Don’t worry, Apple hasn’t canceled the trade-in of your old iPhone after all
Trading in your old Apple device is a good way to get a discount on the latest iPhones and Macs, and it’s usually a pretty seamless process if you go straight to Apple. But people who have done just that have been getting strange messages from Apple saying their trade-in has been canceled, often many months after they actually got rid of their old tech.
In recent days, numerous messages have appeared online from people who have previously traded in Apple devices. According to AppleInsider, people have received an official email from Apple claiming that “because we did not receive your device within the required time frame, your trade-in has been canceled. If you have already sent your device to our trade-in partner, it will be returned to you.’
Receiving such a message may not in itself be unusual, as Apple can cancel a trade-in if the device is not received within 14 days. But in most recent cases, devices were shipped months ago, with the trade-in process having already been successfully completed.
It turns out that the messages were sent in error. AppleInsider says that “Apple has confirmed that this is some type of system error and no consumer action is required.” If you’ve received one of these messages, don’t worry.
A strange glitch
Apple isn’t known for giving particularly generous valuations for old tech you want to trade in (although it does occasionally raise prices), so it’s often a good idea to look into third-party recyclers, as they might give you a offer better price.
However, the main attraction of visiting Apple is the convenience, as you can trade in your old device and get a discount on a new device in a single transaction. If you go elsewhere, you’ll have to sell your device to one company and then go to Apple and pay full price for your new product, which can be a hassle.
Errors like the ones seen recently are quite unusual, and the fact that they happened to so many people is a strong indication that there was a problem in Apple’s backend system.
Now that Apple is aware of the problem, we doubt this will continue for long. That means trading in your old device with Apple is still a good idea, especially if you want to get some cash out of a new iPhone. We’ve got a guide to trading in your old phone so you can get the best deal possible, so read it if you’re thinking of clearing out your old tech.