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Apple launching new broken iPhone upgrade, screen protector installation programs

IPhone-lineup-2016

Apple is gearing up to launch a pair of new retail initiatives centered around the iPhone: an upgraded iPhone trade-in program for iPhones with damaged screens, cameras, or buttons, and a new program that allows Apple Retail Stores to install screen protectors on iPhones.

The Apple Store Reuse and Recycle iPhone trade-in program currently allows a customer to bring in an older iPhone model and trade it in for credit toward the purchase of a new iPhone model. The main exception since the launch of the program is that this does not apply toward older iPhones with cracked displays, or broken cameras and buttons. That’s about to change …

Starting this week, the updated program will allow Apple Stores to give credit for iPhone 5s and iPhone 6/6 Plus units with damaged displays, cameras, and buttons within reason. Apple believes that this new program will encourage new iPhone upgrades versus a standard iPhone screen repair.

In some cases, buying a new iPhone could be cheaper when combining subsidies and financing plans with the credit given for the traded-in device. This makes the new program beneficial to both Apple and customers as it will help Apple sell new phones and let customers save more money on an updated device.

Sources say that the current trade-in values for this program are: $50 for a 5s, $200 for a 6, and $250 for a 6 Plus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8am_K24Nj0

Also involving iPhone displays, all Apple Stores will start offering official plastic screen protector installations on iPhones in the coming weeks. The program began rolling out in select stores today.

Apple has partnered with at least one screen protector maker (Belkin) to bring dedicated screen protector installation machines to the back of stores. Before this new program, Apple Stores were told to not perform screen protector installations on customer iPhones given the possibility of the installation of a third-party product not going smoothly.

If the installation via the new machine results in an error, Apple will offer a free screen protector replacement and re-attempt the installation. Above is a video demonstration of a Belkin screen protector machine that is similar to the ones that Apple will begin putting in its retail stores.

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Comments

  1. applegetridofsimandjack - 8 years ago

    Installing a screen protector is such a challenge. That is if you want to prevent dust from getting between the protector and the display.

    Today by coincidence, I installed a tempered glass screen protector. I took a shower and did it immediatelly afterwards, in the bathroom. A steamy room really helps as it catches durst in the air.

    So I hope that people who apply those screen protectors are good at it. Because it realy requires patience to prevent that friking dust from getting stuck in between.

    • ibanks3 - 8 years ago

      It’s really not that hard. A simple piece of scotch tape is all that’s needed. Take the tape and go across the entire screen to collect the dust, place tempered glass and use the tape to collect the small collection of dust under the glass protector.

    • mzaur8 - 8 years ago

      Having attempted to put several tempered glass screen protectors on mine and family’s 6s’s the issue is not glass.. But rather the issue is putting it on perfectly straight and in line so that there is no rainbow edge or halo effect. Due to the curved glass of the iPhone, you don’t have much room for error to get it right

    • Rayan Badawi - 8 years ago

      Just so you know, steam is terrible for your iPhone. You should avoid having it in the bathroom with you while you shower. Steam creates moisture which gets inside the phone. I apply my screen protector in a leather interior car, or just wait till the dust settles in off car that has cloth seats. Best to do it in a dry environment trust me.

      • “Steam creates moisture” You must be a scientist with years of studies under your belt! And even better than in your car is in a tent! Whenever I go camping I make sure to bring along all my friends iPhones so I can install fresh screen protectors for them. One before bed each night. You also have to make sure it is a blue tent, the color helps you to see if you have any kinks or creases. And last, but not least, make sure you are sitting on at least a 2″ thick foam pad to cushion the entire installation. I have perfected these steps over the years since the original iPhone back in 2007. It takes some practive but you will get it!

    • You’re doing it wrong. No, seriously :) Put tape on the screen protector. Position it perfectly. Tape it down (to the phone). Remove the backing, and let it stick. The tape will ensure it is perfectly aligned.

    • spitfire - 8 years ago

      How about using a [glass screen protector](http://www.dx.com/p/348049?Utm_rid=18005106&Utm_source=affiliate)?

