Apple Canada iPhone Recycling / Trade-in Program - DETAILS
Hey guys,
Just thought I'd share my own experience with the Apple iPhone recycling / trade-in program as there seems to be very vague and limited information online (at least during the time when I decided to do it)
As you may know, in March 2014, Apple decided to extend their iPhone trade-in program to Canada, whereas it was only available in USA before.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/apple ... -1.2567210
As the program name suggests, they give you in-store credit for trading in your old iPhones; anywhere up to $275 CAD.
HOWEVER, HERE ARE THE FEW DETAILS THEY DON'T MENTION UNTIL YOU BRING YOUR PHONE TO THE APPLE STORE:
1) the store credit can ONLY be used towards purchase of ANOTHER IPHONE. So no, you CANNOT use it to buy ANYTHING ELSE at the Apple store.
2) the store credit they give you needs to be USED IMMEDIATELY at the point you trade-in your old iPhone; meaning you DO NOT get some sort of gift card with a store credit on it for future use. No, you HAVE TO BUY THE NEW IPHONE RIGHT AWAY SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO TRADE-IN YOUR OLD IPHONE.
3) the iPhone that you buy with them MUST IMMEDIATELY BE OPENED AND ACTIVATED WITH A CARRIER (ya... I know, it's stupid). So no, if you wanted to buy one for a gift... tough luck. Unless the person you're gifting is with you and can allow you to activate their number on the new iPhone immediately.
Basically, as explained by the Apple employee, the way it works is Apple contracted a 3rd party company who's agreed to take all these used iPhones; that company sets a guideline in the form of an App that Apple employees follow in determining how much they can give you for your iPhone (based on model and condition of the phone)
When I brought in my iPhone 4 (32GB) Black (no scratch or dents. but has an internal antenna problem where calls drop fairly frequently), the store employee basically told me that the check-list they have on things to check for are as follows:
- there is no physical damage other than reasonable wear and tear (mines was mint condition)
- that its NOT jailbroken
- and that the screen basically turns on and the touchscreen is functional
Didn't ask, nor give me the chance to discuss my antenna problem. And told me based on my model of the iPhone 4, and the condition it was in (highest rating): I would get $75.
So as you may expect, I really can't see anyone realistically ever getting the full $275 since you'll probably have to trade in a iPhone 5S 64GB for that... and since you can't use the credit to buy anything else but an iPhone... the highest model you can buy with the credit is the exact same phone you just traded in (plus the extra few hundred $$ Apple would be happy to charge you for the NEW iPhone of course)
Furthermore the whole mandatory activation thing is just weird. Even the Apple store employee said so themselves but they have to just "follow the rules". They did mention that their system allows them to login and check, based on your phone number, with any of the major carriers to see if you are due for a phone upgrade yet. If you are, then they can use that towards your new iPhone as well.
For example, lets say you're with Rogers, you're due for a phone upgrade with them and can get a new iPhone 5S 16gb for $300 if you agree to extend your contract another 2 years... the price would be $300 minus whatever you got in credit for your traded-in iPhone. But they have to activate it right away and Apple basically helps you renew your contract with your carrier. As much as that sucks, cause they're forcing you to still buy the phone right away, it sort of makes sense.
WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, is why in my case, I told them explicitly that I DO NOT WANT TO TOUCH MY CONTRACT, and that I am paying off the new iPhone straight out with cash (minus my $75 credit of course) that they still said they have to open and activate the phone before they let me leave the store. They said it's somehow the terms of the agreement they've done with all the major carriers; that this program HAS to be done in the form of an upgrade or something, even if you decide to pay for it yourself and not renew/extend your contract with your carrier.
I still ended up going through with it anyway because it's my father's iPhone and he really wanted the new 5S. But personally if you ask me... just stick it on RFD Forums or Kijiji and you'll likely get more for it in cash, which you can use to buy 1000 timbits for all anyone cares. Unless, of course, there's something wrong with your phone, then I guess anything is better than nothing... even if its from Apple.
