Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Trade-in via shipping vs. in-store

KeniLF said:
I'm returning a late 2015 MBP and the return label sends it to a location in Houston, TX.

Thanks to so many having shared their experiences, after I wiped the data, I created a new ID solely to be used for validation.

I then made a video showing every side of my device, showed it unplugged and then plugged in to show it charged, typed to show the keyboard worked, used the touch pad, and brought up Siri to ask something to prove that its speakers worked. I finally videoed me putting it in the protective wrapper, then box, and made sure to capture me applying the tape, labels, and the shipment info.

Obviously, a tiny bit of effort but it should ensure clarity if things go awry at some point! Doing it in person would have been ideal, however, I got the box almost a week before I actually got the new MBP and didn’t want to have a failed in-store return because their system stops it!
Click to expand...

Could you let us know how your Houstin, TX location trade-in goes? I'm curious about this as well. I have a label for TX as well, but it's not Houston. Thanks!
 
The trade-in kit for my old 16" MacBook Pro arrived yesterday. Flimsy might be too strong a word to describe the kit. Inadequate is probably better. After packaging it up, it really felt like it would get damaged in shipping. So I brought it to the Apple Store & traded it in that way. Took only a few minutes on busy Saturday afternoon. Easy peezy.

P.S. Turning off "Find My" & doing an "Erase All Content & Settings" from System Preferences ahead of time probably made this go quicker from the positive feedback received from the Apple Store staff.
 
CoffeeMacBook said:
Could you let us know how your Houstin, TX location trade-in goes? I'm curious about this as well. I have a label for TX as well, but it's not Houston. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Sure, I'm monitoring its transit from NYC to Houston now. It's due to arrive on Monday.
 
heartburn said:
I sent mine to the same address last week. They claimed my 2019 13-in MBP wouldn't power on/off, so they devalued my offer down to $0. I rejected that, asked for the device back, and it arrived in my hands today.

It works perfectly fine.
Click to expand...
The Apple stores accept MBP trade ins instead of sending them elsewhere. I asked that couple of days ago in store after noticing there was no trade in part of the online purchase.
 
  • Like
Reactions: heartburn and CoffeeMacBook
Realityck said:
The Apple stores accept MBP trade ins instead of sending them elsewhere. I asked that couple of days ago in store after noticing there was no trade in part of the online purchase.
Click to expand...
There seemed to be a couple of people in this thread who wrote about getting to the store and being quite disappointed to find that they couldn't effect the exchange. Perhaps it's down to individual Apple people not understanding how to do it?

Did the person with whom you spoke say that this is definitely available for all trade-in, even when Apple has already mailed the box?
 
KeniLF said:
I was hopeful that I would get PA so finding out final status would be shorter! No idea what destination algo they're using.
Click to expand...
Sent wife’s Air 10 days ago, same place. Was supposed to get $380, but posted on Apple Card ay $400. I did include the charger and cable. Go figure. Not complaining.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KeniLF
KeniLF said:
There seemed to be a couple of people in this thread who wrote about getting to the store and being quite disappointed to find that they couldn't effect the exchange. Perhaps it's down to individual Apple people not understanding how to do it?

Did the person with whom you spoke say that this is definitely available for all trade-in, even when Apple has already mailed the box?
Click to expand...
In my example the staff issuing the product for pickup, when asked that question said just bring your old MBP to the store and they will conduct the trade in with some valuation. In the past its was always the same as online trade-in estimate.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KeniLF
KeniLF said:
There seemed to be a couple of people in this thread who wrote about getting to the store and being quite disappointed to find that they couldn't effect the exchange. Perhaps it's down to individual Apple people not understanding how to do it?

Did the person with whom you spoke say that this is definitely available for all trade-in, even when Apple has already mailed the box?
Click to expand...
So here’s the story I got when I tried to switch my online trade in to in-store.

The Store *can* take over the trade in - even if you already set one up online. However, the in-store trade in has to be done as a credit card refund and so can not be done in cases where you accepted the instant trade in credit and paid on an Apple Card in monthly installments. The store has to credit your card for the amount the trade in is worth - but if you were never debited this money in the first place, then they can’t issue that money on your card.

