Apple cuts $45 off iPhone 'Reuse and Recycling' trade-in value, new max set at $225
Apple on Tuesday lowered trade-in values for its iPhone Reuse and Recycling Program in the U.S. and Canada, cutting as much as $45 off the value of older generation handsets like the iPhone 5.
Apple's Reuse and Recycling Program pricing changed overnight in the U.S. and Canada. | Source: Apple
As seen in the above photo, Apple's new recycling pricing appears to max out at $225, down from a price of $270 advertised through the company's website on Monday. The lower iPhone valuation was first spotted by iPhone in Canada.
Confusingly, while advertised in-store trade-in pricing has dropped, Apple's Reuse and Recycling online site is still showing payouts of $255 for good condition iPhone 5 units. Values should be consistent across both online and physical stores as Apple outsources its Reuse and Recycling program to a third-party vendor.
The new rate change is in stark contrast to Apple's previous recycling efforts. In August 2012, Apple began offering up to $345 for then-current model iPhone 4S units under the rebranded "Reuse and Recycling" program. The company has yet to start accepting trade-ins for the iPhone 5s, but that is expected to change with the upcoming iPhone refresh this fall.
In May, Apple launched a special promotion for upgraders by offering up to $199 for iPhone 4S units, or $99 for iPhone 4 trade-ins, with the credit to be put toward the purchase of a new iPhone 5s or 5c.
Apple first rolled out its product buyback program in partnership with California-based recycling contractor PowerON in 2011. Since then, the recycling initiative has expanded beyond the U.S. and Canada to the UK, as well as France and Germany.
As of April, the recycling effort now includes free recycling of Apple products at all brick-and-mortar Apple Store locations.
Outside of Apple's Reuse and Recycle program, third-party firms like Gazelle and eBay offer up to $360 in cash for 64GB iPhone 5s models. Those looking to upgrade to a newer model or simply offload old hardware can check out AppleInsider's Trade-in Guide for the latest deals.
Apple's Reuse and Recycling Program pricing changed overnight in the U.S. and Canada. | Source: Apple
As seen in the above photo, Apple's new recycling pricing appears to max out at $225, down from a price of $270 advertised through the company's website on Monday. The lower iPhone valuation was first spotted by iPhone in Canada.
Confusingly, while advertised in-store trade-in pricing has dropped, Apple's Reuse and Recycling online site is still showing payouts of $255 for good condition iPhone 5 units. Values should be consistent across both online and physical stores as Apple outsources its Reuse and Recycling program to a third-party vendor.
The new rate change is in stark contrast to Apple's previous recycling efforts. In August 2012, Apple began offering up to $345 for then-current model iPhone 4S units under the rebranded "Reuse and Recycling" program. The company has yet to start accepting trade-ins for the iPhone 5s, but that is expected to change with the upcoming iPhone refresh this fall.
In May, Apple launched a special promotion for upgraders by offering up to $199 for iPhone 4S units, or $99 for iPhone 4 trade-ins, with the credit to be put toward the purchase of a new iPhone 5s or 5c.
Apple first rolled out its product buyback program in partnership with California-based recycling contractor PowerON in 2011. Since then, the recycling initiative has expanded beyond the U.S. and Canada to the UK, as well as France and Germany.
As of April, the recycling effort now includes free recycling of Apple products at all brick-and-mortar Apple Store locations.
Outside of Apple's Reuse and Recycle program, third-party firms like Gazelle and eBay offer up to $360 in cash for 64GB iPhone 5s models. Those looking to upgrade to a newer model or simply offload old hardware can check out AppleInsider's Trade-in Guide for the latest deals.
Comments
It won't, but you get the convenience of being able to trade it in for an upgraded iPhone in one go. With Gazelle you have to package it up, wait for them to receive it, check it and fund you, and they might say it's not same condition you think it's in. Amazon's the same way but they do pay tend to pay out more quite a bit more, but it's in Amazon gift card.
I think Gazelle locks in your value for 30 days so that can be a benefit.
There's a free app which can accurately determine the fair market value of an iPhone. Prices are based off of average selling prices on eBay and Craigslist. Takes about 3 mins to get price. https://www.getorchard.com/sell/
AT&T will unlock your phone once the contract expires which is great for me. I keep my old phone as my international phone and the new phone is locked for USA. Then I just hand down my old-old unlocked international phone to a deserving person. I keep all the packaging so the gift phone looks like brand new.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/puracoat-liquid-screen-protector
It won't, but you get the convenience of being able to trade it in for an upgraded iPhone in one go. With Gazelle you have to package it up, wait for them to receive it, check it and fund you, and they might say it's not same condition you think it's in. Amazon's the same way but they do pay tend to pay out more quite a bit more, but it's in Amazon gift card.
From what I have read and heard Gazelle will almost never offer for the condition/grade you expect and instead will mention flaws or other attributes that downgrade its value. Scratch seen only under 20x magnification -- downgrade. Speck of fuzz inside 30 pin connector -- downgrade. Virtually nothing qualifies as flawless. They would find problems with something new in the box from the factory.
It won't, but you get the convenience of being able to trade it in for an upgraded iPhone in one go. With Gazelle you have to package it up, wait for them to receive it, check it and fund you, and they might say it's not same condition you think it's in. Amazon's the same way but they do pay tend to pay out more quite a bit more, but it's in Amazon gift card.
From what I have read and heard Gazelle will almost never offer for the condition/grade you expect and instead will mention flaws or other attributes that downgrade its value. Scratch seen only under 20x magnification -- downgrade. Speck of fuzz inside 30 pin connector -- downgrade. Virtually nothing qualifies as flawless. They would find problems with something new in the box from the factory.
I had the exact opposite experience with Gazelle -- they gave me nothing but the best service. They made an offer on my iPhone 4 before I got my iPhone 5s -- I sent it to them in a box they provided. As soon as they got it the examined it and agreed that it was flawless and offered to pay what they offered. I had a check in a couple days. I think the entire process took less than a week.
Would recommend them over anyone also!
In the US it's typically advantagous to upgrade.
I would never get enough value in trade to make it worthwhile for me to buy a new phone. If somehow I end up with a new phone some day (I'm on iPhone 4), I'll pass my current phone on to a friend that doesn't have a good phone, for free, which is what I did with my previous iPhone (original).
I'm with you; my current iPhone4 at 3.5 yrs of age and original battery,
is still doing the job very well on a $30/m prepaid plan.
Only the occasional slowness because of iOS7,
which has some lovely functional upgrades that more than make up for the occasional slowness.
If my iPhone4 still works well, when I'm attracted to a new iPhone model (could happen with the iPhone6) I'll give my current iPhone4 to some family member.
Then I'll buy from Apple an unlocked iPhone? and run it on the $30 prepaid plan,
which covers my needs very well thanks to free WiFi almost everywhere.
My mother is a great example, still rocking iPhone 4 yet she could have used free upgrade to get into either 4S or 5C at this point. And still be eligible for upgrade when 6 is released.
I strongly recommend ebay for anyone that has some time to get what your phone is truly worth!
Look, no one is saying eBay isn't a bad choice for you, but to call people that don't use eBay lazy is just ridiculous. I use it for certain things, but when it comes to my iPhone the value of convenience is very high.
I'd be more likely to sell to Apple if they made clear that all working phones are reused, meaning acquired by someone else. But their vague chatter about 'reuse and recycle' leaves me with a disturbing feeling that all but the newest ones are on a fast track to becoming milk bottles and pop cans.