I’ve tried not to be too ranty in this post, nor too entitled… here goes:
I recently upgraded to an M1 Mac Mini, keeping my keyboard from my Late 2013 21” iMac which I decided to trade in with Apple through their website. They offered me £270 (not dissimilar to what I’d get if I’d sold with with keyboard etc on eBay or to Cex). I wish I hadn’t bothered.
It started off well enough. I truthfully answered questions about condition (no noticeable problems, booted up fine). I was promised trade in packaging within 3-5 days and the £270 offer would stay open for 14 days.
10 days later, no packaging had arrived but an email did reminding me to send off. Thinking the packaging had got lost, I tried again (also to make sure value hadn’t dropped). Still nothing, so sent an email chasing it up. Finally, 4 weeks after ordering, TWO trade in boxes arrived on the same day without warning.
With some sadness, I followed instructions to decommission my trusty iMac and then tried to use the polystyrene packing (poor fit & ended up using the packing from the second box to help protect it for its final journey).
On Monday, I got confirmation it arrived and then on Wednesday I received an email:
While inspecting your Apple iMac14 3 Core i5 2.9 21.5 inch A1418 9
2013, we noted the following:
Display problem
This changes your trade-in value from £270 to £0 .
If you accept this value:
Great. Just access the self-service portal within 14 days to accept it and your Apple Store Gift Card will be sent to xxxx within 3-5 working days.
As might be imagined, I was “a little cross”. No decent explanation as to what the problem was, no apology/regret & to rub it in they seem to be planning to send a gift card with a value of £0!
I emailed Brightstar and they told me that:
I can see from the inspection notes the value has been reduced due to the of the overall quality of the LCD screen.
Our engineers have identified pixels of the screen that have burst/faded, or otherwise distorted over time, which creates something called "White Spots"
This is a very common issue, and is the result of individual liquid crystals distorting over time.
It is not easily noticeable and does not affect the performance of the device.
It is not damaged in terms of being cracked etc, but it does mean that we would need to replace the entire screen in order to recycle the device, hence the reduction in value
I’m in some ways less bothered by the problem and more by the way that Apple’s website words the questions and trade in process to imply that as long as you answer their questions truthfully, the money will be sent.
However, if my display problem was not easily noticeable and is a very common issue, there seems something wrong with the whole process & the initial valuation - they must know that it’s rare to be able to offer the amount quoted….
I’m trying not to be too cynical in thinking that they delayed the trade in packaging on purpose with the new iMac due and then have an excuse why they didn’t want to honour the original offer.
Now I have a dilemma - do I take the iMac back and give it away, or do I just give up as a lost cause and vow never to use Apple trade in again? I clearly can’t sell it if it’s faulty.
if anyone is thinking of trading in an old iMac when the new ones arrive, I’d seriously reconsider. Really can’t recommend.
I recently upgraded to an M1 Mac Mini, keeping my keyboard from my Late 2013 21” iMac which I decided to trade in with Apple through their website. They offered me £270 (not dissimilar to what I’d get if I’d sold with with keyboard etc on eBay or to Cex). I wish I hadn’t bothered.
It started off well enough. I truthfully answered questions about condition (no noticeable problems, booted up fine). I was promised trade in packaging within 3-5 days and the £270 offer would stay open for 14 days.
10 days later, no packaging had arrived but an email did reminding me to send off. Thinking the packaging had got lost, I tried again (also to make sure value hadn’t dropped). Still nothing, so sent an email chasing it up. Finally, 4 weeks after ordering, TWO trade in boxes arrived on the same day without warning.
With some sadness, I followed instructions to decommission my trusty iMac and then tried to use the polystyrene packing (poor fit & ended up using the packing from the second box to help protect it for its final journey).
On Monday, I got confirmation it arrived and then on Wednesday I received an email:
While inspecting your Apple iMac14 3 Core i5 2.9 21.5 inch A1418 9
2013, we noted the following:
Display problem
This changes your trade-in value from £270 to £0 .
If you accept this value:
Great. Just access the self-service portal within 14 days to accept it and your Apple Store Gift Card will be sent to xxxx within 3-5 working days.
As might be imagined, I was “a little cross”. No decent explanation as to what the problem was, no apology/regret & to rub it in they seem to be planning to send a gift card with a value of £0!
I emailed Brightstar and they told me that:
I can see from the inspection notes the value has been reduced due to the of the overall quality of the LCD screen.
Our engineers have identified pixels of the screen that have burst/faded, or otherwise distorted over time, which creates something called "White Spots"
This is a very common issue, and is the result of individual liquid crystals distorting over time.
It is not easily noticeable and does not affect the performance of the device.
It is not damaged in terms of being cracked etc, but it does mean that we would need to replace the entire screen in order to recycle the device, hence the reduction in value
I’m in some ways less bothered by the problem and more by the way that Apple’s website words the questions and trade in process to imply that as long as you answer their questions truthfully, the money will be sent.
However, if my display problem was not easily noticeable and is a very common issue, there seems something wrong with the whole process & the initial valuation - they must know that it’s rare to be able to offer the amount quoted….
I’m trying not to be too cynical in thinking that they delayed the trade in packaging on purpose with the new iMac due and then have an excuse why they didn’t want to honour the original offer.
Now I have a dilemma - do I take the iMac back and give it away, or do I just give up as a lost cause and vow never to use Apple trade in again? I clearly can’t sell it if it’s faulty.
if anyone is thinking of trading in an old iMac when the new ones arrive, I’d seriously reconsider. Really can’t recommend.
