iPhone Upgrade Program - Mail-In Trade-In Kit

[techdude13]

Hey all!

Like many of you, I was caught up in the iPhone Upgrade Snafu last year. If you don't remember, this was when Apple allocated only in store units for iPhone upgrades, and thus caused massive chaos for folks looking to upgrade at launch since they ran out of phones almost instantly.

Well, poking around the website and checking my iPhone Upgrade eligibility, I spotted this "Trading in your iPhone" section, and saw something that made me truly giddy - a by mail Trade-in Kit:

Now I may be late to the game and I searched the forums a bit already to see if anyone has mentioned this and I couldn't find it. So I hope that you all can rest a little easier this upgrade cycle knowing that it looks as though we should have the option to get a new device mailed directly to us and mail our old ones in. This is great, since Apple can centralize stock and hopefully avoid the fiasco from last year.

Happy upgrading everyone - can't wait to start getting the FlightAware streams and flight tracking setup, I did it right when our wonderful community started catching on as well back with the iPad Air and earlier launches! If it ships this year I will be there tracking along with you!

EDIT: To access this page I screenshoted, simply go to the Apple website, go to buy an iPhone, then click on this link underneath the buy options:


Once you do, sign in with your Apple ID, then click on the "Trading in your iPhone" link on the eligibility page.

 

[mjwebb]

Wow, I haven’t seen anything like this! Do you happen to still have the link?

Thank you for providing this!

 

[techdude13]

Wow, I haven’t seen anything like this! Do you happen to still have the link?

Thank you for providing this!

I just updated my original post with the instructions, it's listed deep into the iPhone upgrade eligibility process, just before you click to continue after determining eligibility.

 

[mjwebb]

I just updated my original post with the instructions, it's listed deep into the iPhone upgrade eligibility process, just before you click to continue after determining eligibility.

Thank you for the instructions. Just read it and that is completely new to me. My understanding is you probably order your new iPhone and then once received, return the old one within a stated amount of days?

Thanks again for the new info! Makes me excited...

 

[techdude13]

Thank you for the instructions. Just read it and that is completely new to me. My understanding is you probably order your new iPhone and then once received, return the old one within a stated amount of days?

Thanks again for the new info! Makes me excited...

That's what it looks like, I can't imagine that they would make you send the old one first. I assume, since you have the loan with them, that they will just charge you or do something in order to secure their old phone (aka not close the old loan until the phone is sent in, since it is on ACH your payments will keep coming out until you own the phone).

 

[WhoDatWayne]

Just checked on the Apple Store app and it is showing the same info! Great find.

 

[maka344]

You’ll have to mail your iPhone back first, be without a device and then stock depending be without your new iPhone for many weeks/months

 

[techdude13]

You’ll have to mail your iPhone back first, be without a device and then stock depending be without your new iPhone for many weeks/months

Actually, no - I just did more digging on the iPhone Buy page and found this, which says they will ship the kit when your new iPhone ships as well:

[doublepost=1505161113][/doublepost]

Just checked on the Apple Store app and it is showing the same info! Great find.

And thanks for looking on the iPhone App!

 

[apwtwenty]

now, the dag nab question is, how long will it take to go through the process of pre-ordering? idk if it will be the same, or as fast as buying out right/retail - hope im wrong :-o

seems we'll have to be pretty quick on the trigger \-:

 

[techdude13]

now, the dag nab question is, how long will it take to go through the process of pre-ordering? idk if it will be the same, or as fast as buying out right/retail - hope im wrong :-o

seems we'll have to be pretty quick on the trigger \-:

I think it will be like normal, where it is first come, first served - get your alarms set for an early wake up on pre-order day and have like 7 devices refreshing so you can get ready! That's what I do, haha.

 

[apwtwenty]

I think it will be like normal, where it is first come, first served - get your alarms set for an early wake up on pre-order day and have like 7 devices refreshing so you can get ready! That's what I do, haha.

i'll have a couple devices - good luck!

 

[TomiY1]

What's the deal with not being able to order it online if you have T-Mobile??? sigh...

 

[Mando72]

Anyone know if we can pay off the remainder of the balance then keep the phone and start a new payment option? I would like to pass my current phone down to a family member.

 

[gadgetfreaky]

any news on if Tmobile cusomters can now use the program online vs in store only?

 

[techdude13]

Anyone know if we can pay off the remainder of the balance then keep the phone and start a new payment option? I would like to pass my current phone down to a family member.

