Other Received a “Revised Trade-In” Value for my iPhone 12 Pro Max - Anyone else in the same boat?

[happy orchard]

I traded in my wife’s 12 mini and that came back without issue and the full value. I know I treat my phone better than my wife!

First, I want to extend compassion because it sounds incredibly frustrating. Also, I’ve been in a similar situation and have too learned to only trade in store. I hope it ends up working out well for you.

But second, I want to offer this as a hopefully humorous distraction. An excerpt from your post is above; it seems that you might have been suggesting that you treat your phone better than your wife treats her phone. Grammatically, it's ambiguous, at best, because it reads as you treat your phone better than you treat your wife. I want to think that you intended the former meaning and that in your legitimate plea for compassion you did not just announce to the world that you treat your phone better than you treat your wife.

 

[boswald]

I vaguely remember someone telling me Sprint use to pull the same crap with their trade-ins (false claims of "damage", claims they never got it, etc.). If I were you, I'd go in-store or take a picture of the phone inside the box, and the box itself, before mailing it out. If they try to screw you over again, just whip out the picture.

 

[ks_2933]

First, I want to extend compassion because it sounds incredibly frustrating. Also, I’ve been in a similar situation and have too learned to only trade in store. I hope it ends up working out well for you.

But second, I want to offer this as a hopefully humorous distraction. An excerpt from your post is above; it seems that you might have been suggesting that you treat your phone better than your wife treats her phone. Grammatically, it's ambiguous, at best, because it reads as you treat your phone better than you treat your wife. I want to think that you intended the former meaning and that in your legitimate plea for compassion you did not just announce to the world that you treat your phone better than you treat your wife.

Ha, yup, I certainly treat my wife good! That’s why I buy her the latest gadgets every year! I meant that I treat my phone better than she treats her phone 🤣. And her phone received the full value from a trade perspective!

 

[ks_2933]

I’m sure they document the package condition and the condition of your device when it comes in. Otherwise, everyone’s phone would be “I didn’t do that!”. As long as you truly didn’t send it in damaged, you’ll be fine.

I took pics of the phone from all angles and also packed up in the box with the shipping label next to it with my name. Hopefully that covers me if it gets to that point.

I mentioned that I have the photos to the Apple CSR and she didn’t seem to care or want them. Basically said that the claim will go through and I’ll get the full value. I don’t believe her until it actually happens!

 

[ks_2933]

I vaguely remember someone telling me Sprint use to pull the same crap with their trade-ins (false claims of "damage", claims they never got it, etc.). If I were you, I'd go in-store or take a picture of the phone inside the box, and the box itself, before mailing it out. If they try to screw you over again, just whip out the picture.

Thankfully I snapped a few photos of the 12PM boxed up prior to shipping it out as proof that the phone was in great physical condition and with the shipping return label and my name on it next to the phone.

 

[TroyBoy30]

In store trade in was not an option for me this year and I had to mail mine in. I’m hoping the same thing doesn’t happen to me. I took tons of photos of the device including the screen. I also shipped mine back stil in the case and with the screen protector on.

 

[SusieS]

I have heard so many negative things about Phobio ever since Apple switched to them that I stopped sending in devices for trade. I either trade them in person at the Apple store or sell them to a more highly-rated buy-back company, since I don’t want to hassle with trying to sell them myself on Swappa, etc.

 

[ks_2933]

In store trade in was not an option for me this year and I had to mail mine in. I’m hoping the same thing doesn’t happen to me. I took tons of photos of the device including the screen. I also shipped mine back stil in the case and with the screen protector on.

Thankfully I took photos too. The phone was flawless when I sent it back and I’m willing to upload the photos to the forum just so I don’t sound like a crazy person. I’m sure most of us on this forum treat their gear with respect, otherwise we wouldn’t be here chatting about Apple and tech in general.

Hopefully everything works out with the additional claim I filed with Apple this morning asking them to remediate this issue. Money aside, it’s the fact of the matter to me in that this 3rd party has such sway with a 1st party trade-in process. I’ll never do this again and I’ll just go straight to the Apple store next year when I trade-in my 13PM for the 14 😂.

