iPhone 6 trade-in "scam"-otion

[jyc23]

Back on September 12, 2014, I pre-ordered an iPhone 6 and also signed up to do the trade-in promotion which offered a $200 promotional trade-in value for my iPhone 4s. My 4s was in good working condition -- turned on and off, screen working, no visible corrosion, no big damage, etc. Trade-in website gave an appraisal for $200. After I got my iPhone 6 on September 19, I removed all of my info from my iPhone 4s, reset it to factory, then shut it off, put it in the green bag / trade-in envelope, dropped it in the mail, and waited for my gift card.

Last night, October 7, 2014, I get an email from Verizon saying that my gift card was ready. It was for a total amount of ... $36. I was curious why, so went to the trade-in site to check my submission status, and it said:

Reason for adjustment: "Device does not power on".

Bullsh*t. As my usage logs from my Verizon Wireless bills prove, I was using that very same iPhone 4s to make and receive calls, send and receive data, etc., right up until the time I shut it down to be mailed to Verizon for trade-in. So, Verizon Wireless, where's the $164 that you owe me? If I had know Verizon was going to do this, I would have just sold my phone on eBay.

In any case, I'll be filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, as well as the Federal Trade Commission. I'm also getting read to transfer me and my other three family members to another other wireless carrier which has kindly offered to pay our ETFs.

I enjoyed being a Verizon Wireless customer right up until this incident with the iPhone 6 trade in. Sigh.

[Core2]

I keep reading similar reports with device trade in via shipping. 

I have not had to send in a device yet, but I am going to video myself shutting down a fully charged phone, packing it up and sealing the box if I have to.

[DirtyLiars]

Same thing happened to me except I got no explanation of why.  My phone was fully charged as well.

[Lisanne624]

At least you got *something*. They're claiming, after nearly a month, that they haven't received my phone.

[terio78]

Verizon. Please reach out to your customers regarding this. We understand you are a large company generating a lot of money, but these are simply the type of things that cause even the largest and most profitable of companies to lose their customers' faith, and eventually their business. I too sent my iPhone 4s, great working condition, in for the trade-in promotion and still have not received any indication it has been received. I do however receive the generated emails 'We have not received your device', which naturally adds to the frustration. I followed the instructions precisely, and cannot get through the 800 number for this promotion. I am in fear that VZ will too, like others I'm reading on a multitude of discussion forums, either continue to ignore my situation and inquiries on this matter and/or offer me a lower amount than the $200 I was told. We pay a considerable amount more for VZ service and at the very least, do the right thing here. I've been a loyal customer for almost 10 years now and have never been late on a payment once. I'm losing faith in VZ. Here's to hoping they do the right thing.

[Core2]

Does anyone have the shipping address where these phones are going to?

[thanhle]

I got scammed too. Traded in an iPhone 4S. I followed instructions to delete data off my device via "Erase All Content and Settings" in Settings. I also turned off Find my iPhone, and made sure it was active for this phone using my icloud account online. In addition, I checked to make sure I was able to upgrade successfully to my new iPhone 6 AND checked my account online to see all active devices. My old iPhone 4S phone, that I sent to this Recycling Program, is not listed under my Activated Devices section in my account information. But in the Check Status area, it says my

Final Trade-In Value is now $36.00, with Adjustment Reason: Activation Lock not deactivated. YES, the Activation Lock WAS deactivated. What else was I supposed to do?

I wish we either went with a store trade-in to Gamestop, with cash on the spot; or switched to AT&T, like my sister wanted us to. I really hate Verizon.

Trade-in Information

Submission Date: 09/21/2014;

Device: A1387 iPhone 4S 16GB - Verizon;

Appraised Value: $200.00;

Final Trade-In Value $36.00;

Adjustment Reason: Activation Lock not deactivated.

[stook2005]

You should filed a report to BBB.  Once Verizon Wireless get the BBB report, they'll resolved it really fast.  It took about a 1 week or so from the time I filed the BBB report until I got $200 credited to my account.   BTW, I got the "Activation Lock" excuse too.

[mcs0530]

I agree that filing with the US Better Business Bureau is the way to go. I submitted a complaint to the US BBB and received an email from Verizon offering a resolution in a day.

BBB Online Complaint System | Get Started

I personally will be leaving Verizon as soon as possible, either through a competing carrier's buy-out program or at the end of my current contract.

Hope this helps you out.

[denny12]

Just received a 36.00 gift card via email for a 6 month old 4S.  I called immediately this morning.  I was told as of yesterday Verizon will be giving the full $200.00 rebate to customers whose phones were "reactivated".  Yes, we followed all of the steps to clear and deactivate the phone before shipping out.  I had a feeling all along that this was to good to be true.  It will take 2 weeks to receive the additional $164.00. I called 1-877-247-3846.