PowerBook Trade-in Program?

[crees!]

Originally posted by ITR 81
I actually haven't heard one person that has bought new 15 inch recently get spots.

So issue maybe already solved for new buyers.

My friend bought one a month ago and hasn't gotten any spots yet.

I heard this situation was already taken care of. I have a shipping box right here ready to go so in a couple days I'll send mine back to get repaired for this same problem. I actually had 2 spots then a 3rd one appeared, now a 4th one shaped in a line probably about 2 inches long has started to appear, though it's faint.

 

[X_Ranger]

Originally posted by crees!
ThinkSecret isn't Apple's website 😉

Yes, I know that. But there is an Apple contact number to participate in the promotion.

I thought tdvorak was looking for a way to contact Apple. I included the link to indicate where I got the information and to give credit to the source of the information in the first place.

 

[Elektronkind]

Originally posted by X_Ranger
Yes, I know that. But there is an Apple contact number to participate in the promotion.

I thought tdvorak was looking for a way to contact Apple. I included the link to indicate where I got the information and to give credit to the source of the information in the first place.

You should know that by now, if it isn't announced on apple's web site, it essentially does not exist.

Two RUMORS sites carrying the same info does not necessarily mean that it's true... no matter how detailed the article may be. And up until if/when Apple does announce this, it is quite likely that the people on the phones haven't gotten the go-ahead to talk or even know about it.

 

[crees!]

Originally posted by Elektronkind
You should know that by now, if it isn't announced on apple's web site, it essentially does not exist.

Two RUMORS sites carrying the same info does not necessarily mean that it's true... no matter how detailed the article may be. And up until if/when Apple does announce this, it is quite likely that the people on the phones haven't gotten the go-ahead to talk or even know about it.

Thank you 😉

 

[tdvorak]

I completely agree with what the poster above has said. It is entirely possible that the Apple store has no idea about this promotion, or if there is even a promotion.

I actually read about the rebate on Think Secret, and already have that phone number. I called there first, and the guy was kind of nasty about the whole thing. Like I was an idiot for even asking about a rebate. So I called 1-800-Apple and asked them, they also hadn't heard about it. So I also doubt that there is a rebate (at this point anyway).

I guess I'll wait and ask around at MacWorld.

Thomas

 

[X_Ranger]

Originally posted by tdvorak
I completely agree with what the poster above has said. It is entirely possible that the Apple store has no idea about this promotion, or if there is even a promotion.

I actually read about the rebate on Think Secret, and already have that phone number. I called there first, and the guy was kind of nasty about the whole thing. Like I was an idiot for even asking about a rebate. So I called 1-800-Apple and asked them, they also hadn't heard about it. So I also doubt that there is a rebate (at this point anyway).

I guess I'll wait and ask around at MacWorld.

Thomas

I think that you reached someone who knew nothing about the promotion (which happens with Apple reps a lot.

The promotion is real however. I contacted that number listed on Think Secret web site and I reached an Apple representative who was able to help me. I am looking at a shipping container that was sent to me the next say after contacting Apple.

The details are listed in my first post on this topic.

Try contacting that number again, maybe you get someone next time.

Good luck.

 

[NeterAmonRa]

Promotion is true!!!!

Just got off the phone with the Level 2 rep at AppleCare. You can trade in your PB for one of three models:

* 15" PB with Combo Drive
* 15" PB with Super Drive
* 17" PB

Apple will sent you a box to return the old PB, once they have checked it out, they will ship you the new PB.

This is somewhat bittersweet ... I was hoping Apple would suprise us and announce a G5 PB on 1/6/2004. Does not seem likely now. 🙁

 

[tdvorak]

Who did you guys speak with at Apple? Like I said I called twice and did not get a very good outcome. I have a PB 500 and would be willing to trade it in?
Thomas

 

[idkew]

Originally posted by tdvorak
Who did you guys speak with at Apple? Like I said I called twice and did not get a very good outcome. I have a PB 500 and would be willing to trade it in?
Thomas

Are you unwilling to go the eBay way? You could sell it for upwards of $1,000-$1,500, depending on configuration.

You could take that $300 or so and buy an extra battery and power adaptor. Or AppleCare. Or an 120gb external HD, Digital Camera, Give it to me... 😉

 

[barefeats]

PowerBook Trade-In Not The Best Deal

Rather than trade in your Gigabit PowerBook G4, why not sell it on Ebay, then buy a refurb AlumBook for $500 below retail with 1yr warranty? (Apple Hot Deals or Small Dog Electronics)

Net savings would be much better than Apple's trade in deal.