You have to have been billed full price for the new machine. If you were, then the store can take over the trade in, evaluate your machine, and issue credit to your card for the trade value. In my case, I did do it as instant credit in my Apple Card. So, I was told I had to follow through and ship my computer in.

I took a video and documented everything. Fingers crossed they don’t screw it up. If they do, I’ll blame Apple since they’re the ones who I did the transaction with and they chose the subcontract this out to a bunch of apparently incompetent liars.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Christopher Kim, madhatress, 3Rock and 1 other person
Dovahkiing said:
So here’s the story I got when I tried to switch my online trade in to in-store.

The Store *can* take over the trade in - even if you already set one up online. However, the in-store trade in has to be done as a credit card refund and so can not be done in cases where you accepted the instant trade in credit and paid on an Apple Card in monthly installments. The store has to credit your card for the amount the trade in is worth - but if you were never debited this money in the first place, then they can’t issue that money on your card.

You have to have been billed full price for the new machine. If you were, then the store can take over the trade in, evaluate your machine, and issue credit to your card for the trade value. In my case, I did do it as instant credit in my Apple Card. So, I was told I had to follow through and ship my computer in.

I took a video and documented everything. Fingers crossed they don’t screw it up. If they do, I’ll blame Apple since they’re the ones who I did the transaction with and they chose the subcontract this out to a bunch of apparently incompetent liars.
Click to expand...
Ah, I see. I understand the nuance around what they'll do for trade-ins much better - thank you!

I totally could have taken mine in physically?
 
Dovahkiing said:
So here’s the story I got when I tried to switch my online trade in to in-store.

The Store *can* take over the trade in - even if you already set one up online. However, the in-store trade in has to be done as a credit card refund and so can not be done in cases where you accepted the instant trade in credit and paid on an Apple Card in monthly installments. The store has to credit your card for the amount the trade in is worth - but if you were never debited this money in the first place, then they can’t issue that money on your card.

You have to have been billed full price for the new machine. If you were, then the store can take over the trade in, evaluate your machine, and issue credit to your card for the trade value. In my case, I did do it as instant credit in my Apple Card. So, I was told I had to follow through and ship my computer in.

I took a video and documented everything. Fingers crossed they don’t screw it up. If they do, I’ll blame Apple since they’re the ones who I did the transaction with and they chose the subcontract this out to a bunch of apparently incompetent liars.
Click to expand...
But this complete contradicts what the OP said. The OP did the instant credit with 12 payments.
 
madhatress said:
But this complete contradicts what the OP said. The OP did the instant credit with 12 payments.
Click to expand...
Yes, correct. I suppose there’s a chance what @Dovahkiing was told is accurate, and that I’m going to have problems, but as of right now all indications are that my online-initiated trade-in, which was originally supposed to be shipped but I then just brought it to the store a few days after the purchase, will be fine. The trade-in status page shows that the process is complete, and the installment amount is properly listed on my Apple Card statement. Furthermore, it’s been almost 3 weeks, so my assumption is that if there was going to be a “you did not ship your old computer in by 14 days” issue, I would have received an email by now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: madhatress
Dovahkiing said:
So here’s the story I got when I tried to switch my online trade in to in-store.

The Store *can* take over the trade in - even if you already set one up online. However, the in-store trade in has to be done as a credit card refund and so can not be done in cases where you accepted the instant trade in credit and paid on an Apple Card in monthly installments. The store has to credit your card for the amount the trade in is worth - but if you were never debited this money in the first place, then they can’t issue that money on your card.

You have to have been billed full price for the new machine. If you were, then the store can take over the trade in, evaluate your machine, and issue credit to your card for the trade value. In my case, I did do it as instant credit in my Apple Card. So, I was told I had to follow through and ship my computer in.

