I recently bought an iPhone Air and traded in my iPhone 15 Pro. However, after realizing the Air was too big for me, I returned it. I knew I wouldn't get my 15 Pro back, but I was expecting a full $420 refund on a gift card. Instead, I only got $410 back and some went back to my Apple Card. When I asked about the missing $10, the staff were unsure and jokingly said it went into Tim Cook's pocket. The receipt mentioned something about a 'premium for buying a new device' that wouldn't be refunded if I returned it. This wasn't mentioned in any terms I could find. Since the remaining credit is on an Apple gift card, it feels unfair to withhold that $10. Should I reach out for a potential refund of that amount?
1 Answer
It sounds like you ran into one of Apple's stealth trade-in bonuses. They often give extra credit when you trade in for a new phone, but if you return it, you lose that bonus. So, if you didn’t actually buy a new iPhone, you’d only get the standard trade-in value back. It’s a bummer since they don't clearly communicate this. If you had swapped your Air for another phone, you would have kept the full $420. Just remember, this isn't always well advertised, and those bonus values don’t show up on your receipt either. So, you're not alone in feeling confused about it!
Glad you pointed this out! It really does sound sneaky without clear communication from them. Just be careful in the future and double-check their policies.