Apple Japan offers trade-in service for new iPods

In a completely unfair move, iPod owners in Japan can trade in their iPod and get a maximum of 27,000 yen ($246) towards a new iPod. First we don't win the iTunes contest, now this.

[Chris Gunton @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

I managed to sell my 20gb Win 2nd gen iPod to a friend for �130 (not sure what that is in $$$), and got my new 20gb direct from apple for �230, so i only really paid �100.

My mate is gonna be mad when i bump into him next...

[Dusty @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

According to Apple's TOS, you can't buy songs from the iTunes store if you live overseas. You can only buy songs from the country where you live. Since I'm living in Japan where the iTunes store isn't available yet, I can't buy any music for my new iPod. Anything would be better than paying the $30 an average CD costs here.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

But where are you shopping to pay $30 for CDs... though I admit I'm a little weak on the fluctuations in the American dollar rate, you certainly don't have to pay that much... unless you're loading up on Ayumi Hamasaki cds (Japanese domestic CDs cost more, due to some bizarre taxation issues), the average import (American, UK) should be just more than half of $30... look around, or if you're in the countryside, try amazon.co.jp

[jay @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

try dling your musci from a p2p network like kazaa or edonkey its all the rage in canada were it is perfitly legal!! hahaha!! ur best bet for getting cash back for an old ipod is to sell it to someone who doesnt want to pay much or putting it on eaution like ebay or something even try a classifed in the local paper who knows.. i almost sold my 3G for 200$ but i had to give it to my brother instead it would have been nice to do that oh well!! anyway if u really want a great way to gt music on ur ipod and for wtvr reason u dont want to steal it just ask to borrow cds from friends i know some one who does it all the time im sure u will have no problem filling ur ipod up that way. plus i have beef with the record compaines for the crap they have realsed in the past years and cds in canada cost 20 to 25 dollars and i just wont pay tht much for a cd!!

[Brent Warner @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

can anyone confirm that this is a real deal? I don't see it written on the Apple Japan site anywhere...

[Patrick @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

The trade-in program also applies to a lot of other Apple goods.

Details at apple.co.jp
http://www.apple.com/jp/promo/trade/mac/index.html
Refund site
https://cbw.orix.co.jp/trade/atrade.asp?param=1
Price list
https://cbw.orix.co.jp/trade/NAP/target.asp

Now I'm tempted to get a new iPod in exchange of my old Win 5GB 2-gen!

[Rob @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

I purhcased my 40GB iPod one (that's right, ONE) day before Apple released the new version for $100 less. Needless to say, I was pissed. I returned to the store and demanded a refund. They gave me two options: (1) return my iPod for a refund, but get slapped with a 10% ($50) restocking fee (because I had, surprise surprise, made the mistake of opening my iPod's box); or (2) they would credit me $100 and I would keep the iPod I had. I took option (2).