Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
1st Gen iPad 16gb + 3G = $200 Target gift card

No issues whatsoever. I read this story last night when I got home, I had 30 min to wipe the ipad before the nearest target closed. Unfortunately, it was in a mall less than a mile away from the NJ Mall shooter/suicide. Wife would not let me go. I got a little discouraged this morning when I read that they changed the terms and fine print. Was prepared to try a couple of Targets, but right after work I went into Target and walked out 10 min later with the gift card.
 
Are they giving $200 for ANY iPad model/size?

You need to check out what the trade in value is on target's website. They are rounding up to $200 for each of these. If your iPad is worth more, you can get more, but this doesn't seem like the best value for those cases. Great deal for original iPads.
 
Engraved iPads

Anyone know if an engraved ipad is an issue? Will they still give $200 if it is engraved? Thanks.
 
Happy Camper

I'm thrilled! I got $200 for my iPad 1 32GB Wifi. Used the gift card to buy the last iPad Air in stock at my local store.

BTW, the clerk who took care of my transaction told me I didn't need to buy an iPad Air, I could use the gift card for anything.
 
Traded my 16gb 1st gen iPad. It was mint condition. I wasn't using it much and will be getting the mini retina when it comes out. The gift card can be used for anything target sells. Very quick process.
 
Traded in my OG iPad and a iPad 2. It feels so good to have them out my life without going through any feebay or cl hassle. :) I will use the money to buy a PS4 :D
 
Went late last night, but the cell phone section closed earlier than the store. Went to another Target today, had to wait almost an hour - two cell phone purchases/upgrades in line ahead of me. When I finally was helped, it took less than 10 minutes. The guy gave me the $200 gift card, no mention of having to use it on an iPad Air. I'll wait and get a look at the new iPad Mini before deciding.
 
Went late last night, but the cell phone section closed earlier than the store. Went to another Target today, had to wait almost an hour - two cell phone purchases/upgrades in line ahead of me. When I finally was helped, it took less than 10 minutes. The guy gave me the $200 gift card, no mention of having to use it on an iPad Air. I'll wait and get a look at the new iPad Mini before deciding.

I asked and was told I can buy anything in the store with the card. :D
 
Can the Target tradein credit of $200 be applied to purchased anything from target like a gift card or must it be applied to the purchase of the iPad Air? Will they accept a broken 1st gen Ipad? Is it a target employee testing the device or do they just accept it. Wonder if anyone has had any luck passing off a broken iPad 1st gen for the $200 credit. The broken ipad 1st gen devices can be bought on eBay cheaply. Wish I knew about this earlier!
Are they offering the $200 credit for any Ipad Generation? The $200 credit is definitely a HUGE DEAL if the iPad is broken or if it is a 1st Gen only. The 3rd or 4th gen you would be better served selling it to a website like Gazelle or BuyBackWorld for a higher cash offer than $200 credit.
 
Traded in my 16GB 1st generation w/3G. Got 200 :)

They didn't try to sell me anything either.

Does anyone know if the "Electronics Trade-In Card" works the same way as a regular target gift card when ordering something from target.com? If not, how do you use it online?

The trade in site has a link for a page explaining how to use it online, but the link doesn't work. It just brings you to an admin portal.
 
Does anyone know if the "Electronics Trade-In Card" works the same way as a regular target gift card when ordering something from target.com? If not, how do you use it online?

The trade in site has a link for a page explaining how to use it online, but the link doesn't work. It just brings you to an admin portal.

I received an "Electronics Trade-In Card" as well tonight. I went online to order the iPad Air 32GB since they were sold out in the two stores near me. I ran into the same problem you did. The Target website sucks.

I downloaded the Target app on my iPhone to monitor their inventory and just resigned myself that I'll be stalking my local stores until their next shipment.
 
I received an "Electronics Trade-In Card" as well tonight. I went online to order the iPad Air 32GB since they were sold out in the two stores near me. I ran into the same problem you did. The Target website sucks.

