Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Other Received a “Revised Trade-In” Value for my iPhone 12 Pro Max - Anyone else in the same boat?

ks_2933

ks_2933

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 15, 2020
45
61
Traded in my fully functional, perfect condition, 12 PM. Received a notification today that there is a revised trade in value taking the value from $790 to $310! The comment states “Display has functional issues (lines, flicker, pixel damage)” which was simply not the case when I had possession of it. I’ve called Apple and opened a case stating exactly that. I’m sure this happens all the time, but I’m certain that the display had no damage or issues whatsoever. The phone was in like new condition and I’m the type of person who keeps their tech in great shape.

I might just be venting a bit at this point, but this is nonsense. Does anyone have experience with this? Will Apple adjust the value and make this right based on my phone call to them? I took photos of me packaging up my trade but this all just seems like a bit of a scam. If I reject the trade and they ship my phone back, am I going to receive a defective phone even though it was pristine when I shipped? Hopefully this works out because I’m feel deflated and won’t be able to enjoy my new 13 PM until this is resolved 😬.
 
  • Like
  • Sad
  • Angry
Reactions: Pat96, Wizec, robotica and 11 others
Thanks for the reply. I haven’t had any issues in the past either and the funny part with my 12PM was that this phone was probably in the best shape out of everything I’ve ever traded to Apple! It was less than a year old and I’ve been working from home so it was really not “out in the wild”! Hopefully my call to Apple can help sort this out. The CSR I spoke to said it will take about 7 days but until then I’m in a limbo. I did ask Apple to extended my return window on my 13PM from 14 to 30 days in the event that I need to activate the worst case scenario mode.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5105973
ks_2933 said:
Traded in my fully functional, perfect condition, 12 PM. Received a notification today that there is a revised trade in value taking the value from $790 to $310! The comment states “Display has functional issues (lines, flicker, pixel damage)” which was simply not the case when I had possession of it. I’ve called Apple and opened a case stating exactly that. I’m sure this happens all the time, but I’m certain that the display had no damage or issues whatsoever. The phone was in like new condition and I’m the type of person who keeps their tech in great shape.

I might just be venting a bit at this point, but this is nonsense. Does anyone have experience with this? Will Apple adjust the value and make this right based on my phone call to them? I took photos of me packaging up my trade but this all just seems like a bit of a scam. If I reject the trade and they ship my phone back, am I going to receive a defective phone even though it was pristine when I shipped? Hopefully this works out because I’m feel deflated and won’t be able to enjoy my new 13 PM until this is resolved 😬.
Click to expand...
Total nonsense!! 😡 I'm so sorry, this is a legit fear of mine shipping these.
You have original paperwork, receipt, email with the serial number of the phone you sent to them. If you choose to get the phone back - which I would after this garbage low ball $ and fake claims of a bad screen - get the phone back and compare serial numbers. You receive anything different, then file a claim that the shady ----- swapped it.

Ugh!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hombre53, Latinking25, Bethanie21 and 2 others
BeeGood said:
Are they still using some third party to evaluate the condition of the phones?

I sent them some old 5s a while ago and they revised the value from $29 to 0 without a clear explanation why. The in-store trade in experience is way better
Click to expand...
If you mail it in it goes to a third part and they do the evaluation. it can be damaged in the mail while in transit since a lot of packages do get thrown around. I traded in a mini to cover my wife’s 13 pro and the placed I mailed it to was in PA. I live in PA so it was delivered the next day. It took less than a day to get full value and my wife’s 13 pro is Getting the full bill credits that covers the entire cost.
 
  • Like
Reactions: newellj, Ghost31 and BeeGood
PhillyGuy72 said:
Total nonsense!! 😡 I'm so sorry, this is a legit fear of mine shipping these.
You have original paperwork, receipt, email with the serial number of the phone you sent to them. If you choose to get the phone back - which I would after this garbage low ball $ and fake claims of a bad screen - get the phone back and compare serial numbers. You receive anything different, then file a claim that the shady ----- swapped it.

Ugh!
Click to expand...
Yeah, I’m going to wait and see if my complaint into Apple pans out and they get me the full trade value. If they come back with this revised quote, I’ll certainly get my 12PM returned to me as I’m genuinely curious about the display “issue”. If the display is truly damaged, it must have been damaged in transit.

Another thought is that they assessed the wrong phone. I will certainly keep an eye on the serial numbers! I have photos of me packaging it up with all the shipping labels, etc. clearly displayed.

I traded in my wife’s 12 mini and that came back without issue and the full value. I know I treat my phone better than my wife!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3Rock, PhillyGuy72 and BeeGood
ks_2933 said:
Traded in my fully functional, perfect condition, 12 PM. Received a notification today that there is a revised trade in value taking the value from $790 to $310! The comment states “Display has functional issues (lines, flicker, pixel damage)” which was simply not the case when I had possession of it. I’ve called Apple and opened a case stating exactly that. I’m sure this happens all the time, but I’m certain that the display had no damage or issues whatsoever. The phone was in like new condition and I’m the type of person who keeps their tech in great shape.

