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Apple expands recycling options for old computers, mobile devices
Apple announced today that is is expanding and updating its Reuse and Recycling Program. The updated service allows anyone to send their old computers and monitors to Apple to be recycled for free -- regardless of brand. Previously Apple offered free recycling of old Macs and PCs for free for those purchasing a new Mac and for a US$30 fee for those not purchasing a new Mac. Now regardless of whether you buy a new Mac or not, Apple will recycle your old Mac, PC, and monitors for free. Apple has also added the iPhone and iPad to the Apple Gift Card Trade-In program. The program originally let users trade in an old Mac or PC desktop or laptop and receive a "fair market value" amount for the computer via an Apple Gift Card for use in any Apple retail store or Apple's online store. Now Apple is adding the ability to trade in iPhones and iPads for gift cards as well. Apple partners with PowerOn who pays for the trade-in (and later resells the used machines). If a trade-in is deemed to have no value, Apple will recycle the Mac, PC, iPad, or iPhone free of charge. [via MacRumors]
HTC Thunderbolt issues abound, but a fix is on the way
As if the one-call-wonder's battery life wasn't enough, the update pushed out to HTC Thunderbolt owners a couple weeks back has some devices randomly rebooting. Verizon and HTC have said they're working on the issue, but that's of little comfort to customers whose phones are spontaneously restarting several times a day. If you were hoping to solve the issue by installing the leaked version of Gingerbread, we've got bad news -- there have been a number of reports at the XDA Developers Forums that the Sensed-up version of Android 2.3 is bricking phones and sending them into an endless bootloop. But don't despair, a fix could be arriving soon. A source at Verizon told Droid Life that Thunderbolt-owning employees "may be entitled" to a software update before it gets rolled out to the general public -- presumably a final test run for that reboot repressing patch. If you're too impatient to wait for yet another firmware update, you can apparently stroll down to your local VZW store and simply trade in your troublesome T-Bolt for a new one. Just make sure it's running the older software before you take it home.
T-Mobile trade-in program gives used phones new life, puts cash in your pocket
Those cellphone recycle bins are starting to feel pretty lonely, as trade-in programs become all the rage. We've seen Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon (among others) get into the mode of helping customers save money and clean up the environment by using this method, and now T-Mobile's hopping on the bandwagon as well. The carrier will rely on The Wireless Source, a third party that focuses on phone recycling and trade-in programs, to do the heavy lifting here. With the program becoming an incentive for customers to purchase new equipment, you'll be hard-pressed to find a store rep willing to initiate the process without setting up new service or upgrading your phone first. Makes sense, though -- after all, it's called a trade-in program for a reason, right? Once you've made the purchase, you'll get a pre-stamped bubble pack with shipping label attached; use this to ship the phone back, and presto, a check arrives in the mail for the agreed-upon value of the used device within a few weeks. If you're even remotely curious to see how much that ol' RAZR rotting in your basement is worth, give the source link a look.
Amazon adds electronics, including iOS devices, to trade-in program
Amazon has added a host of electronic devices -- including iOS devices -- to its trade-in program. The Electronics Trade-In program is currently in beta and allows users to mail in their old, unwanted devices in exchange for Amazon gift card credits. Devices must be in working order and good cosmetic condition. A third-party merchant, not Amazon, is actually the one buying the used devices. The prices are actually more generous than I thought they'd be. I sold an original 4 GB iPhone on Craigslist a while back and had trouble getting US$75 for it. Amazon's trade-in program currently offers up to $69 for the same iPhone. A sampling of other iOS device trade-in prices includes up to $114 for iPod classics, $235 for first-gen 16 GB Wi-Fi iPads and $162 for an 8 GB iPhone 3GS. That's definitely way more than you'll get if you let your old iPhone rattle around in a desk drawer after upgrading to a new one.
Amazon adds electronics to trade-in program, pawns 2,550 gadgets and counting
If you've got some spare gadgets and need to make a quick buck gift card, there are any number of ways -- Walmart, Target, Best Buy and even eBay will instantly quote you a dollar figure these days. Now, Amazon is joining their ranks as the latest firm eager to stockpile still-somewhat-valuable tech, by adding electronics as the latest category for trade-ins. Pick from the 2,550 items currently recognized and describe the condition your camera / GPS / calculator is in, and Amazon will let you know how many dollars worth of credit it can give you alongside a prepaid shipping label. We can't tell if Amazon will give you better deals than the competition, but this beautiful brown Zune did fairly well. Never you mind that it typically sells for upwards of $40 at auction -- Amazon has mouths to feed, you know?