I downloaded the Target app on my iPhone to monitor their inventory and just resigned myself that I'll be stalking my local stores until their next shipment.

Called their customer service.

You use it as a MasterCard when purchasing online and the last 3 (of the 6 digit security code) are what you put as the CVV2 if it asks.

Not sure if this is legit or not; but that's what they said.
 
Doesn't work like this everywhere

I'm happy for the people who received a gift card immediately at the store for trading in their iPad, however it doesn't work where I'm at in San Diego.

Went to the store last night and some lady was yelling at the Target lady who was taking care of these transactions because she felt lied to by the offer. Turns out that they will give you a barcode if you purchase a new iPad from them. With this barcode you can then send your iPad to Target via mail and then in 2 to 3 weeks they will send you a $200 gift card for use at Target. So unless you figure out a way to return the iPad you bought a few weeks ago and then use your gift card to repurchase it, the deal effectively means that if you buy an iPad from them they will give you $200 to shop in their store.

I didn't do it. Too much hassle and I don't like their shady way of going about this. Boo Target.
 
I'm happy for the people who received a gift card immediately at the store for trading in their iPad, however it doesn't work where I'm at in San Diego.

Went to the store last night and some lady was yelling at the Target lady who was taking care of these transactions because she felt lied to by the offer. Turns out that they will give you a barcode if you purchase a new iPad from them. With this barcode you can then send your iPad to Target via mail and then in 2 to 3 weeks they will send you a $200 gift card for use at Target. So unless you figure out a way to return the iPad you bought a few weeks ago and then use your gift card to repurchase it, the deal effectively means that if you buy an iPad from them they will give you $200 to shop in their store.

I didn't do it. Too much hassle and I don't like their shady way of going about this. Boo Target.

I suggest you try a different target, and make sure you go to the cell phone counter. This is not the way it has worked for anyone else. I walked in, and had one person in front of me. We each handed over the old iPad, they turned it on, gave it a once over, then filled in the web form on their computer.

I walked out with my Electronics Trade In Gift Card for $200. The man in front of me immediately bought a new iPad. I'll be going back in a few weeks (hopefully before having to travel at Thanksgiving) to pick up a retina mini. There was no indication that I couldn't have used the card to buy milk and eggs if I needed to.
 
My target mobility store did not honor the offer

I went into my Target Mobility store in Rockville, Maryland this morning with my working and in quite good condition iPad. I was told that NO target stores in Montgomery County, Maryland, were accepting the trade-in.

I had them call another fairly convenient store in Columbia Heights, in Washington, DC. Their statement was that one needed the original box. Nowhere on the Target website or the news reports did I see anything about the original box (PLEASE tell me if I missed it!!).

This seems to me not to honor the offer that Target has made. Trying to fix with customer support now.
 
Last edited:
I'm happy for the people who received a gift card immediately at the store for trading in their iPad, however it doesn't work where I'm at in San Diego.

Went to the store last night and some lady was yelling at the Target lady who was taking care of these transactions because she felt lied to by the offer. Turns out that they will give you a barcode if you purchase a new iPad from them. With this barcode you can then send your iPad to Target via mail and then in 2 to 3 weeks they will send you a $200 gift card for use at Target. So unless you figure out a way to return the iPad you bought a few weeks ago and then use your gift card to repurchase it, the deal effectively means that if you buy an iPad from them they will give you $200 to shop in their store.

I didn't do it. Too much hassle and I don't like their shady way of going about this. Boo Target.

I had a similar negative experience in Maryland, near Washington DC.
 
I've had a very negative experience with this as well. It seems as though Target has not trained their employees well on this policy.

Yesterday, I called some of the local, Bay Area Targets to see if they were honoring the trade-in. Two of the stores said they are out of the "trade-in cards," and the other store had the cards, but was out of iPads. Per Target's website, I was under the impression that you could trade in the iPad and get the "trade-in card" for $200. However, when I went to the store (Serremonte) to trade-in my iPad, they told me I must purchase a new iPad to get the deal.

