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Trade-in via shipping vs. in-store

M

macphoto861

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
May 20, 2021
501
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I ordered my MBP on launch morning and picked it up later that afternoon at the store. When I ordered, I selected the shipping option for the trade-in MBP (with instant credit via the Apple Card 12 monthly payments), but I subsequently heard a bunch of stories about how horrible the company that handles the trade-ins Phobio (what a horrible name) is, that they'll say the computer was inoperable, screen was cracked, etc., and drop the trade-in value to $0, and if you ask for it back they'll ship you a different computer than the one you sent in. Don't know if these stories are accurate and/or common, but I'm nervous about it now.

Does anyone know if it's possible to just bring the trade-in to the Apple store now, or do I have to follow through with the ship-in option since it's been initiated?

Secondly, I'm not even sure if Phobio is involved with this trade-in. The box was shipped to me from "CTDI KBB JEFFERSONVILLE", and the shipping address for me to send the computer to is "AI" (Apple, Inc?) in Humble, TX. Does this mean Apple is using a different company now?
 
I'm curious about this too. I'm due to ship my M1 Air off to Phobio after I receive my new MBP, but I'd rather take it into a store if I can, trade it in that way. Any out there traded in their Mac at an Apple store?
 
macphoto861 said:
Thanks... just made the appointment for tomorrow, will give it a try.
Click to expand...
Curious, at the store, it's like an immediate trade-in for your new MBP, right? So say, before your 14 day return window is up, you decide you don't like your new MBP, you have no old computer to fall back on because you already traded it in. Is that right?
 
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Also, don’t call Apple on this. They’ve told me “your store won’t accept it” which has never been accurate. They estimated it’d take 10 minutes to evaluate and take mine, but said it could be less if you wiped it before you visited (which I usually do with anything). YMMV
 
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You absolutely CAN take an item to a physical Apple Store to do a trade-in. I set up a trade in online, then took my 2019 16 inch MBP to the nearest Apple Store (nearly 3 hours away) and they gave me exactly the same amount that I was quoted online in the form of an Apple Gift Card that I then applied online to purchase an M1 Pro 16 inch MBP (had to purchase online in order to get military/veteran discount(. Easy peasy. Details below.

Called Apple before initiating the trade-in to be sure I could bring my MBP in to a physical store rather than sending it in. They said, yes I could. Set up the trade-in, was offered a REALLY generous amount for my pristine MBP, packaged it up and call the "local" Apple Store to verify that I could bring it in because the Store is 3 hours away. They made me a shopping appointment, I got in early and they took me right away (not busy), looked my MBP over and verified it was in perfect condition as I had claimed, handed me an Apple Gift Card for the full amount, and I was good to go. Used the Gift Card to purchase the new MBP on the Military/Veteran Store.

Why drive 6 hours (3 hours each way) rather than sending it in? Apple uses a third party to process their trade-ins and they are notorious for claiming a pristine device had scratches and offering less than originally stated. They've done it to me and they've done it to friends. So I ALWAYS get the quote first then head off to do the trade in at a physical Apple Store.
 
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lambertjohn said:
Curious, at the store, it's like an immediate trade-in for your new MBP, right? So say, before your 14 day return window is up, you decide you don't like your new MBP, you have no old computer to fall back on because you already traded it in. Is that right?
Click to expand...
True, but that’s why I didn’t want to trade in on launch day. :)
 
mpetrides said:
You absolutely CAN take an item to a physical Apple Store to do a trade-in. I set up a trade in online, then took my 2019 16 inch MBP to the nearest Apple Store (nearly 3 hours away) and they gave me exactly the same amount that I was quoted online in the form of an Apple Gift Card that I then applied online to purchase an M1 Pro 16 inch MBP (had to purchase online in order to get military/veteran discount(. Easy peasy. Details below.

Called Apple before initiating the trade-in to be sure I could bring my MBP in to a physical store rather than sending it in. They said, yes I could. Set up the trade-in, was offered a REALLY generous amount for my pristine MBP, packaged it up and call the "local" Apple Store to verify that I could bring it in because the Store is 3 hours away. They made me a shopping appointment, I got in early and they took me right away (not busy), looked my MBP over and verified it was in perfect condition as I had claimed, handed me an Apple Gift Card for the full amount, and I was good to go. Used the Gift Card to purchase the new MBP on the Military/Veteran Store.

Why drive 6 hours (3 hours each way) rather than sending it in? Apple uses a third party to process their trade-ins and they are notorious for claiming a pristine device had scratches and offering less than originally stated. They've done it to me and they've done it to friends. So I ALWAYS get the quote first then head off to do the trade in at a physical Apple Store.
Click to expand...

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think what is in question is not the above scenario but if say you setup a purchase online and just want to drop off the trade in at the apple store - not ship it etc. Basically purchase it and instead of have them send you a box or whatever, you go in and have them evaluate and confirm/take it.
 
chipsandsalsa said:
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think what is in question is not the above scenario but if say you setup a purchase online and just want to drop off the trade in at the apple store - not ship it etc. Basically purchase it and instead of have them send you a box or whatever, you go in and have them evaluate and confirm/take it.
Click to expand...
Pretty much. I mean, I think you can place the order online, pick up in the store, and do the trade-in right then and there (because the employee asked me about the trade-in, she thought I was doing it then and I had to explain that they were sending me a box). What I'm unsure about is whether I can still do that now, having already picked up the computer and started the procedure of doing the shipped-in option.
 
macphoto861 said:
Pretty much. I mean, I think you can place the order online, pick up in the store, and do the trade-in right then and there (because the employee asked me about the trade-in, she thought I was doing it then and I had to explain that they were sending me a box). What I'm unsure about is whether I can still do that now, having already picked up the computer and started the procedure of doing the shipped-in option.
Click to expand...
Well hopefully the appointment tomorrow clears it up and they just take your device and mark it as traded in!
 
