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Apple to Offer Better Trade-In Pricing for Minor Cosmetic Damage

Apple will today expand its trade-in program to offer better pricing for devices with minor cosmetic defects, MacRumors understands.

apple trade in 2024
Under Apple's current trade-in system, cosmetic issues such as small chips in the display glass have generally been treated the same way as far more serious damage, such as a cracked or smashed screen, resulting in a similarly steep cut to a device's trade-in value. That is set to change from today, with Apple introducing more granular pricing that better reflects a device's actual condition. Customers will apparently not receive less for their device under the new system.

The update is expected to take effect today once Apple's trade-in website comes back online. The change is said to apply in the vast majority of countries where Apple's trade-in program is offered, with only a small number of markets excluded.

Apple last adjusted its trade-in values in August, when it raised pricing across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch lineups. It is unclear whether today's change will coincide with a broader refresh of those values.

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Top Rated Comments

vegetassj4 Avatar
7 weeks ago
People trying to trade in their busted up iPhone



Attachment Image
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PBG4 Dude Avatar
7 weeks ago
Guess they figured out chipped glass doesn’t affect RAM chips.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
match14 Avatar
7 weeks ago
Buy a case for better trade in value 🤔
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
webbuzz Avatar
7 weeks ago
I purchased an iPhone 17 for my Nephew on the Apple site a few weeks ago and started a trade-in online with an offer of $205. The new iPhone 17 arrives, we transfer everything over and decided to complete the trade at an Apple Store. The associate runs through the diagnostics/inspection shows $205. Unfortunately, they were not able to complete the trade-in due to me receiving the trade-in kit. The trade-in did have scratches in the upper right hand corner, but did not cause viewing issues.

I ship the iPhone to Apple (Phobio) and received an email stating the offer was reduced to $80 because of scratches on display. I rejected the offer and the device was shipped back to me.

Took the iPhone to the Apple Store and the associate was surprised at the reduced offer. He ran the diagnostic tool/inspection and the $80 offer was locked to the device. He spoke to his manager and had it overridden and was given $205 gift card.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
7 weeks ago

I've never had a trade in value reduced they must have to be pretty worn for that to happen.. Either way good news!
Yeah right. My daughter had a phone that was pretty rough, so we paid $389 to have it swapped with a brand "new" iPhone Pro. Apple was offering $600 trade-in credit for this phone at the time, so we would net $200. The mint replacement phone went straight from the Apple Store back to Apple for trade-in, and they gave us $0 for it, claiming it wouldn't charge or power on. This was total BS. Even though we never used the phone, the Genius Bar did make us power it on at the store. After escalating the issue they finally issued the $600 credit.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
7 weeks ago

I've never had a trade in value reduced they must have to be pretty worn for that to happen.. Either way good news!
My wife keeps her phone in her purse, and her car keys periodically touch the glass. I've offered to put a screen protector on each time we get a new phone but it doesn't happen. It doesn't cause any performance issues, but we've had some trade ins marked down considerably because of this. It doesn't make much sense when we all know that the phone is being used for parts anyway.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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