Apple Trade-In Scam

hpotter

In February I recycled two Iphone xs' and amazingly got £250 each for them both. I then used the store credit a few weeks later to put towards two new Ipad airs. I also traded in the two old ipad airs as part of the new order, which were in perfect condition and worked fine with no issues, both were the same age. A couple of days later and the £115 that I was expecting, per ipad, as a trade in was reduced to £25!! I couldn't believe it, so I refused the offer online (as if that's all they were going to give me I would donate the ipads to someone rather than get scammed) then rang Apple after sales team and complained profusely and said there was nothing wrong with them and there was definitely not any problems with the backlights, which is what Brightstar said was why they reduced the offer. Within a few hours I was offered the full £115 for each for them! I was expecting the £230 to be refunded to my debit card, as that's what their email stated, but No! they sent me two £115 apple store vouchers! God, by now I was livid. So again I rang Apple After Sales and complained big time. They said that the credit goes back against the method used for payment, and as I had used a store credit voucher for part payment, the £250 I got for my iphone and then my debit card, it was apple policy to send refunds in the way of credit to the first method of payment (no choice given on this on their website!). I was disgusted, they knew it and said they would contact the payments department to see what can be done. An hour later I had an email stating that I would be credited the money back to my debit card. That was on Wednesday and I am still waiting for the payment, but that can be up to 7 days, so lets wait and see!! I always suggest ringing and lodging a complaint, they told me it was Brightstar not Apple! I said that it was Apple who offered me the trade in and Brightstar was their responsibility and therefore the trade in was Apples responsibility! Unbelievable, I really expect more from a worldwide brand.

Idabiru

Thanks for such a detailed explanation!

zzyzx1221

Jeffaroo said:

I think apple's only motivation is to get you to buy more of their products. If I recall there was a lawsuit against them not long ago due to them intentionally making the battery life drain quicker on old iphones. It's a shame since I really do like their products, but I can't say I agree with how they operate. 

Well you've just described the primary motivation of every company.

And your recollection is not correct. There was a lawsuit over them deliberately slowing devices down whose batteries potentially could no longer support the device running at full speed.  The issue was that consumers were not told of this.  Although in the grand scheme of things, it's barely even a faux pas.