    • Never worry about those complications again with screen protectors. LiquidNano is the best liquid screen protector ever. Watch as we test it against a 3 lb Maul. No other product has ever shown this durability. Don’t believe me watch the videos here on our Kickstarter Campaign page http://www.liquidnano.net

  2. opiapr - 8 years ago

    I don’t get screen protectors. The one I see make the phone look horrible.

    I put my iPhone on my pockets, backpack and all over the place and do not have a single scratch on it.

  3. Jon C (@JonCBK) - 8 years ago

    Lame prices. I imagine that even a very messed up iPhone with a cracked screen will pull a better price on Craigs list than these amounts. Apple is leaving money on the table by not taking over the iPhone repair business. Apple should be able to beat any repair facilities price by doing volume and having access to the parts at wholesale prices. So Apple should give customers a GREAT trade in value so that Apple can use this advantage at high. Imagine if you could drop your iPhone 6, have a busted screen, walk into an Apple store and get a credit of $300 toward an iPhone 6 plus. Apple then fixes up that 6 (cost for Apple $50) and sells it as a refurb for $450. Not much profit on the repair part of the transaction I know, but it builds customer loyalty, Apple gets a margin on the iPhone 6s that they would not have sold if the customer had gotten their iPhone 6 repaired, and the refurb goes on to become the phone of another user of iOS App store and other Apple revenue streams.

  4. Anthony Wolfe - 8 years ago

    You can sell an iPhone 6 on eBay for $400. Who on earth would go to apple 1st to lose 200. Convenience isn’t that costly

    • “trade-in program for iPhones with damaged screens, cameras, or buttons” – For an iPhone 6 with a broken screen 200 bucks is not too bad for a 0 hassle convenience..

      • Checked eBay – iPhone 6 with a broken screen goes for about 250-300.. Makes their program seem even better..

  5. The iPhone 7 should come with a glass “screen protector” already installed – in reality, a 2-part glass screen, designed to look like a single piece.
    When people scratch their phones, they’d have the option of a cheap first-party screen replacement.

  6. just when i thought the rumors of an indestructible iphone 7 screen were real.

  7. David Casteel - 8 years ago

    Apple Stores have been installing screen protectors for a couple years at least. I used to work at one and the specialists would install the one’s they sold there all the time.

  8. H Hammons (@hhh50) - 8 years ago

    seriously flash is required

  9. acjeffers - 8 years ago

    I traded in my shattered screen iPhone 4s towards the purchase of an iPhone 5s at the time that phone just came out. This is hardly a new service.

  10. Anuj Vohra - 8 years ago

    OK. I am a die hard apple fan. BUT, Apple is getting desperate for sales as the iPhone market is getting saturated. Facts are below:
    1. If you crack your screen and you get it repaired after market, you will get the infamous error 53 that will pretty much brick your phone.
    2. If you are past 1 year and you go to the “Genius” bar and ask them to replace the screen, they will try to upsell you to buy another phone because the your phone may get “bricked during calibration process”. So you cannot go aftermarket and you cannot go to apple. You are out of luck
    3. Then they come out with this “Let us do you poor consumers a favor and let you trade in your cracked screen phone, which is otherwise in perfect working order.” offer
    Come on @TIMCOOK. START innovating again and STOP screwing your customers to get your stock price back up. Times I wish Steve was alive. He would have killed someone for pulling a stunt like this. [END OF RANT]

  11. Angel Nguyen - 8 years ago

    at singapore , where i can change my iphone 6 plus (die motherboard) ? Everybody can give me address apple store?Thanks!

    • acjeffers - 8 years ago

      My phone fell so hard on concrete yesterday, I was expecting it to not only be completely shattered, but rendered unusable. Only the Zagg screen protector suffered damage. I did not believe in my Zagg privacy glass until now. I’ve previously complained about having replaced the glass protector 8 times in the past year because of breakage.

  12. The shatterproof, flexible glass provides an extremely hard yet bendable surface that is flexible enough to provide a perfect bubble free fit to your screen while providing maximum protection from impacts and scratches.
    ……………………………………………

    http://www.amazon.in/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=feye+iphone+tempered+glass&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Afeye+iphone+tempered+glass