Accumulated too many Macs or iOS devices over the years and looking to unload them? While eBay is one way to go, Apple would prefer you send it to their own recycling program, which now allows you trade in those old products in exchange for an Apple Gift Card -- assuming it’s worth anything, that is.
Apple has announced an upgrade to their Apple Recycling Program, which now accepts old Macs or iOS devices in exchange for a shiny new Apple Gift Card -- but only if the gadget has “monetary value,” otherwise Apple will help you recycle it responsibly.
“Get an Apple Gift Card for your old device,” the web page announces. “Send us your old iPhone, iPad, Mac, or PC for reuse or recycling. If it has monetary value, we’ll apply that toward an Apple Gift Card. If not, we can recycle it responsibly for you.”
The reuse and recycling program has three steps: Answer a few brief questions about your device, get an immediate estimate from Apple partner PowerON and ship the device, then receive your Apple Gift Card, which you can then use for any purchase at Apple’s retail or online locations.
So how much can you get for your gear? We did a quick spot check on some old stuff we’ve been looking to unload, but for now we’ll be hanging onto those gadgets. An original 8GB iPhone in fair condition will fetch you a mere $40 (hey, come on -- this is a collector’s item… isn’t it?), while an original iPad 16GB Wi-Fi only fetches a mere $110 -- about half what you could currently get by using the eBay Instant Sale app, which works in a similar way.
Still, for those too lazy to dispose of such items any other way, it’s an option. Apple and PowerON provide free packaging and free shipping for your old gear, making it about as easy as it can possibly be, and the whole process of looking up items takes only moments. And besides, it’s good for the environment, and that’s got to be worth something… right?
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