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Apple Offering Up to $200 Gift Card for a Used iPhone 4

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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Apple is offering up to $200 (for a 32GB iPhone 4) for used iPhones, depending on condition, via its recycling and trade-in program. The company also takes in iPads, old Mac and PC notebook and desktop machines for recycling.

Apple has partnered with California-based PowerON for its recently-expanded recycling service, calling the company "an industry leader in the responsible reuse and recycling of used IT assets."

To return an iPhone, users must first choose which model they have and then answer a few simple questions about the state of the device, including whether it is severely scratched, water damaged, and if it works properly. PowerON provides free shipping materials and, upon receipt and verification of the device, mails out an Apple Gift Card for the fair market value of the product -- or approximately what it would be worth selling it privately.

recycling.jpg



Apple/PowerOn isn't the only way to dispose of old electronics, of course. Online trade-in services like Gazelle, selling devices on eBay or Craigslist, or trading in iOS devices at GameStop are all viable alternatives.

Understandably, some may prefer the official Apple path versus the hassle or risk of selling their devices to third-parties.

The trade-in service isn't the only useful recycling program that Apple offers. It also gives a 10% discount on a new iPod to customers who bring in an old iPod -- working or not -- to an Apple Retail Store for recycling. Retail Stores will also take in dead batteries and any cell phone for free recycling as well.

In recent years, Apple has worked to aggressively improve its environmental image.

Article Link: Apple Offering Up to $200 Gift Card for a Used iPhone 4
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/10/05/apple-offering-up-to-200-gift-card-for-a-used-iphone-4/
To be fair you can get a much better price for a 'device of monetary value' on eBay.
 
I think I could sell my factory unlocked iPhone 4 for about double that price.
 
Not bad, in theory, but can't put the money towards the new iPhone, unless I'm without a phone for a few weeks.

I'll try ebay.
 
I like to try Craigslist first then if apple will give more than what a friend gives me then I'll go with them. Whoever gives me more basically lol.
 
Too bad I already got $400 for mt iPhone 4 32gb on Criagslist, and I got cash which is just as good as money.;)
 
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Adidas Addict said:
What a con.

http://www.mazumamobile.com/

Give £280 = $433
Click to expand...

Never heard of them. Does this mazuma mobile place except US-based iPhones? I cant see why they'd pay double what US-based places pay. Seems scammy, but a quick google search hasn't turned up anything.
 
Considering I sold mine for over $400, definitely not worth it.

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Sbrocket said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/9A334)



Never heard of them. Does this mazuma mobile place except US-based iPhones? I cant see why they'd pay double what US-based places pay. Seems scammy, but a quick google search hasn't turned up anything.
Click to expand...

There are plenty of US-based sites like that, Gazelle is one of them.

The problem with those sites, from what I have read in user reviews and other articles, is that when you send them your phone, they will offer you a lesser amount than what was originally quoted on the website. And there is a short time-frame in getting your phone back, so they essentially hold your device hostage so you accept the lesser amount.
 
Apple says my Mid-2009, 17" matte, 2.8 GHz C2D, in good or very good condition (except the discrete 9600 GPU) is worth < 35 US$. Yeah, that is right. I paid > 2900 US$ (including tax) in 2009 for this machine.

No thanks, Apple!
 
eBay Instant Sale is much better, let alone selling on Craigslist and/or selling as auction on eBay. I got $500 last week for my iPhone 4 32Gb.
 
Sbrocket said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/9A334)



Never heard of them. Does this mazuma mobile place except US-based iPhones? I cant see why they'd pay double what US-based places pay. Seems scammy, but a quick google search hasn't turned up anything.
Click to expand...

They are very well known in the UK as are envirofone who I have used before. They also offer £280
 
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For everyone complaining... Apple isn't making anyone do this. It's good that they have the option. I know plenty of people that don't care about max resale, and would rather have an easy way out.
I personally prefer eBay, but there's no need to complain about the offer.
 
I tried the tool to see how much they would give me for my used iPhone 3GS 32gb, in good condition, just some minor scuffs and scratches. It says they will offer me a fair market value of: $0. (It didn't even say no thanks, it really did say they will offer me $0, and allows me accept).
 
Sbrocket said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/9A334)



Never heard of them. Does this mazuma mobile place except US-based iPhones? I cant see why they'd pay double what US-based places pay. Seems scammy, but a quick google search hasn't turned up anything.
Click to expand...

They are definitely not a scam - I use them to get rid of all my old phones (much less painful than eBay) - they don't reduce the offered price based on condition of the phone, either: As long as it works, that's what you get
No idea if they accept phones from abroad though
 
millertime021 said:
For everyone complaining... Apple isn't making anyone do this. It's good that they have the option. I know plenty of people that don't care about max resale, and would rather have an easy way out.
I personally prefer eBay, but there's no need to complain about the offer.
Click to expand...

Agreed. It's another option for people who don't want the hassle of dealing with Craigslist, eBay, the kid down the street, etc. If you don't like the offer, you don't have to take it.

Actually, I'd take it a step further and say that they're really only offering this service to earn "Green" points so their gear doesn't end up in landfills. Paying the customer is only secondary.
 
Not real cash

You only get a gift card. That's not real cash and you can only spend it on Apple.
 
markdj said:
You only get a gift card. That's not real cash and you can only spend it on Apple.
Click to expand...

That's true, normally these sites give you more money for gift card vs cash option. I.e. Best buy or crutchfield gift card. I just think this is a horrible idea, but like another poster said, they may want an easy way out.
 
Fair Market Value?

Too bad private sellers haven't heard of Apple's definition of fair market value. There's always some shmuck ready to fork over more than a used phone is worth. Oh, be right back, I just got a hit on my ebay sale.
 
Wow, so Apple is willing to buy back the stuff they sell you for a retail gift card worth half the devices' value, but considering retail markup only costs them about a quarter or a third of the devices value (depending on what you buy with that gift card). Additionally, you will likely spend more than the amount on the gift card you get so Apple will then make money on anything over and above the amount of the gift card.

I'm guessing selling on Craigslist or eBay will be better for most folks.
 
the article stated trading in iPods for 10% off..

does that mean i can trade in my 1st gen iPod shuffle for 10% off?
 
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