing is working. If they don't reply, well yeah they were trying to scam. It's common sense to tell whether the person will scam or not.
 
One doesn't even need to sell on craiglist or ebay. Go to Gazelle, select sell iPhone 4S ($205 vs Apple's offer of $149), print out their shipping label, drop it off at the post office, get paid. No effort needed whatsoever.

No effort, but you would be throwing a lot of money away.

Gazelle says it will give me $225 for my 64GB iPhone 4S (AT&T), but that model has been selling on eBay for around $400 right now.
 
How about eBay? I have sold my previous iPhones (3G, 3GS and 4) on eBay when I upgraded to the newer model. I have never had any issues and usually got close to top dollar. I have a 64GB iPhone 4S right now that I bought at the iPhone 4S launch back in 2011 and AT&T just told me that I am now eligible to upgrade. Currently, used 64GB iPhone 4S's are selling on eBay for around $400. I don't plan on upgrading until I see what the next iPhone is like.

I usually just keep them but eBay is a way better option than CL imo
 
No effort, but you would be throwing a lot of money away.

Gazelle says it will give me $225 for my 64GB iPhone 4S (AT&T), but that model has been selling on eBay for around $400 right now.

eBay has fees, PayPal has fees and there's also shipping/packaging fees. Gazelle's prices include shipping and they send you a box (this might have changed since the last time I considered using their service). For some people, they will pay for the convenience services like Gazelle's and Apple's rumored trade-in programs offer.
 
Got my Galaxy S4 at Best Buy on ATT contract. (I know, I know...no flames please. Love it!!! still have my iPad 3, mini and new IMac so still in the "club":)

Now have a Best Buy gift card for $240, they have my iPhone 4S, no pain, no hassle.
 
I'm still using my iphone4. AT&T sent me an email the other day saying I could trade in my iPhone4 and get an iphone5 with a 2yr contract. What a waste of time.

I could get more than $100 for it now or heck just pass it on to my son. It still works fine.

Now if they had said $99 and no contract or maybe a 1 yr contract I may would be tempted.
 
Seems like a good idea if it keeps phones out of bottom drawers and garbage cans.

I kept my old 3G as a backup in case my (now also old) 3GS goes swimming or something equally unhealthy. Depending on features and price I'll be upgrading to either a 5GS or 5G. The 3GS will make an excellent new backup.

Someday my grandchildren can laugh at my saved, old iPhones and wonder how I lived without their implanted Mark of The Beast chips that send 16K video directly into their brains.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.