Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Community > MacNN Lounge > What's with everyone suddenly taking smartphone trade-ins?

What's with everyone suddenly taking smartphone trade-ins?
Thread Tools
Laminar
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 12, 2013, 08:06 PM
 
All of a sudden, Apple, Verizon, Radio Shack, and more are accepting smartphone trade-ins.

Did they just now decide it's profitable?

Is this the first time in history that two year old phones haven't been completely worthless?

Has this been going on forever and I've been too stupid to notice?
     
iMOTOR
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: San Diego
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 12, 2013, 08:08 PM
 
And where are these phones going? Are they sending them to China?
     
shifuimam
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The deep backwoods of the PNW
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 12, 2013, 08:59 PM
 
There have been online trade-in services for awhile now.

Most old phones are only worth $10 or so in these programs, though. That's the part they don't tell you.
Sell or send me your vintage Mac things if you don't want them.
     
andi*pandi
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 12, 2013, 09:19 PM
 
Originally Posted by iMOTOR View Post
And where are these phones going? Are they sending them to China?
They are selling them on eBay.

</dr steve>
#obscurereference
     
Shaddim
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: 46 & 2
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 13, 2013, 12:10 AM
 
All those refurbished Moto Droids you see on ebay? That's where they come from.
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine
     
subego
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 13, 2013, 12:24 AM
 
I'm thinking one-year development cycle meeting two-year contracts.

Also, stupidity. Every plan I've heard sounds like a scam.
     
Laminar  (op)
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 13, 2013, 12:28 AM
 
Originally Posted by shifuimam View Post
There have been online trade-in services for awhile now.

Most old phones are only worth $10 or so in these programs, though. That's the part they don't tell you.
Yes, rip-offs like Gazelle have existed for a while. But all of a sudden in the past month or so it seems that OEMs and actual carriers are taking trade-ins. That's what I'm asking about.
     
Laminar  (op)
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 13, 2013, 12:33 AM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
I'm thinking one-year development cycle meeting two-year contracts.

Also, stupidity. Every plan I've heard sounds like a scam.
Radio Shack and Verizon both quoted me $100 for an iPhone 4. There a bunch listed on my local Craigslist for ~$100. Is $50 worth avoiding the hassle and potential robbery/rape of Craigslist? Maybe.
     
subego
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 13, 2013, 12:43 AM
 
Originally Posted by Laminar View Post
Yes, rip-offs like Gazelle have existed for a while. But all of a sudden in the past month or so it seems that OEMs and actual carriers are taking trade-ins. That's what I'm asking about.
Is Gazelle a rip or are you paying for low-friction?
     
Laminar  (op)
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 13, 2013, 01:20 AM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Is Gazelle a rip or are you paying for low-friction?
They offered me $15 for a 16GB iPod Touch, I sold it on CL for $85.

I haven't priced checked anything with them since.

edit: Gazelle offers $75 for a "flawless" iPhone 4 16GB on Verizon

edit 2: Gazelle offers $325 for a "flawless" iPhone 5 16GB on Verizon, Radio Shack offers $250, Verizon offers $300.
( Last edited by Laminar; Sep 13, 2013 at 01:34 AM. )
     
Shaddim
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: 46 & 2
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 13, 2013, 01:30 AM
 
The only thing I can figure Gazelle is doing is helping launder stolen goods, offering an easy buck with no questions.
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine
     
subego
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 13, 2013, 01:48 AM
 
Still seems like a relatively decent deal to me. Tack on an extra 10% from promo codes and Amazon money.
     
mindwaves
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Irvine, CA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 13, 2013, 02:01 AM
 
MS is offering a $200 iPad trade-in now.

http://legacy.macnn.com/articles/13/...ad.of.upgrade/
( Last edited by mindwaves; Sep 13, 2013 at 03:46 AM. )
     
andi*pandi
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 13, 2013, 11:06 AM
 
Huh. They must be getting desperate?

Last night in the mall, walked past a tiny Apple store (our area has tons) and a huge Microsoft store, 2 doors away. The microsoft store was empty, one person and the employees were standing in the doorway. The apple store was of course crowded.

</anecdotal evidence>
     
The Final Dakar
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 13, 2013, 11:31 AM
 
Originally Posted by Laminar View Post
All of a sudden, Apple, Verizon, Radio Shack, and more are accepting smartphone trade-ins.

Did they just now decide it's profitable?

Is this the first time in history that two year old phones haven't been completely worthless?

Has this been going on forever and I've been too stupid to notice?
It coincides with the early upgrade plans.
     
turtle777
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: planning a comeback !
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Sep 14, 2013, 10:14 AM
 
Originally Posted by andi*pandi View Post
Huh. They must be getting desperate?

Last night in the mall, walked past a tiny Apple store (our area has tons) and a huge Microsoft store, 2 doors away. The microsoft store was empty, one person and the employees were standing in the doorway. The apple store was of course crowded.

</anecdotal evidence>
The Microsoft store is the dog house for badly behaving Apple employees.

</anecdotal evidence>

-t
     
   
Thread Tools
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:35 PM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,