 

[JPack]

You can take all the photos, but the terms and conditions of the trade in releases Phobio of any liability related to shipment.

Chances are your phone is fine and their automated test equipment is picking up some minor defects. I wouldn't worry about getting your phone back which is probably the best option in this case.

Phobio is all about convenience rather than getting a reasonable value for your device.

 

[ks_2933]

You can take all the photos, but the terms and conditions of the trade in releases Phobio of any liability related to shipment.

Chances are your phone is fine and their automated test equipment is picking up some minor defects.

Interesting to hear about this automated test equipment. Do you happen to know anything about the process? Their note about lines, flicker, and pixel damage was interesting to me. I wonder if I had a ‘defective’ screen but it was not recognizable to the human eye? This was a release day 12PM that I used everyday without any issue.

 

[5105973]

Interesting to hear about this automated test equipment. Do you happen to know anything about the process? Their note about lines, flicker, and pixel damage was interesting to me. I wonder if I had a ‘defective’ screen but it was not recognizable to the human eye? This was a release day 12PM that I used everyday without any issue.

Uh oh. My 12 Pro Max display was a mess from day one. But it’s only apparent in the dark where black glows green instead. It’s why I don’t keep it. My green 12 mini display is also like that. I’m going to trade that one in person.

 

[ZipZap]

Thanks and please keep us posted on how this goes. I’m sending my 12PM in on Tuesday. The Apple Store that I picked up my 13PM from wouldn’t take it.

If you ask for a trade box you cannot take to the store. if you say you will trade in at the store they will not send a trade box.

 

[ks_2933]

Uh oh. My 12 Pro Max display was a mess from day one. But it’s only apparent in the dark where black glows green instead. It’s why I don’t keep it. My green 12 mini display is also like that. I’m going to trade that one in person.

This would add the drama if their test equipment can detect “issues” that cannot be perceived by our eyes! If true, what a crock of…

 

[Shreducator]

Bummer. I almost pulled the trigger on the upgrade deals until I read the fine print. As others have mentioned always better to get the in store evaluation.

 

[macar00n]

This is probably not it but were you by chance using a phone wallpaper that looked like a broken LCD. They can look really convincing. I put one of those on my friend's phone to try to trick him but he wasn't fooled. Then later he broke my windshield with a rock. It was never confirmed but I'm over 80% sure it was him

 

[ks_2933]

This is probably not it but were you by chance using a phone wallpaper that looked like a broken LCD. They can look really convincing. I put one of those on my friend's phone to try to trick him but he wasn't fooled. Then later he broke my windshield with a rock. It was never confirmed but I'm over 80% sure it was him

I don’t think so, but could be wrong as I guess I don’t know what that type of wallpaper would look like.

I usually had a wallpaper of a picture I took of my kids, one of a stock iPhone backgrounds, or something cool off of Reddit. I’d always be changing the background to make things feel “updated”. I never noticed any flaws with the display from day 1 of ownership to the day I turned it off and shipped it out.

 

[macar00n]

I don’t think so, but could be wrong as I guess I don’t know what that type of wallpaper would look like.

I usually had a wallpaper of a picture I took of my kids, one of a stock iPhone backgrounds, or something cool off of Reddit. I’d always be changing the background to make things feel “updated”. I never noticed any flaws with the display from day 1 of ownership to the day I turned it off and shipped it out.

Okay was worth a shot. I meant something like the attached

 

[Gjwilly]

Interesting to hear about this automated test equipment. Do you happen to know anything about the process? Their note about lines, flicker, and pixel damage was interesting to me. I wonder if I had a ‘defective’ screen but it was not recognizable to the human eye? This was a release day 12PM that I used everyday without any issue.

I just traded in my iPad in-store and even there they run a remote diagnostic.
You have to connect to the in-store wifi and accept the terms of the diagnostic and you never even get to see the results. It just prints out a trade-in value that you can either accept or not.

If you ask for a trade box you cannot take to the store. if you say you will trade in at the store they will not send a trade box.

The only reason I was able to do the in-store trade-in is because they accidentally sent me an iPhone sized box to return my iPad.
😆

 

[Kierkegaarden]

Thankfully I took photos too. The phone was flawless when I sent it back and I’m willing to upload the photos to the forum just so I don’t sound like a crazy person. I’m sure most of us on this forum treat their gear with respect, otherwise we wouldn’t be here chatting about Apple and tech in general.