You can always do that. You have to contact Citizens to pay off your current loan. Then on launch day, you would be buying a new phone. I would pay it off ASAP though so you don't have to worry about it.

I would contact Apple if you want more specifics on the best way to do it - that's my guess.
[doublepost=1505168909][/doublepost]

any news on if Tmobile cusomters can now use the program online vs in store only?

Looks like it was last year. You can reserve online, but have to go in-store to upgrade.

 

[profets]

I wish they would expand this to other countries as well.

 

[DeApp1e]

Fingers crossed! Excited about what happens in the UK for tomorrow's upgrades announcement

 

[Larry The L]

You’ll have to mail your iPhone back first, be without a device and then stock depending be without your new iPhone for many weeks/months

It's stunning that anyone would actually think this is how it would work. Yes, absolutely. Apple will demand you completely upend your life by giving up your phone for 3 months.

 

[nataku17]

wish the UK apple site updated with this.. i work in a phone retailer so i am 100% going to be working flat out over the iphone launch lol would be much easier for me

 

[Ron Taylor]

I know this sounds kind of stupid, but I'm on the upgrade program and don't want to go to the store. Is it better to order the new phones online at Apple, or to call Apple by phone when the clock clicks midnight? Thank you, as this is my first upgrade year.

 

[MBPnoob]

EVERYONE ON TMOBILE: We NEED to complain about this. Directly to John Legere himself. john@tmobile.com.

When I got caught up in this iUP/Tmobile garbage last year after staying up at 3:00 AM EST to preorder, I ended up losing my Jet Black 7 Plus 256 and ended up with a rose gold 64 because that's all they had left in the store.

I emailed John about all the issues and ended up getting a call from their "executive response team" saying they would look in to it.

Tmobile has Jump on demand and they want you to use that instead, so why play ball with Apple?

 

[leesweet]

Use the app, order the phone as always and then it looks like you get it and send back the old one. Been waiting for this for two years as both the initial experience and the first upgrade were insane.

For those not clear, each upgrade is a new loan from Citizens One. They close one loan on your account and make a new one on the same account for the new phone. Last year both happened the same day since you traded in at the same time.


Point is, you still use the same login info going forward.

Since this year you can mail it back in, you will see the old loan close out when they get the phone back, I assume.

 

[titrau]

I dont like trade in ... my phone still good and i can cash it $300 instead 150$ carrier or apple , and why i have to do it .

 

[Blorzoga]

Hey all!

Like many of you, I was caught up in the iPhone Upgrade Snafu last year. If you don't remember, this was when Apple allocated only in store units for iPhone upgrades, and thus caused massive chaos for folks looking to upgrade at launch since they ran out of phones almost instantly.

Well, poking around the website and checking my iPhone Upgrade eligibility, I spotted this "Trading in your iPhone" section, and saw something that made me truly giddy - a by mail Trade-in Kit:View attachment 716861

Now I may be late to the game and I searched the forums a bit already to see if anyone has mentioned this and I couldn't find it. So I hope that you all can rest a little easier this upgrade cycle knowing that it looks as though we should have the option to get a new device mailed directly to us and mail our old ones in. This is great, since Apple can centralize stock and hopefully avoid the fiasco from last year.

Happy upgrading everyone - can't wait to start getting the FlightAware streams and flight tracking setup, I did it right when our wonderful community started catching on as well back with the iPad Air and earlier launches! If it ships this year I will be there tracking along with you!

EDIT: To access this page I screenshoted, simply go to the Apple website, go to buy an iPhone, then click on this link underneath the buy options:
View attachment 716862

Once you do, sign in with your Apple ID, then click on the "Trading in your iPhone" link on the eligibility page.

Question to techdude13: when you traded in your phone last time, does the trade in essentially satisfy the remaining payments on the loan? Is there and "valuation" process or do you simply surrender your phone and they payoff the loan? Thanks.

 

[Ron Taylor]

Use the app, order the phone as always and then it looks like you get it and send back the old one. Been waiting for this for two years as both the initial experience and the first upgrade were insane.

For those not clear, each upgrade is a new loan from Citizens One. They close one loan on your account and make a new one on the same account for the new phone. Last year both happened the same day since you traded in at the same time.


Point is, you still use the same login info going forward.

Since this year you can mail it back in, you will see the old loan close out when they get the phone back, I assume.

What is the app called please, I can't find it in the App Store. Thank you.