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Apple Extends Its Trade-In Program
Mark Wilson writes "Earlier in the month it was reveal that Apple was about to start offering gift cards as part of a trade-in program for people buying new a new iPhone. The updated program has now gone live so you can take your old Apple device, or non-Apple smartphone to an Apple store, or mail it in to receive credit. The credit can be used in store or online against the purchase of a new Apple device, and this program expansion is the latest move from Apple to try to tempt users away from other platforms. You can check online to see how much you can expect to receive for your existing phone and decide whether it's worth your while. Hint: it might not be.
I am so excited by this new and innovative scheme from Apple. It really just shows us yet again that they are at the cutting edge of technology. It is incredible that nobody has thought of this before, and just goes to show how well placed our confidence is in Tim and the team. And they are also so tolerant of minorities. And treat their workers well.
Earlier this morning it was reveal that the Slashdot editors not proofread submitted post.
The updated program has now gone live so you can take your old Apple device, or non-Apple smartphone to an Apple store, or mail it in to receive credit.
thanks for post.
I don't see this being an advantage for ANYONE:
1. iPhone owners with an older model will get so little credit towards a new phone that they'll think twice before upgrading.
2. Apple fanboys will buy the newest iPhone, trade-in or no trade-in.
3. Android users with fancy devices (Note 4, S6) are fanboys and it'll be a cold day in hell before they switch to Apple.
4. People with regular mid-end Android devices -- see #1 above.
5. Blackberry users generally have company-issued phones, so they're not going to trade them.
6. Windows Phone users are drinking the MS Kool Aid (tm) and anxiously waiting for Windows 10 and the secomd coming of Jesus.
7. The trade-in program isn't available in developing countries yet, where Windows Phones are sold as budget devices (low end models only, of course).
8. So, who's left? Maybe all 3 people who bought a Firefox OS phone?
It will still remain money hogger with no benefit at all.
I traded in a previous gen iPhone, I got enough to pay for AppleCare for two new phones. That happened on the spot, I don't see how that is any kind of "disadvantage".
You can get more selling a device yourself for sure. But that's a lot of hassle, ant not everyone has eBay accounts.
You can also get a little more selling to other companies that will give you cash for older phones. But not much more, and it takes a little longer than simply getting credit for Apple when your goal is to buy something new from Apple anyway...
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Just like with Game Stop trade-ins... It's simply not worth it.
Wait, so we are hating on Apple for giving us more options now?
Sticking my neck out here as a former marketing droid, Dyed in the wool fanboys will never drop apple without a knock-down drag-out fight. the problem apple faces is theyre in the same market as CocaCola and Phillip Morris: Users who use the brand are their most ardent and loyal, but new customers are next to impossible to attract. Part of this is the fact that Apple doesnt do a great job of understanding why customers of Android dont engage their brand, but part of it is also the fact that what they offer isnt distinct enough from what already exists at a lower pricepoint. Whats worse is that as time goes on, and evidence amasses, it becomes easier to ween fans away from the product. Apple does a decent job of whats called 'customer maintenance,' a fancy term for brand reinforcement, but throwing fistfuls of trade-in cash at the problem is an old automotive technique thats basically a wash unless you have something like cash for clunkers.
cue the flamebait moddown but i feel like it should be stated: its not a death spiral by any means, more like a slow death for the brand. There are ways to stop it though, pretty easy ones in fact. Coca Cola just bought up the brands that were outselling it overseas, and started buying out bottling and distribution for other local brands in the states that wouldnt sell. Phillip Morris and apple are a lot alike in that theyre both highly litigious when it comes to their product. PM sues for relaxed smoking taxes and legislation, apple sues for patent violations from importers. Another outlier that apple could emulate is Harley Davidson. Instead of competing in the market, harley just lobbied to have a massive import tarrif levied against imported motorcycles above a certain similar-to-harley size.
Good people go to bed earlier.
before
Sorry. I liked skeuomorphism, and you stole it from me. (My carrier wouldn't work without that carrier update... that I had to upgrade to your flat iOS crap to get.) Computer graphics took engineering toil and sweat for decades to make displays that could bedazzle dying ants... and you throw all of that away because it's old and boring. Hipster fucks.
Every time you fix something that's wrong with iTunes, you break fifteen other things. Your iPhone music app won't play podcasts worth a damn -- Apple darn near invented podcasting, you blind fools. Someone might forgive the way it looks if it works right, but you've apparently fired the programmers who made anything work and replaced them with designers who think everything should look like the cum rag at clown bukkake night.
And to see the Apple CEO ranting about Indiana politics... it doesn't even matter if I agree with you, you miserable fuckwit, mind your own damn business and fix your damn products!!!!!
My next phone will be whatever they shit out with Windows 10 on it -- because Apple has finally succeeded in making Microsoft look good by comparison!
I think in this world of technology ecosystems. Its far more involved then just trading in a Android phone, or Windows phone, even a iPhone can cause people some problems. Those who fail at backing up pictures or personal files of any kind, or those who have much vested in Apps from another ecosystem. Its not like you can just switch them over. No I consider a mobile device ecosystem switch a divorce that can go easily or can get ugly. Read any smart phone forum and you will find plenty of disenchanted switchers who lost a whole lot of stuff that they thought would simply and magically move over. If your a person who wants to save themselves a lot of grief. Make sure you back up using something other then the default backup route for the mobile OS. Don't be so quick to accept Google's cloud or Apple's cloud solution. Unless you will be inclined to stay put. Use a third party solution capable of moving from one OS to another with ease.
Why would Android users pay to downgrade to an iOS smartphone? Seems a bit pointless.