 

[tdvorak]

You know, I have purchased around 5 PowerBooks, from various companies through the years. I would go to the trouble of putting my 500mgh up for sale on ebay or sell it somehow, but frankly don't want to be bothered. If I could get an upgrade from Apple that's what I'd do. While I appreciate all of your suggestions, I would just rather handle this way. I would not consider buying a refurb, anyhow...
Thanks though
Tom

 

[WM.]

Originally posted by Rocketman
I wonder if this is related to the iBook G4 motherboard problems. Maybe this is a way to get MB's for replacements of bad iBooks cheaper or more customer friendly than any other option they have.

[...]

I would welcome a PBG4 MB as a sidegrade to a defective iBook G4 MB. It would be somewhat uncharacteristic of Apple to care that much but it would be sweet indeed.

No, the old TiBook motherboard is very different from the current iBook G4's. Everything from the system controller (Uni-North + KeyLargo vs. Intrepid) to the CPU (7400 vs. 7445) to the GPU (Rage 128/original Radeon vs. Radeon 9200) to the RAM (PC100/133 vs. DDR266) is much changed. Not to mention that the physical layouts are completely different--ports on the back vs. ports on the side; HD in the center vs. HD on the side; front-loading optical drive vs. side-loading optical drive (which does affect the mobo layout); PC Card slot vs. none; PCMCIA-style AirPort card slot vs. mini-PCI-style slot...the list goes on. I'm sure some components are the same (maybe the battery charging circuitry is similar, for example), but I doubt Apple regularly de-solders components from old mobos to put them on refurbished ones.

So I tend to agree that these old TiBooks will be used for service parts for those that will be covered under AppleCare for the next few years.

FWIW
WM

 

[elgruga]

trade-ins not a new thing

Just to remind everyone who isnt sure of the veracity of this 'rumor' - Apple have done trade-ins before.
The 5300 was a dog that attracted all kinds of Apple activity from 7 year warranty to trade-ins for Wall Street, as they tried to get those things to the dumpster.

They didnt offer a very good deal then, either - I seem to remember $300 bucks off a Wallstreet? Maybe I'm wrong about that amount.

Trade-ins are for people who dont look at the sticker price....rich folks, I guess.

 

[john123]

Confusion about PB Models...

There seems to be some confusion here regarding PowerBook models -- which I think is why some folks are thinking that the deal is a ripoff.

The Thinksecret article refers to "original and 'Gigabit Ethernet' G4 PowerBooks." "Gigabit Ethernet" is a model name -- not a characterization of whether your Ethernet port supports 1000BaseT.

In essence, they're talking about PowerBooks with processor speeds of 400 Mhz, 500 Mhz, 550 Mhz, or 667 Mhz. However, the 667 Mhz (DVI) is a different product from the 667 Mhz (Gigabit Ethernet) and thus -- if Thinksecret's report is correct -- would not qualify.

This also means that the 800 Mhz, 867 Mhz, and 1 Ghz PowerBooks would not qualify. I can't imagine that Apple would refuse your offer if you want to give them your newer PowerBook for $700, but I think this explains why some folks think that $700 would be a paltry compensation for their relatively new PowerBook.

 

[Grimace]

I didn't know "Gigabit ethernet" was a model name - thanks for that!

Why would they only want those specific Powerbooks? Couldn't they have said Gigabit and later notebooks apply?

 

[john123]

Originally posted by carletonmusic
I didn't know "Gigabit ethernet" was a model name - thanks for that!

Why would they only want those specific Powerbooks? Couldn't they have said Gigabit and later notebooks apply?

One theory for why they want PowerBook G4 versions 1 and 2 but not 3 and 4 might be that they'd like the older motherboards. The reason? People with AppleCare or people with PBs out of warranty who want to repair them. Given that this offer inspires some x% of PowerBook owners to upgrade who otherwise wouldn't, AND that it causes them to go through Apple as opposed to third party resellers, the real "cost" to Apple of these motherboards is far lower than $700. Major third party repair vendors charge $300 and up for motherboards for these older PowerBooks, so perhaps the desire and the need for these older parts that would be impractical to produce new is fueling this concept.