Hopefully everything works out with the additional claim I filed with Apple this morning asking them to remediate this issue. Money aside, it’s the fact of the matter to me in that this 3rd party has such sway with a 1st party trade-in process. I’ll never do this again and I’ll just go straight to the Apple store next year when I trade-in my 13PM for the 14 😂.

You certainly sound disappointed, and I don’t blame you. From the standpoint of the receiving company, I’m sure they are bombarded with phones with user damage where the user claims there was no damage when they sent it in. This is the world we live in — the honest people pay the price while the dishonest continue to abuse the system.

I think the answer might be insurance — in this case, a monthly AppleCare policy to prevent this scenario in the future. It sounds like you might be upgrading again next year. I’ll be upgrading each year myself, and the monthly $10 insurance seems like a good and inexpensive benefit for peace of mind.

 

[kstewart61]

I never ship a trade in due to issues like this I need to know what I am getting for my device the same day not a week or so later which is bull!

 

[PhillyGuy72]

Thanks and please keep us posted on how this goes. I’m sending my 12PM in on Tuesday. The Apple Store that I picked up my 13PM from wouldn’t take it.

That was another slight concern LAST Fri. morning. Some Apple Stores (Cali, few in Florida, Illinois) were not taking the old phones.

Also some were getting a base value of $790 for example, some getting 790 + 40-50+ bucks state tax refunded. No rhyme or reason with all of these

Lots of Apple stores weren’t accepting old iPhones in stores this year

I saw that last Friday morning which had me worried, lot of stores in Cali, Florida, Illinois, other various locations. Yet other stores were accepting them. Hit or miss, "participating store/location" type of nonsense.

The nearby store Fri. night, didn't even question it thank God. I did have to wait 20, 25 min. it was extremely busy as expected..which a fear was they would just turn me away since they are not making money...rather refunding a nice chunk

...BUT I would have tried again the next day, and I would have tried other stores before mailing this, that was my final option.

 

[Streetmagus22]

I live near Elk Grove in California and when I shipped my 11 Pro Max in, it went to the Apple location in Elk Grove. Took a day and 2 days later the money was deposited in my bank for the trade in.

 

[BeeGood]

If you ask for a trade box you cannot take to the store. if you say you will trade in at the store they will not send a trade box.

Its possible that I missed something, but when I ordered my 13 PM I didn’t see any option to “ask for a trade box”. I only saw an option to either trade a phone in or not.

 

[JPBoney71]

Traded in my fully functional, perfect condition, 12 PM. Received a notification today that there is a revised trade in value taking the value from $790 to $310! The comment states “Display has functional issues (lines, flicker, pixel damage)” which was simply not the case when I had possession of it. I’ve called Apple and opened a case stating exactly that. I’m sure this happens all the time, but I’m certain that the display had no damage or issues whatsoever. The phone was in like new condition and I’m the type of person who keeps their tech in great shape.

I might just be venting a bit at this point, but this is nonsense. Does anyone have experience with this? Will Apple adjust the value and make this right based on my phone call to them? I took photos of me packaging up my trade but this all just seems like a bit of a scam. If I reject the trade and they ship my phone back, am I going to receive a defective phone even though it was pristine when I shipped? Hopefully this works out because I’m feel deflated and won’t be able to enjoy my new 13 PM until this is resolved 😬.

Sorry to hear your experience was crappy. Hope you are able to resolve this.
Although I have always done an in-person trade in the past (Apple Store or AT&T), I went ahead and sent my iPhone 11 in via the UPS package Apple sent. I received an email within 24-48 hours indicating "Your trade in is a success!".
Sounds like I lucked out.
I must admit, if I had seen a forum such as this before I mailed it, I would likely have traded it in in person.
Best of luck, keep us posted...

 

[Lifesuxsbad]

Got me scared to mail mine in. I ordered late so will be at the end of the month before mine gets here. We do not have a Apple store here but we do have an ATT. Maybe I should cancel mine and go pick one up from AT&T…