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Apple's Trade-In Partner Phobio Has Reportedly Faced an 'Alarming Uptick' in Complaints
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I just set up a trade in for my 2017 MacBook Pro to get an m1 pro.
I don’t think I’m going through with the trade in. These stories are freaking me out. I’m glad I found this thread.
I don’t think I’m going through with the trade in. These stories are freaking me out. I’m glad I found this thread.
Got my trade in back (Macbook) after I declined their revised joke of an offer, but they sent me back some dingy, stained yellow charger missing the extension portion.
I'm not doing this again in the future. I'll just give it away to someone who can use it. Not worth the time or frustration.
I'm not doing this again in the future. I'll just give it away to someone who can use it. Not worth the time or frustration.
I experienced the same scenario in January 2021 when my young grandson traded-in his mid-2017 12" MacBook Core M3 1.2 GHZ 256GB SSD. He wanted to upgrade to a new M1 MacBook Air. The original offer was slashed by $180 because "Display has 3 or more white spots." My grandson took very good care of his MacBook, and I had used it myself. I saw no evidence of the white spots. We reluctantly accepted the revised offer, but with hindsight, we should have refused it and shopped around.
I read the story several weeks ago and forwarded it to my father whose had just got a new M1 MacBook Air. He sent in his old MacBook Pro, valued at $300 from the Apple website. Today he messaged me to say he got a revised offer of $0! Of course he’s having them send it back so it will be interesting to see what is returned.
Way to complain about this simply to call Apple about your online order?
Way to complain about this simply to call Apple about your online order?
I am very confused by this comment, even with the explanation.
You think that the Verge article is some kind of personal vendetta against their CEO by somebody that works at the Verge?
Do you think any news article critical of any company is likewise some conspiracy to try and destroy them?
Do you think sexual misconduct allegations are mostly fake?
Just not understanding at all what you’re trying to say here....
It was a comment written in anticipation of something that may or may-not occur in the future. Based on my own understanding of the trends that typically follow these types of articles.
The comment doesn’t try to answer any of your questions and I can’t speak to the validity of any claims being directed at other people. The comment simply follows a line of thought in the trend that when there are public corporate exposés such as these, for whatever reason, they are often followed like clockwork with individuals who will level disparaging accusations towards the corporate figurehead involved.
I’m aware the comment may age poorly so check back in 2 years and I’ll gladly accept any criticisms of my potentially poor judgement.
How would you handle the following situation. I intend to purchase a new MacBook Pro when they announce the new 14” or 16” models (most likely at WWDC). If I want to do an in-store trade in at an actual apple store, can I order the item online for pickup at the apple store, and then when I go in to pick it up get them to process the trade in ?. I realize that I will have to pay for the item in full online, but will they retroactively adjust the billing ?.
My recommendation: sell your old one on craigslist. You’ll get more money, most likely cash on the spot, and the buyer gets to inspect the merchandise so they will be happy too. Win-win.
Thanks for the reply. I have always been a little wary of that, there are a lot of reports where those situations go sideways real quickly….
I’ve sold multiple phones and a Mac for prices above what I could on eBay, and I didn’t have to deal with the scammers on eBay. If you want to meet eBay scammers, list anything over $1000 and one of them will bid on it and win, then lie about where they are from, and want you to ship it to somewhere in Africa, and they will pay you later. Plus, eBay makes you pay for the privilege, and they take the fee on the sale even if the scammer doesn’t pay... so then you have to fight eBay for weeks for a refund.
Craigslist - you meet an actual person in a public place where neither of you are worried about the other being a mugger, and if either person balks, you walk away, no money lost.
I'd recommend Swappa.com as a good place to sell for less cost than eBay. You can get "credit" for your eBay ratings when just starting out. I've bought 3 devices including a Watch and iPad, sold 4 including MacBooks, iPhones and Watch.
Smooth; no issues.
Smooth; no issues.
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For those who care. I walked into the Apple Store today and did the trade in. I did not buy anything, it was just trade in value to gift card. Easy enough. I was given the same amount quoted via Phobio.
Just received an email for the exact same thing! Called Apple and they passed me off to call Phobio. I'll probably just want it back and bring it in an Apple Store. F—king ridiculous!
Well, I haven’t seen any news about their CEO. I guess it’s not gonna happen.
One other thing that occurred to me: sometimes when an executive is exposed for bad behavior, the root cause for the bad behavior is poor character. Therefore, it’s not surprising when it’s discovered they were involved in other unethical behaviors.
I took my father's MacBook Pro to an Apple Store. (I verified the Mac SN was same on return) Apple confirmed $0 because some of the anti-reflective coating was marked from keys. The Apple guy was helpful, showing me that situation is described in the language regarding the condition, so I guess this isn't directly a Phobio failure.
The policy is disappointing because you'd think the coating could easily be reapplied or removed; it's not as if there's anything fundamentally wrong with the MacBook Pro... At least I got $70 for an old iPad.
I sent in 2 IPads after entering model numbers from both to identify which models were being traded in On Apples trade in page. I get an email from Phobia claiming that the models I sent were not the ones quoted and there was mysterious pixel damage on one. They offered 1/2 or less for each one and I’m having them sent back. Both were in pristine condition when sent as they always been in a case and both had screen protectors. Since you have to enter the model number when you submit the trade-in to Apple it would seem to be impossible for Phobia to “Quote a different model.” Apple had better dump these scam artist and I’d better get the same IPads back I sent.
Ugh. Wish I had found this thread a month ago. Currently in a trade in nightmare that apparently has resulted in Apple/Phobio losing my MacBook Pro….
Hi, I'm currently going through this, I sent a brand new iPhone SE 2nd Ed but they claim it's a used iPhone 8 as evidenced by pictures they showed me. May I ask how the issue was resolved? I'm not being offered any resolution, they act like I'm the first person ever with this problem.