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mpetrides said:
You absolutely CAN take an item to a physical Apple Store to do a trade-in. I set up a trade in online, then took my 2019 16 inch MBP to the nearest Apple Store (nearly 3 hours away) and they gave me exactly the same amount that I was quoted online in the form of an Apple Gift Card that I then applied online to purchase an M1 Pro 16 inch MBP (had to purchase online in order to get military/veteran discount(. Easy peasy. Details below.
Click to expand...

Is the Trade-In amount applied to the pre-tax amount or post-tax? I can't find that information anywhere.

Also, planning to do the same regarding my trade-in after reading about third party vendors.
 
I went into the store on a busy Sunday 1.5 hours before my appointment but they brought me a guy an hour earlier. He quickly looked it over, wiped my data in front of me and gave me the full amount as quoted on apple site. I requested a 16” MacBook with apple care and the total was $1529. He didn’t ask for the original MacBook charger.
Initially I was uncertain about shipping the mac for trade in because the palm rests were discolored on space gray after I stuck this sticky tape to the mac for palm cushion so didn’t want to wipe my mac only to find out I’d be offered $400 after sending it out. My experience was great and fast doing it in person.
 
CoffeeMacBook said:
Is the Trade-In amount applied to the pre-tax amount or post-tax? I can't find that information anywhere.

Also, planning to do the same regarding my trade-in after reading about third party vendors.
Click to expand...
The trade-in amount is applied to the post tax amount. It's like they are giving you a handful of cash to help pay for your new purchase. New computer + tax minus trade-in amount.
 
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The mail-in process out here in Denver does not include getting a set of packaging to send back, it's just taking the machine itself to a local FedEx. Can anyone confirm in this situation if this goes back to Apple or is Phobio still an intermediary? Included a screenshot of the email, when you open the locations they're all FedEx service centers.

I purchased my 14" before trying the trade-in option, so this is outside of an actual purchase, just for a gift card. I do have an Apple store within 5 miles so I'd prefer to take it there, just wasn't an option.
 

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Followup... brought the computer in to the Apple Store, the person there ran through the inspection checklist, assessed a trade-in value of $1430 (same as what the ship-in option quoted), took the computer, and gave me a receipt. Hopefully that's the end of it!
 
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For those setting up appointments for in-store trade-ins, are you setting it up as a shopping appointment? The options for requesting a shopping appointment did not include a trade-in option, so I wasn’t sure.

I was going to mail in my old MBP, but would much rather do it in person.

Also, did they require you to return the power adapter for in-store trade-in? My wife uses mine since hers is broken, so it would be great to be able to keep it.
 
fuzzy b said:
For those setting up appointments for in-store trade-ins, are you setting it up as a shopping appointment? The options for requesting a shopping appointment did not include a trade-in option, so I wasn’t sure.

I was going to mail in my old MBP, but would much rather do it in person.

Also, did they require you to return the power adapter for in-store trade-in? My wife uses mine since hers is broken, so it would be great to be able to keep it.
Click to expand...
I wasn't asked for my adapter. Id bring it in your bag but don't pull it out unless they ask.
 
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fuzzy b said:
For those setting up appointments for in-store trade-ins, are you setting it up as a shopping appointment? The options for requesting a shopping appointment did not include a trade-in option, so I wasn’t sure.

I was going to mail in my old MBP, but would much rather do it in person.

Also, did they require you to return the power adapter for in-store trade-in? My wife uses mine since hers is broken, so it would be great to be able to keep it.
Click to expand...
Yes, set it up as a shopping appointment. That's the catch-all bucket.
 
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macphoto861 said:
Followup... brought the computer in to the Apple Store, the person there ran through the inspection checklist, assessed a trade-in value of $1430 (same as what the ship-in option quoted), took the computer, and gave me a receipt. Hopefully that's the end of it!
Click to expand...

Thats great! So for clarification. You bought the computer online - with the trade in option. They probably told you you'd get a box or to bring it to FEDEX shipping center to packup and ship off to them. However, you brought it into your local store with an appointment and they ran through the checklist and took it there instead? And did they mark it off as dropped off on your account etc? Thanks for going through with this so we can know whats the best practice!
 
fuzzy b said:
Also, did they require you to return the power adapter for in-store trade-in? My wife uses mine since hers is broken, so it would be great to be able to keep it.
Click to expand...
Meant to respond to your second question. You have to return the charger for mail-ins, so bring it with you to do the in-store trade too.
 
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chipsandsalsa said:
Thats great! So for clarification. You bought the computer online - with the trade in option. They probably told you you'd get a box or to bring it to FEDEX shipping center to packup and ship off to them. However, you brought it into your local store with an appointment and they ran through the checklist and took it there instead? And did they mark it off as dropped off on your account etc? Thanks for going through with this so we can know whats the best practice!
Click to expand...
If they didn't give an Apple gift card for the trade-in (which was what's expected for a regular in-store trade-in), then they will apply the credit to the active order with the outstanding trade-in.
 
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