I might just be venting a bit at this point, but this is nonsense. Does anyone have experience with this? Will Apple adjust the value and make this right based on my phone call to them? I took photos of me packaging up my trade but this all just seems like a bit of a scam. If I reject the trade and they ship my phone back, am I going to receive a defective phone even though it was pristine when I shipped? Hopefully this works out because I’m feel deflated and won’t be able to enjoy my new 13 PM until this is resolved 😬.
Click to expand...
Get your phone back and do the trade-in in person at the Apple Store (if possible). Apple's partner Phobio does nothing but scam people out of their trade-in value of their device.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pat96, Craiguyver, MrAperture and 7 others
I’m an Apple fan and this is leaving a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. All these years and cash-ola sunk into the eco system…
Bstephens said:
Always take it to the store to do trade in if possible.
Click to expand...
Lesson learned! This will be my strategy moving forward. Fingers crossed I can make it out the other end of this one!
 
  • Like
Reactions: robotica and pianostar9
Apple_Robert said:
Get your phone back and do the trade-in in person at the Apple Store (if possible). Apple's partner Phobio does nothing but scam people out of their trade-in value of their device.
Click to expand...
I called Apple and they are filing a claim that the “phone was damaged in transit”. The CSR said it takes 7 days for this to post but was confident that I’d get the full value after the claim goes through. I’m going to wait and see the results of this claim and then request that my 12PM is returned if things don’t pan out.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: Pat96, robotica, LinusR and 3 others
Phone Junky said:
That sucks and it is why I would never do a trade-in through shipping in my device. In-store trade-in only.
Click to expand...
Yup for sure, wish I would have trusted my gut, something told me this was going to happen! Lesson learned for next time, even if my claim works out this wasn’t worth the headache.
 
So sorry to hear that. That really sucks and is the main reason why I always bring my trade in to Apple or AT&T versus mailing it in. It is less convenient but I don’t have to worry about mail delays and someone else inspecting it (or confusing mine with another customers) or it getting lost.

I hope they can resolve that for you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ks_2933
Now I have a sick feeling in my stomach, I didn't know one could do it in-store. I sent mine out, which was especially stupid because the last time I did that they wouldn't honor the value, saying “there was a button missing”!!
 
  • Wow
  • Like
Reactions: 5105973 and ks_2933
I’m sure they document the package condition and the condition of your device when it comes in. Otherwise, everyone’s phone would be “I didn’t do that!”. As long as you truly didn’t send it in damaged, you’ll be fine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ks_2933
I’ve read about this exact problem numerous times before.

As others suggest, the “take it to the store” route has been the solution.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ebika and ks_2933
Yikes. Smells like fraud to me. I’ve heard of this type of thing happening many times before.

I would reject the trade-in and, assuming the phone gets back to you without any screen issues, sell it on eBay instead. You usually make more money selling on eBay than a trade-in anyway.

This forum seems collectively very afraid of eBay. Yes there are scammers but avoiding them is not rocket science. Just make sure the people you deal with have plenty of feedback and a high feedback score.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ks_2933 and pianostar9
Kkspire said:
I’m sure they document the package condition and the condition of your device when it comes in. Otherwise, everyone’s phone would be “I didn’t do that!”. As long as you truly didn’t send it in damaged, you’ll be fine.
Click to expand...
Phobio has a long history of trying to scam people out of the quoted price.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Pat96, btrach144, MuGeN PoWeR and 2 others
Sent my old 11 Pro off (I’m in the UK) on Tuesday and had an email saying it had been inspected and all fine (I keep my Apple stuff in pristine condition, and I mean pristine!). This sort of scenario always worried me about posting it off, it could get damaged in transit or lost. Hope it works out for you!
 
  • Like
Reactions: PhillyGuy72, ks_2933 and ratspg
DaveyVigs said:
So sorry to hear that. That really sucks and is the main reason why I always bring my trade in to Apple or AT&T versus mailing it in. It is less convenient but I don’t have to worry about mail delays and someone else inspecting it (or confusing mine with another customers) or it getting lost.

I hope they can resolve that for you.
Click to expand...

I prefer trading it in in store too but for me this wasn’t an option, my local Apple store wouldn’t take it when I picked up my 13 Pro
 
  • Like
Reactions: DaveyVigs, 5105973, haruhiko and 1 other person
This happens from time to time. Just contact apple and they will work with you to determine what’s going on.

In 2020 I did an Apple Watch trade in by mail in. They got the device and put the value to 0$ and said they were sending it back to me because find my was still active even though it wasn’t. I contacted apple support and this and the next day my trade in value was applied to my credit card as originally requested.
But some miscommunication happened I guess and I still got my old watch in the mail. Never received follow up from apple about it. So a few months later initiated another trade in with it for a gift card and got to double dip LOL.
The joys of 3rd party companies handling trade ins.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back