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.
iPhone 11 Pro Problem with Trade-in Program.
- Thread starter JulienWA77
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
My XS trade-in was received by Apple’s partner on 10/4. No updates/nothing since then. Still waiting...
AVOID THE PHOBIO SCAM!!!!
Apple is making a huge mistake associating itself with The Phobio con artists and need to step in and make things right so their customers can use and continue to buy Apple products with confidence.
The Apple brand has been violated and contaminated by Phobio, it’s “official trade-in partner.” Thousands have posted nearly identical cOmplaints online outlining the Phobio scam. Here’s how it works, with Apple’s full knowledge:
1. Phobio gets customers to trust it by calling itself “Apple’s Trade-in Partner,” and adds its link directly on Apple.com for further credibility and to get customers thinking Apple will back up Phobio’s customers since they’re partners.
2. Phobio quotes a decent trade in value based on the model and serial number customers provide so they will send in their iPad.
3. Upon receipt of my iPad, and countless others, Phobio dented the back case and then said my iPad’s “value” was now $0! My iPad never spent one second outside of its protective case. The photos I took while packing it to ship to Phobio in their packaging prove this and do not match the photos Phobio sent.
4. Phobio denies any involvement. Phobio does not insure the items you are required to send back in their packaging, leaving you no way to protect yourself.
5. Phobio is so dishonest and inept that I am STILL receiving emails giving me “Final Notice” on what they should do since I rejected their ridiculous offer even though the iPad was returned to me a week ago!
6. The only thing Phobio is good at is automatically sending endless boilerplate responses to inquiries that neither answer your question, address your concern or show any evidence that a human being is responding.
Apple, please contact me and make this right. Send a private message to this post.
I tried the Trade-In program this year for the first time. Never again. When I purchased my Pro Max, I was quoted $600 for my XS Max. I sent it in and it was received. It stayed in "Trade-In partner has received your phone" status for about a week. No progress. I then initiated a return on my Pro Max, and received an email that they'll still process the Trade-In and once they received the Pro Max back, I'll get a gift card. And if I decide to keep the Pro Max, they'll continue with the Trade-In as normal. I was fine with both options.
A day later my XS Max is sitting on my doorstep. Complete opposite of what the email said they were going to do. I contacted Apple Support, absolutely no help. They can only see the same thing I see on my end. That the status now shows "Trade-In cancelled". They suggested I resubmit the XS Max for Trade-In, but now the price is at $550. So I just listed it on Swappa, and ended up selling it for much more than either quoted Trade-In price.
It's funny how it sat for a week with no movement or progress. But the moment a return is initiated the gears instantly work on their end....
A day later my XS Max is sitting on my doorstep. Complete opposite of what the email said they were going to do. I contacted Apple Support, absolutely no help. They can only see the same thing I see on my end. That the status now shows "Trade-In cancelled". They suggested I resubmit the XS Max for Trade-In, but now the price is at $550. So I just listed it on Swappa, and ended up selling it for much more than either quoted Trade-In price.
It's funny how it sat for a week with no movement or progress. But the moment a return is initiated the gears instantly work on their end....
Gazelle did this to me with my iPad Pro 12.9 1st gen: they said it was scratched. I asked for a picture, and they sent a close up picture of a scratch on an iPad, but there was no way to tell that it was my iPad. I checked it over thoroughly, and there was not a scratch or ding on it (especially like the massive scratch that they indicated in the picture). I won't use Gazelle again.
I'm glad I found these threads. I thought I could trade in my Mac Pro at the Apple Store, but they referred me to Phobio. No way will I go through with that now. I hope Apple reconsiders that "partner".
I sent in a Mac to be recycled and the whole process from start to finish too about 2 weeks. Although that was right around the time the iPhone 11, Pro/Max came out so there could have been a backlog.
It will vary depending on country and perhaps even region as to whether it’s quick and fairly priced of course.
It will vary depending on country and perhaps even region as to whether it’s quick and fairly priced of course.