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Apple Slashes Estimated Trade-In Values of iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch Models Overnight

The good thing about trading in with Apple is that there's no hassle. Even with their lower values, the ease of the transaction compensates, as opposed to putting a device up on eBay or using a different trade-in service. That said, I did use eBay to unload my old Mac Pro and got more than Apple's valuation. And I didn't have to deal with Apple's shady trade-in partner (since Apple won't take back computers in-store).
 
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dumastudetto said:
At a glance, these still look very generous trade-in values.
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I have never understood who would possibly use Apple's trade-in program when considering the actual cash you are receiving for the technology you are giving up. For example, my March 2017 old iPhone 7Plus cost me $1000 at Apple. Even if I wanted a new phone, I would never part with it for $150-$200 today or last year. It's worth so much more as a COMPLETE iOS DEVICE.

Where else are you going to find a 256GB iOS 12+ Device for $150? Nowhere. I don't expect Apple to give me $800 for a 3 year old used phone (mine is in pristine condition) but $150 is laughable from merely a price-for-hardware point of view. I understand (like most here) that Apple can't offer more money because they want to sell iPhone 8 or other brand-new, yet older, devices at pricepoints that would be near the true value of my iPhone 7Plus 256GB.

I saved my old 4S to be used as perfectly functioning music player, email checker, and iMessage. Still use it today. My kids use it as a camera and the battery is still amazing (which boggles my mind). I use it a lot for vacations or beaches where if it gets lost or broken, I didn't ruin my newer iPhone.

My advice has always been: 1)If you really need the money, sell it online or to a friend and you can easily get more than what Apple will pay. 2)If you don't need the money, keep it as a 2nd phone or a great non-phone for your family or kids or whoever.
 
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Since iPhone and iPad sales have slowed down during the last few years, demand for second hard devices has gone down as well. In addition, Apple was very aggressive with trade-ins during 2018/2019 to mitigate the XS's lowish sales (they basically changed their whole marketing language during that period). Recent reports show improved iPhone sales during the last few months and as a result Apple is becoming less "generous".
 
Not sure why this is a news story prices fluctuate do to supply and demand if you don't like the value they give sell it yourself or just don't do it there's noting making you trade it in except convenance and instant gratification
 
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If you don't want to go through the hassle of listing the item and arranging the sale + shipment yourself, Apple charges you a 10-30% premium for it. This is reasonable. Car dealers do it all the time and people knowingly trade in their cars to avoid the hassle of selling themselves. Time = money.

Want to net $600 instead of $500 for your old iPhone? Great, go sell it online.
 
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The difference is selling to Apple at wholesale vs selling on eBay, et al., at retail. Assuming that Apple is reselling these devices this makes sense.
 
FYI, Apple updates their trade in prices on a quarterly basis. I traded in an iPad 2 weeks ago for this reason knowing values would be going down.
 
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lol this is what happens everytime this long into the product cycle. values always are higher sept-december
 
MotorMikey said:
FYI, Apple updates their trade in prices on a quarterly basis. I traded in an iPad 2 weeks ago for this reason knowing values would be going down.
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So what you’re saying is this is nothing new or special.
 
This is actually part of a long-running trend with Apple, though. When they release a brand new product that uses new types of connectors, they often include a lot of "extras" that they start taking away again in subsequent revisions.

They did it with the original iPod (now called "Classic"). I remember the very first one I bought included more cables and extras, which were all gone by the time I bought a 5th. or 6th. gen. model, later on.

The trade-in program they're referencing here, though? It's not even done directly by Apple. They contract it out to Phobio. I experimented with using it recently but wound up selling my Series 3 watch to a competing business who offered more for it. If you search these MacRumors forums, you'll find a LOT of horror stories about Phobio. Sounds highly suspicious that they claim damage on computers you send in, hoping you'll just accept the greatly reduced trade offer rather than hassle with them shipping it back to you and possibly being stuck with a now damaged product you can't resell elsewhere.




Kobayagi said:
They have become so stingy it's crazy. They have either increased prices, removed supplied accessoires and/or decreased trade-in values for every existing product.

