I was shopping for a new MacBook Pro online at apple.com, and I found this page. Has Apple always offered credit for old computers? From what I remember, they used to advertise it as "We'll recycle your old computer for free!"
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Has Apple always given you credit for trading in an old computer?
- Thread starter mrat93
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
any idea what they do with the harddrives? lol i have an ancient toshiba lappy i'd love to ditch that I can't security erase because i don't have any OS to put back on it, so this would help if they throw out the harddrives or at least government level erase them
yay $55 bucks if I configed it right LOL
yay $55 bucks if I configed it right LOL
Hmm I may trade in my powermac tower, the offer was for 188. And I can remove the extra hdd and extra ram. Most people on Craigslist have been, oh its from 2005 I can give you $100. LOL
I wouldn't put it in their hands to ensure the security of your data. I'd DBAN it and put Ubuntu on it.
I checked the value of my white Macbook from 2008. It came up $346 in good condition (some discoloration, excellent otherwise). It would have brought $410 if I had checked excellent.
I also checked the value of my work issued Dell D630. $98. I was thinking more along the lines of 98 cents but o well. BTW, I don't think it's Apple setting the prices. It's some outfit that specializes in handling used gear. That's how they were able to give me quotes on PC gear even though the Apple page said I could PAY $30 to have them take the PC gear off my hands.
So assuming this is a third party doing this who has to actually make money this way these numbers mean more than mere opinion. So my Macbook slid from the $1300 I paid for it to around $350 while the Dell D630 slid right down to $98 though I suspect it started out closer to $700. I have heard Apple gear is worth more when you sell it, but tonight I had an objective third party, linked from Apple but not owned by Apple, offer to hand me more for Apple gear over PC gear.
I also checked out my G4 Mac Mini. It still fetches $98. Wow. This is like "dealer trade in" value b/c all I have to do is click "ok" and box my stuff up. It's not like I have to run an ad on ebay and wait for an auction to end or anything. I'm sure I could get more if I were willing to deal with ebay or craigslist.
But to return to the original question, I don't know that Apple has ever given credit for old gear. At least not based on the link from this thread. It clearly goes to a third party whose affiliation with Apple is probably very limited.
I also checked the value of my work issued Dell D630. $98. I was thinking more along the lines of 98 cents but o well. BTW, I don't think it's Apple setting the prices. It's some outfit that specializes in handling used gear. That's how they were able to give me quotes on PC gear even though the Apple page said I could PAY $30 to have them take the PC gear off my hands.
So assuming this is a third party doing this who has to actually make money this way these numbers mean more than mere opinion. So my Macbook slid from the $1300 I paid for it to around $350 while the Dell D630 slid right down to $98 though I suspect it started out closer to $700. I have heard Apple gear is worth more when you sell it, but tonight I had an objective third party, linked from Apple but not owned by Apple, offer to hand me more for Apple gear over PC gear.
I also checked out my G4 Mac Mini. It still fetches $98. Wow. This is like "dealer trade in" value b/c all I have to do is click "ok" and box my stuff up. It's not like I have to run an ad on ebay and wait for an auction to end or anything. I'm sure I could get more if I were willing to deal with ebay or craigslist.
But to return to the original question, I don't know that Apple has ever given credit for old gear. At least not based on the link from this thread. It clearly goes to a third party whose affiliation with Apple is probably very limited.
I disagree. I've seen and used this service before Apple offered it. It was called Gazelle. Apple is looking for ways to help people overcome any objection to the cost of Apple gear and if there is an outfit willing to pay people to recycle their old gear Apple will cheerfully link to it. I'm sure Apple monitors the service and if anything shows up that is not complimentary to Apple or at least neutral, Apple could pull the plug. The company that is buying the gear is making money so they have an incentive not to bite the hand that feeds them.
The Apple recycling site looks a lot like the front end for gazelle. Either it is copied or perhaps it is even run by Gazelle.
What they offer is not what you always get...
I sent my two 3G iPhones in to cashforiphones and was offered $220 online.
I got a note saying the two phones were worth $90 combined. I immediately responded to ship my phones back.
The next day they upped the offer to $130. I again asked to have my phones returned.
I gave accurate answers to the questions about condition etc so I feel the company was hoping I would take less money to avoid the hassle.
I am curious if what percentage of the "offer" does one really get?
I sent my two 3G iPhones in to cashforiphones and was offered $220 online.
I got a note saying the two phones were worth $90 combined. I immediately responded to ship my phones back.
The next day they upped the offer to $130. I again asked to have my phones returned.
I gave accurate answers to the questions about condition etc so I feel the company was hoping I would take less money to avoid the hassle.
I am curious if what percentage of the "offer" does one really get?