I was frustrated and walked away, as this was clearly not stated by Target. I then went back and showed them the website and the guy told me the website is misleading and that you must purchase and iPad at the time of the trade in to get the $200.

I have complained to Target about this issue and reached out to them via Twitter. They then asked me to give them more info via e-mail, so I'm waiting for a response. I'll update once I know more, but I plan to check out another store this evening to try again.
 
Easy as Pie

Went to downtown Portland and went very smooth, one gentleman ahead of me, then the process went quick. He asked me what iPad I was going to purchase and then informed me they were out of stock, he made it clear that the promotion was to be used in conjunction with the purchase of a new iPad (which I was going to do) but since they were out issued me a gift card.
 
I've had a very negative experience with this as well. It seems as though Target has not trained their employees well on this policy.

Yesterday, I called some of the local, Bay Area Targets to see if they were honoring the trade-in. Two of the stores said they are out of the "trade-in cards," and the other store had the cards, but was out of iPads. Per Target's website, I was under the impression that you could trade in the iPad and get the "trade-in card" for $200. However, when I went to the store (Serremonte) to trade-in my iPad, they told me I must purchase a new iPad to get the deal.

I was frustrated and walked away, as this was clearly not stated by Target. I then went back and showed them the website and the guy told me the website is misleading and that you must purchase and iPad at the time of the trade in to get the $200.

I have complained to Target about this issue and reached out to them via Twitter. They then asked me to give them more info via e-mail, so I'm waiting for a response. I'll update once I know more, but I plan to check out another store this evening to try again.

I will try contacting Target as well...good to hear that at least you got a response.
 
I will try contacting Target as well...good to hear that at least you got a response.

So, I just got another Twitter reply from Target:

@dusteallen The $200 minimum promotional credit will be issued on a Target Trade-In Gift Card and is redeemable in any Target store.

It appears the stores who say you have to buy an iPad at the same time as the trade-in are wrong. I'm still waiting for an e-mail response from Target as well, but that's what I have for the time being.
 
I'm thrilled! I got $200 for my iPad 1 32GB Wifi. Used the gift card to buy the last iPad Air in stock at my local store.

BTW, the clerk who took care of my transaction told me I didn't need to buy an iPad Air, I could use the gift card for anything.

That's exactly the one I tried to trade in, and mine is in really excellent working condition. It's been in a nice case it's whole life! I've posted elsewhere on this--they claimed they weren't participating.

What Target store did you go to? Is it anywhere near the Washington, DC area?

Thanks.
 
Forgive what may be a stupid question, but does anyone know what they are giving in store for an iPad 2 32GB?
Is it only $200 & if so, is that a fair deal do ya' think?
Thanks!
 
Can people post locations where the trade in went smoothly

I am in the MD-DC-VA area, that is what I most want to find out about. Had issues at my nearest stores. Thanks.
 
Called their customer service.

You use it as a MasterCard when purchasing online and the last 3 (of the 6 digit security code) are what you put as the CVV2 if it asks.

Not sure if this is legit or not; but that's what they said.

Trade in cards can't be used for partial payment on target.com. So what you have to do is buy a $200 e-gift card. Wait for the gift card email.(can take a long time) Then buy with the gift card and your CC/paypal as the rest of the payment.

To buy the egift card, you use your trade in card as a Visa/MC like you mentioned. Scratch off the card number and use the last four digits that are already exposed. Then your expiry. Something like 01/22. For the CVC number enter the last three of the 6 digit number at the bottom. I put "target" as my name. I don't think it matters.
 
I took my 1st generation iPad into Target earlier (in Orlando, FL), and received the "Electronics Trade-In Card" - I specifically asked if I could wait to use the card until the new iPad Mini's come out at the end of the month, and they said that was fine.

The money never expires... specifically, the card I received says this on the back:
"Valid Thru: 05/20
Card funds never expire. After valid thru date, contact us for free replacement Card."

Also, the lady who helped me told another person they could buy anything in the store with the card... but they'd have to use the checkout counter in the electronics section of the store. YMMV :)
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.