Hey everyone, okay so... I purchased a 16" MBP M1 Pro 16GB 1TB model on Oct 19 2021. It was shipped on Oct 30, and arrived on Nov 5. I spent the weekend setting up the new MBP and wiping the old one for my parents. I then took the old MBP to the Apple Store today, Nov 8, and asked to trade it in for an order I made online.
They started the process, reviewed the item, got cleared for quality. During the final stage, the sales clerk had a problem stating that I had the computer for 20 days, which was past their window for an in store trade-in and I would have to trade it in via mail. I told the sales rep that the machine didn't arrive at my house until Nov 5th and I had the computer for 3 days only. I asked the sales rep if they started counting from the purchase date or from the day my purchase arrived? I can't remember if the sales rep said "from the day the trade-in box arrives" or if it was from the purchase date? It was confusing. Regardless, Nov 8 was exactly 20 days from the date of purchase.
I asked the sales rep if there was any way I could do my trade-in in store instead of mailing? Sales rep asked why I was intent on doing it in-store? Told them I didn't trust the third party vendors to conduct my trade-in since I can't be there to verify that they didn't purposefully scuff my old MBP just to mark down the value. The sales rep understood and got the manager involved. They had 2 options for me:
1) Call Apple 1-800 number and ask them to unlock the 20 day limit on their end so that the store could conduct the trade-in since their system in store could not override whatever they had marked at central.
2) Get a gift-card with the trade-in amount, and then cash it out.
We tried the first option and called on my phone, but the Apple rep on-call was of no help. Sales rep told me they don't think the person on the phone had any idea what they were doing, and I agreed. We both think the Apple on-call rep simply didn't want to release it or didn't know how?
We ended up conducting the gift card cash-out method, but I had to come in later that day when the store had enough in "cash" for me to cash out. It was early in the morning and they didn't have enough cash on hand for me to cash out. Note: If you go in store to conduct your trade in, go later in the day when they have cash in the registers lol
I returned later that day, and walked out the store with cash in-hand for my trade in.
I did get my money so I'm glad, but unfortunately (as other posters have mentioned) it was post-tax and not pre-tax since it's applied to a gift card and not to the purchase. I believe if you conduct the trade-in through the third party vendor, and get the full estimated trade-in value it'll be credited to your payment method plus whatever sales tax deduction.
My only question is, how do you know if your trade-in mail in is conducted through Apple and not a third party vendor? Does the shipping label indicate who would be evaluating the trade-in?
Thanks!