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Trade-in via shipping vs. in-store

My adapter was returned to me when I traded in my 2019 MBP 16 i9/16/1TB for a 2021 MBP 16 M1Pro/16/1TB at the Apple Store last week.

I had a bad experience sending a computer to Phobio last year where the offered value of a 2015 iMac 27 dropped to $0 when Phobio received it. Phobio claimed the machine could not be erased. The machine was eventually returned to me with the Fusion drive split. It was easily put back together in the terminal.

The in-store trade-in is a much better option. I restored the new machine from a backup made with Carbon Copy Cloner before wiping the old machine. I also had a Time Machine backup.
 
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WildSky said:
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.
Click to expand...

Oh okay, I assume this is the same for a financed purchase with an Apple Card? Cool that this works, makes it way easier to get the computer to them!
 
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!
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Yes, that's pretty much it. My concern was that they'd say that because I initiated the shipped-in procedure, I'd have to follow through with that, but she didn't indicate that at all, seemed quite routine. Your question about whether or not it was marked in my account as being dropped off prompted me to go look just now, and indeed, it does say "You're all done. Your trade-in has been verified, so there’s nothing more you need to do."
 
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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.
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I brought it with me, but left it in the car – they didn't ask for it.
 
macphoto861 said:
Yes, that's pretty much it. My concern was that they'd say that because I initiated the shipped-in procedure, I'd have to follow through with that, but she didn't indicate that at all, seemed quite routine. Your question about whether or not it was marked in my account as being dropped off prompted me to go look just now, and indeed, it does say "You're all done. Your trade-in has been verified, so there’s nothing more you need to do."
Click to expand...

macphoto861 said:
I did the 12 month Apple Card thing.
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THANK YOU for clarifying and answering all these questions!! This is awesome news. I am going to purchase a new MBP online for local pickup, initiate a trade and then receive my machine and drop off the trade in locally. Thats just great, really appreciate all the hard work - again!
 
chipsandsalsa said:
THANK YOU for clarifying and answering all these questions!! This is awesome news. I am going to purchase a new MBP online for local pickup, initiate a trade and then receive my machine and drop off the trade in locally. Thats just great, really appreciate all the hard work - again!
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Actually, one clarification – I placed the order online, but picked up from the store (not sure if that makes a difference).
 
lambertjohn said:
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?
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Traded in my 16” i9 and got $1770 put back onto my debit card when I picked up a 16” M1 max in store. They made me keep the power brick too. I wouldn’t mail in to phobic, I’ve heard some bad things about it.
 
How do you get an appt? Is it with a genius or a shopper? There's no option for a trade-in appt.

www.apple.com

Apple Trade In

From now until 18 June, get extra trade-in credit towards a new iPhone. Save $200-$650 in credit when you trade in iPhone 12 or higher. Terms apply.
www.apple.com
 
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Go to the store..first get the quote on apples web site so you know how much you will be getting for your trade in, than make an appt with your store, select specialist(Not genius, that is not required to meet with an apple genius) select mac or whatever item you want to buy..go to the store and bring it in, when I did it, took me 10 min and it was only that long cause I kept on yapping LOL..you get a gift card on the spot, a physical gift card and a receipt and thats it..I just used mine on the new macbook pro 14 inch was super easy
 
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My story is a tad different. With my purchase, I listed my Mac Mini as trade in and was told that I could take it to my local apple store and get instant credit back to the purchasing card for the MB Pro. Got to the store, and the system didn’t recognize the trade-in.

Spoke to apple rep on phone, and she couldn’t understand what the problem was as it showed everything was fine on her end. She finally advised that I send the MM back in the trade-in box sent to me which I did, but before I got off the phone with her, she informed me that my MM would be directed to apple’s warehouse for inspection by their people.

I confirmed again that the MM wasn’t being set to Phobio but to apple’s warehouse and she confirmed. Hopefully she was correct, but I’m waiting for the email to confirm full value of trade-in.
 
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I just walked into a store last night and dropped mine off. I brought the shipping label just in case, but there were no issues. In and out in maybe 10 minutes, no appt or anything.
 
macphoto861 said:
Actually, one clarification – I placed the order online, but picked up from the store (not sure if that makes a difference).
Click to expand...

Oh nice! Yeah, my game plan is to buy the device for local pickup with apple financing. Grab it, then either drop off my trade in there right away or come back in a separate appointment etc. Regardless, sounds very possible!
 
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chipsandsalsa said:
Oh nice! Yeah, my game plan is to buy the device for local pickup with apple financing. Grab it, then either drop off my trade in there right away or come back in a separate appointment etc. Regardless, sounds very possible!
Click to expand...
I think my only complaint about the whole thing (which is not really directed specifically at the trade-in process) is that their system doesn't automatically cancel/refund the Applecare on the old computer, you have to call Apple. The cynic in me thinks that's because they know a lot of people are going to forget or not even know to do that.
 
Great to know for the future

Had issues with phobio that they said the damage on case was too much for my MacBook Air 2013 when I sent it for trade in, they lowered their offer…. Maybe would have been ok in stores.
 
Question, if a online order placed NOT for instore pickup, is it possible to go into the Apple store some point and trade in a MBP towards the purchase? The reason I ask is that none of the BTO/CTO are available for inshore pickup and Im looking for a MBP 16 - M1 Max - 32GB - 2TB model. I do not want to use mail in at all since my MBP 2019 is in excellent condition and afraid phobios will mark it terrible and then return it in terrible shape lol?
 
CalMin said:
How do you get an appt? Is it with a genius or a shopper? There's no option for a trade-in appt.

www.apple.com

Apple Trade In

From now until 18 June, get extra trade-in credit towards a new iPhone. Save $200-$650 in credit when you trade in iPhone 12 or higher. Terms apply.
www.apple.com
Click to expand...
I had an appointment to pick up the new computer. I probably could have just walked right in, they didn’t look me up or anything.
 
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Thanks for the tips for the trade-ins. Doing it in person is well worth the peace of mind over dealing with the uncertainty mail-in process.
 
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Y'all are scaring me lol, I shipped mine yesterday and its set to deliver tomorrow (somewhere in Carlisle,PA). Fingers Crossed everything works out okay, I'll update tomorrow.
 
macphoto861 said:
I think my only complaint about the whole thing (which is not really directed specifically at the trade-in process) is that their system doesn't automatically cancel/refund the Applecare on the old computer, you have to call Apple. The cynic in me thinks that's because they know a lot of people are going to forget or not even know to do that.
Click to expand...
Wait I can get a refund on AppleCare/ I bought it for my computer and it still have coverage until 2023. Mindblown if this is true! How do you initiate this.
 
Thanks for all the information. Now have to wait for stock to appear locally so I can pick one up, hah!
 
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Can someone confirm that if you buy a new MBP online with trade in - for delivery (not pickup) - can you bring the trade to the store and get the credit toward the online order instead of shipping out your old laptop?
 
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