Other iPhone Upgrade Program needs to have an activation lock while in transit

[WolfSnap]

Every year, the most stressful part of the iUP program is sending the phone back to Apple. FedEx.

One year, I even had FedEx steal a phone in transit..

We're sending phones back that are completely unlocked and have no activation lock enabled. And, yes, I get a receipt that I dropped off the package, etc. but, why not allow some sort of option to have activation lock "enabled" in such a way that it can be disabled as soon as it safely reaches Apple.

That way, no one at FedEx can steal the phones while in transit -- and if they do, our loss/theft coverage can cover the phone and/or they just end up with a paperweight.

This year I tried to return the phones to a local Apple Store, but the option to accept the phone and close the loan wasn't available. The option was greyed out with a yellow warning triangle on the associate's device for some reason.

So, while FedEx did manage to deliver the box to Apple, my device has been sitting at "Inspecting your iPhone" for over a day now...

Anyways, the whole thing is super frustrating, and stress inducing. If it wasn't such a hassle to sell the phones afterwards, I'd just buy the phones outright and sell them each year instead...

 

[Shirasaki]

Apple would have to have an internal map of warehouses and support centers and have a mode called “sending back to Apple“ where iPhone has location services turned on and find my also on until it reaches one of those predetermined locations. Dunno how battery is going to hold up and how will iOS work for such a special mode.

What could also happen is Apple allows users a few days to get their data transferred from old iPhone to new iPhone during the iUP program process, but the phone must be delivered in person to a nearby Apple Store with ID. So everyone will have a peace of mind. Would be hard for regional and Remote customers I can see but one more way to sort things out.

 

[ant the ninja]

My thought process on it is that Apple has them shipped with insurance so if it does get stolen or destroyed, the loan gets closed out regardless. The phone gets blacklisted and It’s no longer on the consumer at that point.

Has there been anyone on the upgrade program who has had an issues with a sent back device being stolen or lost where apple didn’t just close the loan out with citizens?

I do wish we had the option to just drop them off at Apple (when having the new device shipped), that would make things easier.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I agree with @ant the ninja - "Not my problem" once it ships on Apple's label.

 

[clabern]

Speaking of - anyone noticed decent delays in processing their returned phone? FedEx says mine was delivered back to Apple on 09/27, but Apple doesn't show it received yet. Assuming it's just a backlog of phones, but I don't remember it taking very long for Apple to update that it was received in years past.

 

[MrRugged]

Speaking of - anyone noticed decent delays in processing their returned phone? FedEx says mine was delivered back to Apple on 09/27, but Apple doesn't show it received yet. Assuming it's just a backlog of phones, but I don't remember it taking very long for Apple to update that it was received in years past.

Yes. I haven’t received confirmation that my old loan has been closed out and just received an email from apple that we have 7 days to trade in the phone. I dropped mine off at the store on release day. Anyone received their close out if their old loan and that the trade in was successful? Seems a bit later than years past.

 

[AeroSatan]

Mine has updated that it’s been being inspected by their trade in team and that they’d let me know the outcome the night after it was delivered to the facility in the morning. But it’s being inspected for over a day now…..

 

[hovscorpion12]

Speaking of - anyone noticed decent delays in processing their returned phone? FedEx says mine was delivered back to Apple on 09/27, but Apple doesn't show it received yet. Assuming it's just a backlog of phones, but I don't remember it taking very long for Apple to update that it was received in years past.

For reference. FedEx dropped my iPhone off at 9 AM yesterday. I just got the email saying my trade in was completed and IUP loan has been closed. if that's helps.

 

[clabern]

For reference. FedEx dropped my iPhone off at 9 AM yesterday. I just got the email saying my trade in was completed and IUP loan has been closed. if that's helps.

Suppose it helps, but not in a good way since it's been a week since mine was marked delivered back to Apple by FedEx.

Guess I'll reach out to Apple to see what the hold up may be.

 

[hovscorpion12]

Suppose it helps, but not in a good way since it's been a week since mine was marked delivered back to Apple by FedEx.

Guess I'll reach out to Apple to see what the hold up may be.

Yeah. This was based on the assumption that the trade was just recently delivered. I would also say (if possible) to reach out to FedEx. They might be able confirm if the package was signed by a physical signature. In that case it may be in there but not yet checked out.

 

[clabern]

Yeah. This was based on the assumption that the trade was just recently delivered. I would also say (if possible) to reach out to FedEx. They might be able confirm if the package was signed by a physical signature. In that case it may be in there but not yet checked out.

Apple support chat gave the typical overly-cheery "Don't worry, we're actively working to ensure your return is processed... blah blah blah" (doubt they actually look at anything).

I have the signature from the FedEx delivery, so we'll see what happens come Monday when the return is due to Apple.

 

[MisterSavage]

Has there been anyone on the upgrade program who has had an issues with a sent back device being stolen or lost where apple didn’t just close the loan out with citizens?

I've seen a small handful of people that had issues where the phone was lost/stolen in transit but if I remember correctly none of those ended up with the customer having to pay the rest of the loan for the missing phone. They all eventually worked out.

Honestly I don't care what happens to the phone once I hand it Fedex. As long as I eventually get credit for sending it in I'm good.

 

[4sallypat]

Suppose it helps, but not in a good way since it's been a week since mine was marked delivered back to Apple by FedEx.

Guess I'll reach out to Apple to see what the hold up may be.

Did you get a FED-EX receipt when you dropped off ?

At FedEx stores, they have a barcode scanner when you drop it into the box and you get a receipt.

At FedEx distribution hubs, the agent will scan and give you a receipt.

 

[Cayden]

A few of years ago, I gave my phone to FedEx and then I totally forgot about it. I got a notice from apple that I didn’t return my phone and I panicked. Luckily I kept the FedEx receipt and I looked to see where my phone was. The package had supposedly been stuck at a distribution center for about a week and a half. I told Apple and they said if they didn’t get the phone, everything should be okay since I could verify I gave it to FedEx. I called FedEx, and they were pretty evasive about answering any questions. I called like every day for 4 days about it. They eventually said they found it sitting in the back of a truck that had been sitting for a couple weeks and eventually got it to Apple. Apple was really good about not charging me an extra month since it wasn’t my fault, which was great. I always film a video of me putting the working phone in the box and either draw on or sign all the seals to easily show if it was opened by someone else. Since I’ve done that, I’ve never had an issue.

 

[MisterSavage]

I always film a video of me putting the working phone in the box

Same!!! I made sure to get the serial number in settings on video as I put it in the box.