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Apple Stores launch in-store iPad trade-in program on Earth Day

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In its continued full-court Earth Day press, Apple is expanding its Reuse & Recycling program to help responsibly recycle more devices and get current generation devices into the hands of more customers.

As of this morning, the iPad is now eligible for the in-store Reuse & Recycling program at Apple Retail Store locations that allows customers to receive credit for their aging Apple devices. In the past, customers could only receive trade-in credit for iPhones. Also new, Apple will now allow iPhone or iPad trade-in credit to be used on cross products. That means you can trade-in an eligible iPhone and use that credit towards the purchase of a new iPad. Previously, iPhone trade-in credit could only be used to buy a new iPhone.

Apple Specialists have received a list of 22 criteria that can be used to evaluate if a device is eligible for trade. Issues that would automatically make a device ineligible include: non-Apple parts, jailbroken devices that cannot be restored, Find My iPhone cannot be disabled, and several others.

iPads will be graded even more closely, and some flaws that would pass on an iPhone are not accepted for an iPad. For instance, Apple will accept an iPhone with a cracked screen but not an iPad. Notably, Apple will not accept trade-ins of current devices (iPad Air, iPad mini w/ Retina, and iPhone 5c/5s) or retired devices (iPhone 1/3G/3Gs and iPad 1).

An Apple internal document regarding this change reads:

Beginning today, Reuse and Recycling for iPad is now available for U.S. and Canada customers.

Just like for iPhone, customers can bring in their iPad to upgrade toward the purchase of a new one. That’s not all.

Customers can also upgrade across devices. They can credit an iPad toward an iPhone purchase, and vice versa.

Customers can combine trade-in values of one iPad and one iPhone but “cannot apply two of the same device to one Reuse & Recycle purchase,” according to a separate internal document. Exact trade-in values will be determined by Apple specialists using their EasyPay mobile POS devices.

To clarify, Apple will now “responsibly recycle” any of its devices regardless of condition or age, but only some iPads and iPhones are eligible for trade-in credit.

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Comments

  1. Richard Stephens - 10 years ago

    I love my Apple stuff: my computer, my laptop, my iPad, my vintage iTouch. But they do have some policies that tick me off:

    Notably, Apple will not accept trade-ins of current devices (iPad Air, iPad mini w/ Retina, and iPhone 5c/5s) or retired devices (iPhone 1/3G/3Gs and iPad 1).

    Thank God for eBay!!!

    • Mike Harm - 10 years ago

      This proves that Apple is simply looking to resell the devices or refurbish. There’s no recycling going on… That wouldn’t bother me in the slightest if they weren’t disguising the program under an eco flag…

      • Tallest Skil - 10 years ago

        Look at all this proof you have…

        Stop lying.

      • You need to stop lying to yourself. He’s correct AND you know it.

      • Refurb for re-sale/re-use is by definition recycling, so what is your point? It is more eco than breaking the device down and manufacturing a new one, and certainly more eco than landfill android phones which will never have a second user.

      • squenix18 - 10 years ago

        THANK YOU! Maybe he will realize the obvious contradictions in his own statement.

      • squenix18 - 10 years ago

        Lol funny when people talk out the side of their neck . This isn’t proof of anything. However, proof of the contrary can be found through Brightstar the same company that facilitates almost every other electronic trade in program offered by electronics retailers nationwide. Parts are recycled or disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. So like she said you can stop lying.

      • rlowhit - 10 years ago

        Its always more interesting to believe in rumors and conspiracy theories than facts.

      • Mark Choi - 10 years ago

        No he is NOT correct. What part of “Apple will now “responsibly recycle” any of its devices regardless of condition or age, but only some iPads and iPhones are eligible for trade-in credit” do you not understand?
        Oh wait, all of it?

    • Apple will actually accept older devices as well, but you won’t get much money for them (e.g. $55 for an iPad 1.)

      http://store.apple.com/us/browse/reuse_and_recycle

  2. THE BLONDY (@THEBLONDY3) - 10 years ago

    ..IN TO COME MOVE
    LIVE THE MOMENT.
    KEEP AT IT !
    PLUCK ON ENTICE.
    ” THERE IS A EVERYTHING
    LIVE, IN 1 MINUTE
    IN THE LOVE ” !
    .
    .
    ………………………VALENTINO

  3. How much could one expect to receive for a 16GB iPad Mini without flaws?

    • Dan DeSilva - 10 years ago

      I would check completed listings on eBay to get a good sense of its current market value.

  4. querbi - 10 years ago

    Just went to the Apple store with my Ipad1… The guy said: ” the offer for you is that we will not charge you for recycling your ipad… To get a credit you need a recent one… ” I don’t get it, who wants to recycle a recent ipad!?

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