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Other Am I asking for trouble with Phobio?
- Thread starter satchmo
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I'd say it depends on what value you place on your time. If the 3 or 4 hours (or more) you would spend dealing with a Phobio problem is worth more than $150, then it's better to go with the Apple trade-in. Also, from what I've read here, the $150 isn't guaranteed. It sounds like Phobio often reduces its offers after it "inspects" your device.
All trade-in programs inspect the devices before they pay customers.
So if your phone is not in condition you claim, the price will get changed.
My suggestion is: whichever program has live support agents available, give them a try.
So if your phone is not in condition you claim, the price will get changed.
My suggestion is: whichever program has live support agents available, give them a try.
I sent in my AW S0 a few years ago for $80 since I wanted to get rid of it but didn’t wanna throw it away. Yes there were minor scratches on the screen but that was about it, and I even checked that box. Didn’t change my value at all
Long story short, I sent it in and they told me that it won’t power on cause it’s not “charging” and that it’s worth $0. I know that is NOT true at all since I restored the whole thing and turned it on just to be sure before I sent it off. I even sent them pictures/videos. So I ask for my watch back, funny thing is when I put it on my charger it started charging right away.
I spoke to Apple specialist via chat.
I asked if I brought the phone to a retail Apple store, would they match the quote Phobio gave.
She said yes.
However, she also said Phobio processes the trade-ins, so ultimately, the quote may inevitably change.
I have no need to falsify it’s condition. I have a concern with them being subjectively biased.
I just recently did an Apple Trade in physically at a store, it's just so much easier.
After reading the endless nightmare experiences some have had with Phobio, I went to my store the week they allowed in store shopping. You still have to make an appointment.
Apple's inspection is all of seeing if it still works, getting your serial number, and they give you the price. It's on you to take it or leave it. They don't pour over your device looking for dents & scratches like supposedly Phobio does and seems to find even if it didn't exist when you sent your device to them. If you don't mind a trip, I say go to an Apple store if you can. You aren't obligated to take the price. So if you don't care for it, refuse, and take your chances with Phobio.
I now have the money towards a new iMac, and got a break towards the new Beats Buds. I heartily recommend if you can do in store, do it. You may not make as much money back, but I feel if you mess-up in wiping your data or anything, I trust Apple with wiping again over anyone else.
Hi satchmo,
Thank you for reaching out with your concerns about our trade-in program. I would love to speak with you and answer any questions that you may have about our process. At your convenience, will you please contact me directly at ArthurA@phobio.com? I look forward to speaking with you soon.
-Arthur
Thank you CarterBurke!! I also recommend that our potential customers contact us with any questions that they may have. We can be reached at 1-800-353-9028 or phobiosupport.com.
Thanks for your suggestion. I will certainly try this first.
It can't hurt, if you have the option at your disposal.
On top of that, you are handed your gift card on the spot, no waiting.
The only risk, is avoiding the temptation to use it on the spot in the store if it's a considerable amount.
For me, it meant getting the new Apple TV remote, because it happened to be the price of one of the ( they give you a gift card for each individual item you trade in, if you trade in multiple items like I did ) gift cards in my hand.
I used Phobio twice within the last year, and had good experience with them. Not sure if this makes a difference but I used them via Costco website to trade-in/sell two of my older systems - (MacBook Air and iMac)
I traded in my MacBook Air on apples website towards my iMac and it’s been about 2 weeks since Phobio received it and I’m still awaiting word from them about a trade in value. I didn’t know I could trade it in at the Apple store.
What does it say when you use their online status system? you can also call them and inquire about status.
I used the Apple store app on my phone and it still says Inspecting Your Device. I don’t have a confirmation number to use on their website.
Have you tried calling Phobio? There’s also a member here on MR who is Phobio support. See details in this thread.
I've sent in macbooks, mac minis, iphones and ipads and got full quote on all. 10 or so in all in the past year or so.
I wouldn't be scared of the recent coverage of a few complaints. The scale at which Apple operates is huge.