 

[mian]

Small Dog has some of the eligible powerbooks for sale from $800 to $1000, so $700 doesn't seem out of line to me.

 

[themacolyte]

I'm wondering, out of curiousity, how many of those quoting eBay values and calling this a marketing ploy, etc...

How many would walk right into a car dealership and trade their old car in on a new one without a second thought.

 

[~Shard~]

Originally posted by themacolyte
I'm wondering, out of curiousity, how many of those quoting eBay values and calling this a marketing ploy, etc...

How many would walk right into a car dealership and trade their old car in on a new one without a second thought.

The answer to your quote is no one - it seems like a pretty obvious answer, so I think you possibly worded your post wrong, as that didn't make much sense.

I think the people who call this a "marketing ploy", etc., are the ones who obviously analyze offers like this, are very "buyer-beware", and don't just jump into certain deals because they sound good - they analyze what's going on, the reasons for doing things, and especially the $$$ involved, without just blindly going along with deals.

As a result, I don't think anyone who thought this was a marketing ploy and have analyzed this situaiton would be so foolish as to walk into a dealership and trade in their old car on a new one without a second thought, because they are analytical, intelligent and cautious when it comes to the offer, the overall situation, and especially the money involved.

So the obvious answer to your question is, of course, no one. People who analyze offers/situations/$$$ values in one situation would not throw those intelligent tactics out the window for a larger purchase such as a vehicle - that would be foolish.

 

[wdlove]

I would be afraid to use eBay, too many risks. It would be great is Apple have a trade-in program for all their products. Just part of the procedure when purchasing a new Mac. I would trust purchasing a refurbished product from Apple.

 

[john123]

Originally posted by wdlove
I would be afraid to use eBay, too many risks. It would be great is Apple have a trade-in program for all their products. Just part of the procedure when purchasing a new Mac. I would trust purchasing a refurbished product from Apple.

The danger is a little higher for buyers rather than sellers. The seller receives the money before shipping the product, so the only major danger to the seller is the he/she gets "funny money" (e.g., fraudulent money orders, money from a hijacked PayPal account).

Still...I can't imagine that these older PowerBooks really are fetching that much money. I mean, if you think that a G4/400 is worth more than $700, and you assume that machine values are transitive, then by the time you ratchet up several models (400 --> 500 --> 550 --> 667 --> 667 DVI --> 800 --> 867 --> 1 Ghz), it would seem to me that you could fetch "almost new" prices for these more recent PowerBooks. And that makes no sense.

 

[ezgetem]

it's not a rumor anymore!!!

It's pretty amazing how "slowly" most of you guys trying to acknowledge the fact that this isn't a rumor anymore. And stop with the eBay thing. I hate eBay!!!
Anyhow, yesterday (sat. 12/27) I brought my PB to the Apple Store to fix my Combo drive(disc stuck in there), and I was just asking the Apple "genius bar-tender" about any special promotion going on. The guy turn around, grap a piece of hand out from a stack he has and said: "Yeah, here you go. This is new...but it doesnt apply to your Titanium PB. Too bad!". As soon, I read and told my friend...Dude!, I saw this on macrumors.com like 3 days ago, and it's amazing how it's so TRUE!.
I havent posted for a long time and this got me re-register and post again, just so we can all clear this out. It aint no rumor anymore. Don't believe me, run down to your Apple Store and find out.
Happy Holiday...may good Mac products come our way next year.

 

[davidh_la]

How do I get Applecare on this bad boy?

I have a 400mhz Pbook with minor "war damage"--couple minor nicks, the battery doesn't hold much charge anymore, etc. This is the answer I've been looking for as I didn't want to sell it on eBay and reap the bad karma later.

Question: can I get a fresh Applecare policy on this exchanged machine? I don't see why not...

 

[pjkelnhofer]

Re: it's not a rumor anymore!!!

Originally posted by ezgetem
...Don't believe me, run down to your Apple Store and find out.
Happy Holiday...

Anyone manage to find it on the website yet?
I keep looking for it but no luck so far.

 

[nellybly]

I don't believe that there is anything about this on Apple.com, but I made the call to AppleCare, and there is an Airborne box on the way. The tech said up to a $700 credit, and I got the full amount. It is unclear whether any power cords, adaptors, manuals, or disks have to be returned with the unit. I will post back after I get the box.
I also get a refund on the remaining AppleCare I have on the PB.
Happy 2004 to all,
NB