"Free iPhone 7" Trade-in

[niclic06]

If I trade in my iPhone 6 for the "free" iPhone 7, what happens if they deem my phone is NOT worth the $650? I assume they will charge me the difference, but is there a way to know before committing?

[Weth]

This has caused problems in the past. If you follow everything, there is no screen damage or damage to the chassis, the phone works it should not be a problem. Make sure you send in the exact phone you send you would, down to the IMEI number. Document its condition when packing, and you may even want to pay for shipping and add your own insurance/tracking.

[niclic06]

The phone is in good shape, but I just hate to send it away rather than having it checked out in a store.

[Weth]

Even having it checked in the store did not protect people. The store just sends it in to the same place and they have the final say, not the store. There were several cases last time where it was accepted by the store, but denied by the central review place. Just don't think the store has the authority to determine final final .

[niclic06]

So I assume they send you the new phone first correct? What happened if at that point they tried charging me say 200 extra for my old phone and I didn't want to?

[Weth]

cant get your old phone back, so it is accept the $200 or try to fight with a large uphill battle. 

[pherson]

That's why it's always best just to sell 3rd party and be done with it. In the long run it can mean a LOT less hastle.

[niclic06]

So if I'm still under an old 2 year contract with an upgrade date of January 17', can I do this now or will I have to wait until then??

[Weth]

You will have to wait, and the current offer will not be available January 17 with near certainty. If you try to do it, Verizon will keep your current phone, you will not get anything for it, and you will still need to pay your contract or pay ETF.

[niclic06]

What kind of dumb question is this and what does it add to the thread? I asked because I was un sure.

If a more detailed explanation would serve you, here goes:

1) I've upgraded early several times but never in any kind of trade in scenario

2) I believed they had pretty much gotten rid of the whole 2 year contract and now make people buy their phones outright...therefore, I was wondering what peoples opinions would be on if they would be likely to do it early to get me into a new phone

3) I didn't see it written anywhere on the website

[Core2]

Can you have the store ship it in for you?

[Weth]

Yes, but the store does not determine condition of phone or acceptability for trade in or final value. They just send it to the same place you would send it with the box. Based on what has happened here before, it does not give you added protection giving it to the store. It may even be worse since there is no tracking you have between the store and the trade in center. At least with the box, I have confirmation it was delivered in the right spot. If you search old threads you will see phones handed in the store, never seen in the trade in center and no credits given. We have also seen phones that were accepted at the store and then declared in poor condition and not meeting requirements for the expected trade in value.

[MallSecurity]

I believe Verizon makes you pay $650 up front as well send in your old phone. Then over 24 months they will slowly credit your account based on the value of your trade-in which may or may not be worth $650.

In the meantime they collect interest on your $650 and get to resell your trade in for $200 or $300. Oh by the way they are calling this a FREE UPGRADE.

It should take until January for the full class action lawsuit to be filed. lol

[Weth]

That is not how it works.  You pay a device payment of $27 ($650/24) each month and then get a credit of $27 per month.  You still pay taxes (in full in some states) and you won't start getting the $27 for 2 to 3 months. 

[rcschnoor]

MallSecurity wrote:

I believe Verizon makes you pay $650 up front as well send in your old phone.

Then you would believe incorrectly as the terms of the $650 credit state "New device payment purchase required". If you pay $650 up front, what device exactly, are you making payments for each month?????

MallSecurity wrote:

Then over 24 months they will slowly credit your account based on the value of your trade-in which may or may not be worth $650.

This is true. If you have an iPhone 6/6+ or 6S/6S+ in good working/cosmetic condition you WILL get the full $650. If you have an iPhone 5/5S/5C/SE in good working/cosmetic condition you will get $400. This will be credited back in 24 monthly installments as long as the device you purchase is still on DPP. If you choose to pay off the device or trade it in for a newer device, the credits would stop. This makes it so you don't get more in credit than you actually paid for the device. If you have an older model than what I have already listed, you do not qualify.

MallSecurity wrote:

It should take until January for the full class action lawsuit to be filed. lol

Since this is no longer possible or even needed in this case, it should take a lot longer than that. lol

Why you can't sue your wireless carrier in a class action - CNET

[pherson]

Everyone wants to throw around the class action phrase these days. As to why, idk.

[rcschnoor]

Especially when you are MUCH more likely to get a larger settlement with a small claims suit vs class action even if they were allowed.

The only people who usually make out with class actions are the lawyers.

[MallSecurity]

I discovered that the US Supreme Court ruled that consumers cannot file class action suits against telecommunications companies. It has to go thru arbitration or small claims court. So the bottom line is that the Free iPhone offer isn't free at first... it becomes free after 2 years of credits... maybe.

[JHBaker]

Your reply makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Go ahead and contact the Supreme Court and double check

[Weth]

MallSecurity​ is right. 

https://www.dlapiper.com/en/us/insights/publications/2015/12/us-supreme-court-reaffirms-use-of-waive...

[RMCCAMMAN]

This is such a great deal!  I was able to trade my iPhone 6 in the store, got a receipt for $650, they gave me the iPhone 7 and BAM it was super simple!