Apple is currently testing its own iPhone trade-in program in select Apple stores ahead of a September launch, according to multiple reports. Rumors of an Apple trade-in program first started earlier this summer with a public launch expected in late June, but Apple decided to delay the date to sometime next month.
The launch of the program will likely be tied to the unveiling of the new iPhone hardware Apple plans to show off on September 10th.
Both MacRumors and 9to5Mac have heard that the trade-in program is being implemented in Apple retail, and 9to5Mac says it’s going live next month. AllThingsD has also backed the September launch, so expect it happen.
Apple is currently piloting the program in some of its stores, and TechCrunch has learned how it works:
A customer brings a working, non-liquid-damaged iPhone into an Apple Retail Store. It’s then evaluated by an employee with the help of an online site that a customer can access using the store’s iMacs or iPads. The customer then answers a series of questions about the condition of the device in order to determine a value.
Apple reportedly does a carrier check to see if you can use trade-in credit for an upgrade. If the prices Apple offers are attractive, other resellers will probably have a hard time competing. Nothing beats walking into your local Apple Store with an old iPhone and walking out with a new one.
Via: AllThingsD
