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Trade in value revised to $0 for "burn in"

C

CJRhoades

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 4, 2007
548
210
Lafayette, IN
I just received a message stating that my Series 6 SS 44mm trade in value was revised from $85 to $0.

Reason: "LCD display burn in damage/streaks/discoloration across the screen"

My immediate thought was that it was damaged in shipping as the display was in flawless condition when I sent it. After speaking with an Apple rep, they were able to send me this photo of the "damage":

1.jpg



Apparently 4 years of the same watch face left a faint burn in ring, but shouldn't this fall under normal wear and be expected for a device this old? I would imagine they'd be rejecting most trade ins if this were the case. Regardless, they offered to escalate and investigate it further, so we'll see what happens.
 
CJRhoades said:
Not sure, is that the company that handles the trade-ins? I did it all through the Apple Store app when I ordered my Series 10.
Click to expand...
Years ago, I did that and got burned - Apple's contractor: Phobio had changed the original offer to half due to normal wear/tear on the screen.

Asked to have it returned and sold it privately for more than Apple's original offer.

I have heard horror stories from mailing in your trade in for Apple over the years.

This year, I had the Apple store do the instore trade and got full value.
 
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4sallypat said:
Years ago, I did that and got burned - Apple's contractor: Phobio had changed the original offer to half due to normal wear/tear on the screen.

Asked to have it returned and sold it privately for more than Apple's original offer.

I have heard horror stories from mailing in your trade in for Apple over the years.

This year, I had the Apple store do the instore trade and got full value.
Click to expand...

I've been on the iPhone upgrade program since its inception and never had an issue with trade-ins until now. I also traded in my Series 3 when I ordered the Series 6, and that went ok as well. I know I could get more on eBay but just didn't want the hassle. If Apple's official trade-in program is also going to be a dice roll though, I might as well just sell it myself.
 
I have heard so many stories like this that I have a Phobio phobia. I am lucky enough to live about 40 minutes away from an Apple store so I do trade-ins there. If I didn’t I would also rather sell through a third party than go through Phobio. 😞
 
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I had a similar issue with an iPad trade.

I won’t bother doing mail in trades. In store only. But more often I just do private sale.
 
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beware of third party handling safest option for future trade in’s is across the counter at an official apple 🍏 store. these online trade-in’s are a lottery and the outcome of a smooth transaction is becoming less and less but glad you got a successful outcome many don’t
 
I just had the same issue with a series 6: $80 offer (gift card) revised to $0 for “LCD display burn in damage/streaks/discoloration across the screen”

Called to get the inspection photo and escalate:

IMG_2656.png


Really?? I mean, I can see it, but it’s super faint. I want to know if any Series 6s that have actually been used would pass this test. Burn-in is a design flaw, not a user issue. And the “offer” of $80 is misleading at best.

If burn-in is so important the trade-in process needs to ask about it and show how to check for it on a white screen. Super pissed off right now. And I’m a fanboy with a Vision Pro and on the Apple Upgrade program for my iPhone. Never have had an issue trading in my phones.

I’m betting I’ll get the same result as the OP, but I bet they’re counting on most people not taking the time to escalate.
 
t47 said:
I’m betting I’ll get the same result as the OP, but I bet they’re counting on most people not taking the time to escalate.
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If you live near an Apple Store, just have the trade-in partner ship it back to you and try the trade-in at the store.
 
BugeyeSTI said:
I've never had an issue trading in at the Apple Store. I would never trade in through mail for this very reason. You instantly get the credit in store, worth the trip IMO
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Agree 100%.

Mail in uses an outside vendor who will normally devalue your trade in as a matter of normal practice (probably to pad their profit margin).

When I go into the Apple store, the reps are very friendly and gave me the full online value.
 
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FlyingDutch said:
Are you still happy about OLED screens ? OLED technology is crap…
Click to expand...
Very happy. Amazing black levels in low light, bright displays with saturated colors even in direct sunlight, looks great even when viewed off-axis. I don't think either the screens posted in this thread have burn-in that would be visible, let alone severe enough to be distracting in ordinary daily use.
 
icanhazmac said:
Yup, in store is the only way I will trade.
Click to expand...
Reading these stories, it scares me to do mail in trade. When I pre-ordered my iPhone 13 on launch day, there was no option for in-store trade-in. That was my only male in trade and it worked fine, but I don’t think I would do it again.
 
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russell_314 said:
Reading these stories, it scares me to do mail in trade. When I pre-ordered my iPhone 13 on launch day, there was no option for in-store trade-in. That was my only male in trade and it worked fine, but I don’t think I would do it again.
Click to expand...
I have traded several watches and iPhones in with Apple. Never had an issue.
 
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Bichon said:
Very happy. Amazing black levels in low light, bright displays with saturated colors even in direct sunlight, looks great even when viewed off-axis. I don't think either the screens posted in this thread have burn-in that would be visible, let alone severe enough to be distracting in ordinary daily use.
Click to expand...
They DO HAVE burn in, which is an inevitable defect all Oled displays could develop over the time. Oled technology is flawed in its basis: subpixels are degrading , at different speeds, the very moment you give them power.
 
t47 said:
I just had the same issue with a series 6: $80 offer (gift card) revised to $0 for “LCD display burn in damage/streaks/discoloration across the screen”

Called to get the inspection photo and escalate:

View attachment 2462279

Really?? I mean, I can see it, but it’s super faint. I want to know if any Series 6s that have actually been used would pass this test. Burn-in is a design flaw, not a user issue. And the “offer” of $80 is misleading at best.

If burn-in is so important the trade-in process needs to ask about it and show how to check for it on a white screen. Super pissed off right now. And I’m a fanboy with a Vision Pro and on the Apple Upgrade program for my iPhone. Never have had an issue trading in my phones.

I’m betting I’ll get the same result as the OP, but I bet they’re counting on most people not taking the time to escalate.
Click to expand...

Update: I got nowhere with phone support, but, as several of you suggested, going to the Apple Store today worked. Time-consuming and tedious, but they were friendly and helpful--and didn't see any issue with the watch or this photo. Never would have upgraded to the Series 10 if I'd known it would be this much hassle to get the trade-in. Still feel scammed, even though I ended up with the $80 credit in the end. Not a good look, Apple.
 
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