Examples:

- MacBooks not coming with a extension cable anymore. (now you need to buy it if you need it)
- Headphone jack - lightning adapter not included anymore. (now you need to buy it if you need)
- Apple Pencil 2 doesn't come with a extra tip. (now you need to buy it if you need it)
- Increased cpu and ram upgrade costs. (At least here in Europe)
- This article.

I'm sure there is a lot more, but these are a few example that just popped into my head.
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Royksöpp said:
Are you okay? Serious question.

iPhone XS Max
Launch Price - $1099 + Tax
Trade In - $500
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You do know that your numbers are completely meaningless, right? you are suggesting that you buy a car for $30k and complain when the trade-in value is not at full price from the dealer when no one else is offering that either
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kingtj said:
This is actually part of a long-running trend with Apple, though. When they release a brand new product that uses new types of connectors, they often include a lot of "extras" that they start taking away again in subsequent revisions.

They did it with the original iPod (now called "Classic"). I remember the very first one I bought included more cables and extras, which were all gone by the time I bought a 5th. or 6th. gen. model, later on.

The trade-in program they're referencing here, though? It's not even done directly by Apple. They contract it out to Phobio. I experimented with using it recently but wound up selling my Series 3 watch to a competing business who offered more for it. If you search these MacRumors forums, you'll find a LOT of horror stories about Phobio. Sounds highly suspicious that they claim damage on computers you send in, hoping you'll just accept the greatly reduced trade offer rather than hassle with them shipping it back to you and possibly being stuck with a now damaged product you can't resell elsewhere.
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buy a Dell, dah? They keep their value. yah right
 
The dumb thing with the Apple watch is, every one of the trade-in sites is claiming this huge depreciation of value on them. Yet before Xmas, my daughter decided she really wanted an Apple watch, and didn't care if it was the latest. (Series 3 is probably the most sensible for her, really -- when you look at price vs. what she'd actually do with it.) But we simply couldn't get our hands on one, anywhere, if we weren't willing to pay over $300 for it! We'd find someone selling it cheaper, here or there, but it was always sold out.

It made me mad because I'd just traded in a Series 3 watch for the grand total of $85 after trying 5 or 6 services to get THAT much for it! Only reason I was trading mine rather than giving it to her is because it was having charging issues randomly. Some days it would work fine, and others? It would quit charging at 35% or so and I'd have to keep taking it off the dock and putting it back on to get it charge another little bit at a time. Saw some other people with the same problem on Apple's forums, and the only "solution" given was to hard reboot the watch. Tried that and never helped for any length of time.


OllyW said:
Massive depreciation for the Apple Watch. :(
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In the end, buyers use trade-in or part-exchange programmes because they’re convenient and require virtually no effort, not because they offer the best value for money.
 
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I'll be clinging to my current crop of products anyway.

I MAY consider the next iPhone with 5G, if coverage penetration is good endough in my area to warrant a 5G device. If not, I will stick to the Xr I've got for a while. It's paid off in a few months.

Either way, the coverage in my office isn't the best anyway. Too close to the river and next to a bridge, so my 4G signal sucks all ready.

So the things I would like to use my phone for at my desk are near impossible under the present conditions. Mainly streaming video content and listening to Apple Music. It works, but works poorly.

But the computer-ish portion of the phone works just fine. All Apple seems to offer on the new models is a zippy new chip and upgraded cameras. When all you're taking pictures of is your cat, and a few sunsets, the camera is more than adequate.

The days of constant phone upgrades are going away. Especially when you can crack the sucker open and put a new battery in it. Buy a good case and screen protector and it'll last a long time. Unless Apple adds teleportation or holographic projection or something killer, I don't see a compelling reason to upgrade...
 
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Drogba11 said:
Glad I joined the upgrade program last year so I don't have to deal with selling my old phones anymore
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Still waiting Apple to start the IUP in my country.
We do have trade in and can have instalment plans for Apple products, but still no IUP which is basically trade-in + plan
 
Apple adjusted trade in prices.

Slashed is grossly misleading. I expected 40-60% reductions.
 
meaning-matters said:
How does it compare to trade-ins of other company?
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I can only speak to the fact that Verizon was offering $300 for an iPhone 8 on trade-in and $200 on a 6s last month when we upgraded my wife's phone to an 11. I traded the 6s (since they were going for less on eBay) and sold the 8 on eBay for $300.
 
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