In my experience it took 4-5 days to get a box. 4-5 days for them to confirm receipt after I shipped. A few days to be told the device was accepted for quoted price. And then 4-5 days for them to email the gift card to me.
I wouldn't be scared of the recent coverage of a few complaints. The scale at which Apple operates is huge.
In my experience it took 4-5 days to get a box. 4-5 days for them to confirm receipt after I shipped. A few days to be told the device was accepted for quoted price. And then 4-5 days for them to email the gift card to me.
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My understanding was that Phobio is in fact Apple’s trade in partner. So it’s kind of strange to get two separate quotes.
my own experience trading in wasn’t the best. Traded in two phones to upgrade myself and a family member to 11 pros. First time using Apple’s trade in system. One device was fine the other device never processed a return despite showing received and scanned by FedEx. After many many many chats and calls with apple it was determined that the device was somehow lost despite showing scanned and received. I would toss it up to it being a heavy time for trade ins since the new iPhone had just been released.
Eventually I was given the credit from apple and that speaks to my experience in general with apple as a company - most of the time their customer service will do their best to make things right
still the experience turns me off of trade in in general. Is a bit more leg work but I prefer to sell direct to a Facebook marketplace or Craigslist buyer and get cash immediately
the other thing Apple loves to do is give part of your credit in gift card form. If you read Apple’s fine print they say some of your trade in May be in the form of a gift card. And sure enough each time 40 dollars of my credit for trade in was in gift cards. This is also annoying as it just ensures that you’re forced to buy something else at Apple with some of your trade in money. Cheap move imo
my own experience trading in wasn’t the best. Traded in two phones to upgrade myself and a family member to 11 pros. First time using Apple’s trade in system. One device was fine the other device never processed a return despite showing received and scanned by FedEx. After many many many chats and calls with apple it was determined that the device was somehow lost despite showing scanned and received. I would toss it up to it being a heavy time for trade ins since the new iPhone had just been released.
Eventually I was given the credit from apple and that speaks to my experience in general with apple as a company - most of the time their customer service will do their best to make things right
still the experience turns me off of trade in in general. Is a bit more leg work but I prefer to sell direct to a Facebook marketplace or Craigslist buyer and get cash immediately
the other thing Apple loves to do is give part of your credit in gift card form. If you read Apple’s fine print they say some of your trade in May be in the form of a gift card. And sure enough each time 40 dollars of my credit for trade in was in gift cards. This is also annoying as it just ensures that you’re forced to buy something else at Apple with some of your trade in money. Cheap move imo
I recently trade two phone with them and had zero issues. Although it did take longer than I expected. From the day that tracking info showed the phone as delivered until the day I received the Apple gift card arrived in email, it was almost 6 business days, much longer than the 1 or 2 days that I experienced with similar smartphone trade-ins.(Verizon and Amazon, both took less than 2 business days to issue gift cards)
The other strange thing is that on Apple's official trade-in page, they don't accept all phones.... for example, I tried to trade-in a Samsung phone. The top of the page where you can order a phone and trade old phones in at the same time... tghe list of phones didn't include that Samsung model.
However, I scrolled to the bottom of that page with the Photo/Apple Gift Card trade-in, the phone was right there. (no new iPhone purchased was required, since they gave me the quote in Apple Gift Card) It was a really high trade-in quote, so I immediately jumped on it.
Does that mean Apple has two different trade-in programs? Or do they have two different companies doing trade-ins? (one requiring new iPhone purchase and not the other) If's kind of like the Apple financing from a couple of years ago.. on the same page, there's the upgrade program, and then two different financing options(Citizens and Barclay) all on the same page.
Hi @BlueMoose,
Thank you for reaching out to inquire about Apple's trade-in programs. As it turns out, there are two separate trade-in options. One is a trade attached to a purchase and the other is a trade without a purchase. The trade with purchase offers either an instant credit or a refund credit back to your credit cards. The trade without purchase program offers an Apple Gift Card that can be used towards any Apple purchase. We would love to answer any questions that you may have. You may contact me directly at ArthurA@phobio.com. I look forward to assisting you.
All the best,
-Arthur