I took a video and documented everything. Fingers crossed they don’t screw it up. If they do, I’ll blame Apple since they’re the ones who I did the transaction with and they chose the subcontract this out to a bunch of apparently incompetent liars.
Click to expand...
So this is (sort of) contradicts what I was told when I enquired about doing mine in store. I was told that i would get given an instant credit on my card as you say. But, since I did the reduced monthly payment, once the trade in was accepted by the apple store, and was not received to be used as an offset/instant credit to the monthly installment plan, then I would get a second charge of the trade in difference. Basically exactly what would happen if you never send in your trade in. They were totally willing to do it, just wanted to make me aware of what would happen. I was ready to do my trade right then, but could not since I haven't received my new macbook yet. (I did get the trade in box though, which is why I decided to do it in the store. The box did not seem safe enough for my 27" imac, so I'm going to trade it in to the store.
 
UPS shows my laptop has been delivered to Apples processing facility two days ago. How long does it take them to pay out after receiving?
 
I traded in my 2019 15 as I picked up a 2021 14 in store (US). I did not choose to include a trade in when I ordered the 14 online and requested a trade in evaluation only when I went to the store. The 15 just had a nick on the top case and the Apple rep did not seem to care as they ran the evaluations checklist, and they credited my credit card the full online quote of $1110. Asked me whether I had a backup for the 15 and requested me to sign out of Find My before proceeding with the wipe. A very fast and smooth experience overall.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 0128672 and Weaselboy
@CoffeeMacBook

My MBP was delivered to Houston yesterday, Tues Nov 16 around noon. I haven't received any emails from Apple yet. Hopefully it'll be done before Thanksgiving so I can check this off my list...
 
  • Like
Reactions: CoffeeMacBook
I feel like I have a problem with my trade-in for gift card. It was sent to Carlisle, PA and arrived and signed for on Nov.1 . I returned a MacBook Pro i7 2.6GHz 15" (Mid 2018) 512GB SSD in pristine condition, packaged as new in the original retail box with protective sleeving on the computer and power adapter.

It has been sitting on "Drop off received" ever since ... over 2 weeks so far. I have contacted them via Chat twice. The first agent said it would take 4-5 days to process, but he would escalate it and I should hear from them in a day or two. The second agent, a week later, said it could take 2-3 weeks to process, but he would escalate it and I should hear from them in a day or two. I have heard nothing back from them so far. I am concerned that they lost it or it was stolen internally.

And so I wait ....
 
  • Sad
Reactions: CoffeeMacBook
hfg said:
I feel like I have a problem with my trade-in for gift card. It was sent to Carlisle, PA and arrived and signed for on Nov.1 . I returned a MacBook Pro i7 2.6GHz 15" (Mid 2018) 512GB SSD in pristine condition, packaged as new in the original retail box with protective sleeving on the computer and power adapter.

It has been sitting on "Drop off received" ever since ... over 2 weeks so far. I have contacted them via Chat twice. The first agent said it would take 4-5 days to process, but he would escalate it and I should hear from them in a day or two. The second agent, a week later, said it could take 2-3 weeks to process, but he would escalate it and I should hear from them in a day or two. I have heard nothing back from them so far. I am concerned that they lost it or it was stolen internally.

And so I wait ....
Click to expand...
I'd have the same concerns about the timeframes you were quoted, but not that it was lost or stolen. I imagine Phobio is slammed right now with trade-ins. Seems your only option is to keep following up. If it was my device, I would be following up every 3 days, but of course (as I'm sure you have) keeping it friendly and non-accusatory. I would also be keeping a log of every chat, call and email with dates, times, who said what.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CoffeeMacBook and hfg
Furfural said:
I traded in my 2019 15 as I picked up a 2021 14 in store (US). I did not choose to include a trade in when I ordered the 14 online and requested a trade in evaluation only when I went to the store. The 15 just had a nick on the top case and the Apple rep did not seem to care as they ran the evaluations checklist, and they credited my credit card the full online quote of $1110. Asked me whether I had a backup for the 15 and requested me to sign out of Find My before proceeding with the wipe. A very fast and smooth experience overall.
Click to expand...
that's a nice offer. I got $1210 for my 2019 16" base.
 
Does anyone know if the trade in store can occur if the order is still in processing? (if you haven't been charged yet)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back