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iMas70

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 4, 2012
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AT&T keeps tempting me with a $700 credit if I trade-in my iPhone 12 Pro. I usually keep my old phones so I never notice if there is a trade-in offer when I buy one. No reason to keep it so I'd like to take advantage of a substantial discount if there is one available. Does Apple or AT&T usually have a trade-in offer when new phones are released? Worst case I could wait a few months. There are usually plenty of offers around the holidays.
 
Carriers pretty much run trade-in promotions all of the time, including on newly released phones. They often require switching or adding a line, upgrading a plan, etc. plus a 2 to 3 year commitment.
 
Carriers pretty much run trade-in promotions all of the time, including on newly released phones. They often require switching or adding a line, upgrading a plan, etc. plus a 2 to 3 year commitment.

For AT&T, they require existing customers to have a plan that is at least $75 per month. That's the one I have. 3 year commitment but I believe it can be paid off early.
 
For AT&T, they require existing customers to have a plan that is at least $75 per month. That's the one I have. 3 year commitment but I believe it can be paid off early.

As long as you stick with the plan for the required term, you should get the full trade-in offer but if you discontinue early, you will lose part of the inflated trade amount. For example, if you are getting an additional $10/month "bonus" for your trade over 36 months and discontinue the minimum plan at 15 months, you lose $210 ($10 x 21 months) of the extra trade value thereby making the offer not as good as it would've been.
 
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As long as you stick with the plan for the required term, you should get the full trade-in offer but if you discontinue early, you will lose part of the inflated trade amount. For example, if you are getting an additional $10/month "bonus" for your trade over 36 months and discontinue the minimum plan at 15 months, you lose $210 ($10 x 21 months) of the extra trade value thereby making the offer not as good as it would've been.
I've been with AT&T since before they were AT&T (Cingular Wireless years ago) so I won't be going anywhere. I usually go 2-3 years between getting a new phone.
 
Apple makes least generous offers to buy your old phone than most companies online. At least here in the UK. Always use comparison sites.
 
I've been with AT&T since before they were AT&T (Cingular Wireless years ago) so I won't be going anywhere. I usually go 2-3 years between getting a new phone.

Ok. I was more referring to your previous "it can be paid off early" comment which given how these offers are structured, I don't think would be possible without losing some of the inflated trade credit. That is, unless you take advantage of some other future promotion (e.g., a swtich offer from a different carrier) that may cover the payoff.
 
As long as you stick with the plan for the required term, you should get the full trade-in offer but if you discontinue early, you will lose part of the inflated trade amount. For example, if you are getting an additional $10/month "bonus" for your trade over 36 months and discontinue the minimum plan at 15 months, you lose $210 ($10 x 21 months) of the extra trade value thereby making the offer not as good as it would've been.
Yes I know for VZW last time, it was $800 some, and depending on the trade the ratio of instant to installment credits changed. Instant you can never lose, but the installment ones you will lose if you trade or pay the installments off early
 
For AT&T, they require existing customers to have a plan that is at least $75 per month. That's the one I have. 3 year commitment but I believe it can be paid off early.
A single-line customer might find value in an MVNO using the AT&T network. Consumer Cellular, which is 100% AT&T for new customers, offers an unlimited plan (at least 50GB before throttling) for $55. It also has fewer nuisance fees than AT&T.
 
Can we do trade-ins in person at the Apple Store?

I bought my iPhone 12 Pro Max outright directly from Apple. And I'd love to get the iPhone 14 Pro Max this year.

If I buy it in-person at the Apple Store... do they subtract the trade-in on the spot? Or would I have to pay the full price up-front and get some sort of refund or gift card later?
 
A single-line customer might find value in an MVNO using the AT&T network. Consumer Cellular, which is 100% AT&T for new customers, offers an unlimited plan (at least 50GB before throttling) for $55.

AT&T has an even cheaper unlimited plan than that. Their 1-line "Value Plus" plan is $50/month.
 
Can we do trade-ins in person at the Apple Store?

I bought my iPhone 12 Pro Max outright directly from Apple. And I'd love to get the iPhone 14 Pro Max this year.

If I buy it in-person at the Apple Store... do they subtract the trade-in on the spot? Or would I have to pay the full price up-front and get some sort of refund or gift card later?

Yes, you can do trade-ins in person at an Apple Store. They will give you instant credit or a gift card for the "actual" value on the spot. Any additional carrier trade incentive would be applied through your carrier bill over time.
 
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