Hope this helps.
Just thought I'd share my own experience with the Apple iPhone recycling / trade-in program as there seems to be very vague and limited information online (at least during the time when I decided to do it)
As you may know, in March 2014, Apple decided to extend their iPhone trade-in program to Canada, whereas it was only available in USA before.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/apple ... -1.2567210
As the program name suggests, they give you in-store credit for trading in your old iPhones; anywhere up to $275 CAD.
HOWEVER, HERE ARE THE FEW DETAILS THEY DON'T MENTION UNTIL YOU BRING YOUR PHONE TO THE APPLE STORE:
1) the store credit can ONLY be used towards purchase of ANOTHER IPHONE. So no, you CANNOT use it to buy ANYTHING ELSE at the Apple store.
2) the store credit they give you needs to be USED IMMEDIATELY at the point you trade-in your old iPhone; meaning you DO NOT get some sort of gift card with a store credit on it for future use. No, you HAVE TO BUY THE NEW IPHONE RIGHT AWAY SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO TRADE-IN YOUR OLD IPHONE.
3) the iPhone that you buy with them MUST IMMEDIATELY BE OPENED AND ACTIVATED WITH A CARRIER (ya... I know, it's stupid). So no, if you wanted to buy one for a gift... tough luck. Unless the person you're gifting is with you and can allow you to activate their number on the new iPhone immediately.
Basically, as explained by the Apple employee, the way it works is Apple contracted a 3rd party company who's agreed to take all these used iPhones; that company sets a guideline in the form of an App that Apple employees follow in determining how much they can give you for your iPhone (based on model and condition of the phone)
When I brought in my iPhone 4 (32GB) Black (no scratch or dents. but has an internal antenna problem where calls drop fairly frequently), the store employee basically told me that the check-list they have on things to check for are as follows:
- there is no physical damage other than reasonable wear and tear (mines was mint condition)
- that its NOT jailbroken
- and that the screen basically turns on and the touchscreen is functional
Didn't ask, nor give me the chance to discuss my antenna problem. And told me based on my model of the iPhone 4, and the condition it was in (highest rating): I would get $75.
So as you may expect, I really can't see anyone realistically ever getting the full $275 since you'll probably have to trade in a iPhone 5S 64GB for that... and since you can't use the credit to buy anything else but an iPhone... the highest model you can buy with the credit is the exact same phone you just traded in (plus the extra few hundred $$ Apple would be happy to charge you for the NEW iPhone of course)
Furthermore the whole mandatory activation thing is just weird. Even the Apple store employee said so themselves but they have to just "follow the rules". They did mention that their system allows them to login and check, based on your phone number, with any of the major carriers to see if you are due for a phone upgrade yet. If you are, then they can use that towards your new iPhone as well.
For example, lets say you're with Rogers, you're due for a phone upgrade with them and can get a new iPhone 5S 16gb for $300 if you agree to extend your contract another 2 years... the price would be $300 minus whatever you got in credit for your traded-in iPhone. But they have to activate it right away and Apple basically helps you renew your contract with your carrier. As much as that sucks, cause they're forcing you to still buy the phone right away, it sort of makes sense.
WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, is why in my case, I told them explicitly that I DO NOT WANT TO TOUCH MY CONTRACT, and that I am paying off the new iPhone straight out with cash (minus my $75 credit of course) that they still said they have to open and activate the phone before they let me leave the store. They said it's somehow the terms of the agreement they've done with all the major carriers; that this program HAS to be done in the form of an upgrade or something, even if you decide to pay for it yourself and not renew/extend your contract with your carrier.
I still ended up going through with it anyway because it's my father's iPhone and he really wanted the new 5S. But personally if you ask me... just stick it on RFD Forums or Kijiji and you'll likely get more for it in cash, which you can use to buy 1000 timbits for all anyone cares. Unless, of course, there's something wrong with your phone, then I guess anything is better than nothing... even if its from Apple.
Hope this helps.