California-based Apple Inc. held its annual fall Apple event announcement last Tuesday showcasing new iPhones, the next Apple Watch and new iPad variants. Amongst its offerings and services was the promotion of the “Apple Trade In” program.
The Apple Trade In process involves 1) evaluating your current device to determine the value, 2) providing it to Apple (or its partner which it has been outsourced to, and 3) get a credit of the value. If your trade-in is worth more than the new device you are purchasing, Apple offers an “Apple Gift Card” for the difference.
The key benefits for using this program is the ease of handing over your Apple device and then getting a credit for it. Also if your device is destined for the landfill, then Apple will recycle it which is good for the environment.
Questionable Device Evaluations
There isn’t a question that it is convenient to hand over your old device to Apple for a credit towards a new purchase, nor that keeping electronics out of landfills is beneficial for the environment. The current value Apple offers is what is in question. Apple offers an easy reference guide to what it is willing to pay up to.
Real World Evaluation
The famous quote goes something along the lines of “Value is what people are willing to pay for it”. Let’s take the scenario of a typical Apple customer that would like to upgrade their current iPhone and Apple Watch for the latest models announced last Tuesday.
| Current iPhone and Apple Watch | Original Purchase Price | Apple’s Trade-In Offer |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max 512GB | $1,959 | $925* |
| Apple Watch Series 6 44mm Cellular Stainless Steel | $1,049 | $195** |
* Apple’s best-case Estimated trade-in value (the ‘up to’ value)
** As the new ‘Series 7’ is not available yet, Apple indicates “get up to $195 in credit when you trade in your Apple Watch” when purchasing a new watch and this amount was used
The most prolific reselling marketplace would be eBay. Looking for recent sales for the two items above (i.e., selling in the last week and within Canada/USA) identified a similar iPhone sold today for $1,562 and Apple Watch for $733.
~Retail Insider recommends readers thoroughly research the other risks and processes to sell devices on eBay or other marketplaces prior to listing on them. This is not a guide on how to sell your devices, nor is it intended to inform readers on the risks of selling online.~
Just reviewing the basic comparison for the Apple Trade-In value versus recent eBay sales identified:
| Current iPhone and Apple Watch | Recent eBay Sales | Apple’s Trade-In Offer (above) | Difference |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max 512GB | $1,562 | $925 | $637 |
| Apple Watch Series 6 44mm Cellular Stainless Steel | $733 | $195 | $538 |
The combined difference of the eBay sale versus Apple Trade-In ‘best-case’ values were $637 (iPhone) and $538 (Apple Watch). The total loss for the customer in this example would be $1,175.
Is the Apple Trade-In Program Worth It?
While there are environmental benefits mentioned, the scenario above would be embracing the ‘reuse’ aspect of recycling so we’ll set aside that ‘benefit’ mentioned by Apple for now. The main benefit mentioned by Apple for the trade-in program was the convenience.
Let us know in the comments below if you feel that accepting $1,175 less than selling the Apple devices on eBay is worth it.
For the very busiest of Apple consumers, it’s a good deal – because it’s instant. However one should carefully examine devices and their screens for scratches or bumps, before returning them. If there are none, photograph your devices for proof against any reduction of value from the online offer – which can occasionally be mistaken, and quite severe.