Report: UK retailers say PS3 trade-ins doubling due to PSN outage
We're approaching the one-month anniversary of the PlayStation Network's deactivation due to that pesky security breach, and according to a report from Edge the downtime's starting to have an effect at UK games retailers. The report cites a number of anonymous game shop clerks, all of whom paint a fairly similar picture of the response to the outage: PlayStation 3 trade-ins have doubled in their respective stores in the past few weeks, with most shoppers exchanging their consoles for Xbox 360s or cash. That may sound like a fairly inflammatory report, but the reasoning is sound: Almost all the retailers say these shoppers are hardcore FPS players, and are acquiring Xbox 360s to get back in their Call of Duty: Black Ops and Modern Warfare 2 routines. Furthermore, all of the retailers report an increased trade-in rate for the PS3 version of Black Ops. Trading in your gaming console sounds like a pretty drastic way to keep playing a game you love -- then again, we're no strangers to the siren call of the Killstreak.
Best Buy wants your horrible DVDs and is willing to give you Blu-ray discs for them
If you're like us, you ran out into the yard and burned a pile of old DVDs in a giant bonfire the minute you bought a Blu-ray player. If you're of the more sentimental sort and held onto the things, however, now's probably a good time to cash-in. Best Buy has launched a Trade & Save promotion, giving users $5 toward the purchase of a Blu-ray discs for each old DVD they bring into the store, without all of the limitations of Warner's DVD2Blu. Of course there are a few caveats here -- for one thing, it's got to be a genuine, commercially released title, so no home movies or BitTorrent rips of The Hurt Locker. The coupons are good only on select Blu-ray titles, and you can redeem five movies per visit through June 4th. Now if we can only find someone who'll take our HD DVDs. [Thanks, Anthony]
Select Walmart stores offering $100 credit toward 3DS with old DS trade-in
This Sunday, the 3DS launches in the US and, to celebrate the occasion, US-based megastore Walmart is offering quite the deal for anyone who lives in one of a dozen states. When purchasing the new handheld, consumers in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and South Carolina will have the option of trading in their used DS for a $100 credit towards their 3DS purchase. If they've got two old DS systems laying around, both can be traded in for $200 towards a 3DS, but that's as high as Walmart's willing to go. The trade-in program will start this Sunday with the 3DS launch and continue through April 30. This promotion is in-store only -- sorry, no online orders.
PSA: PS3 copies of DC Universe Online tied to one-time-use codes
If you bought DC Universe Online on PS3 and decided not to commit to it for the usual MMO lifespan of forever, you won't be able to recoup your losses by trading it in. At least, you shouldn't trade it in, even if you find a store who will accept it, or you risk being a super-jerk. Sony Online Entertainment confirmed to Lazygamer that the serial key included with retail copies of the game is a one-time-use thing, and each disc only includes access for one account. That means that the first person to use a copy of DCUO is the only person who can use that copy. This kind of restriction isn't exactly new to consoles, with trade-ins of every iteration of Phantasy Star Online refused by retailers due to the unique codes tied to each disc. But it's not common -- mostly because MMO-type games on consoles are so uncommon.
Best Buy extends free Buy Back promotion on smartphones and tablets to February 26th
Didn't get around to taking advantage of Best Buy's new Bieber / Ozzy-promoted Buy Back program before the post-Super Bowl free-for-all period expired on February 12th? Then it looks like you're in luck -- the company's just announced that it's extending the free offer until February 26th. Unlike like the previous promotion that applied to a whole range electronics, however, this latest extension only covers smartphones and tablets, although you can obviously still purchase Buy Back coverage for other devices (a laptop or netbook will run you $69.99). Those that opt for it will be able to sell their devices back to Best Buy for "up to" 50 percent of the original purchase price, which they'll naturally receive in the form of a Best Buy gift card. Better than eBay? Maybe not -- but it's not the worst option to have while it's free. Head on past the break for the complete press release.
Verizon ramps up trade-in, upgrade programs in advance of iPhone 4 launch
Not exactly a huge surprise here, but it looks like Verizon will be doing everything it can to pair folks with a new iPhone 4 when it launches on the carrier next month, even if they've just purchased a new phone on Verizon or another carrier. During an investor meeting this week, Verizon CFO Fran Shammo revealed that the carrier will be using its existing trade-in program (which launched in October) to lure would-be customers, with a Verizon rep further detailing that it will be "more actively" promoting the plan in the lead up to the iPhone 4 launch -- under that program, a 16GB iPhone 4 from AT&T will net you a $212 credit. In addition to that, Verizon is also rolling out a new "Special Upgrade Offer" that will let existing customers trade in a phone they've recently purchased for a Visa debit card ($200 for a smartphone trade-in, or $75 for a feature phone). Only those that have purchased a phone between November 26th, 2010 and January 10th, 2011 will be eligible, though, and you won't exactly get that cash right away -- you'll first have to first buy and activate your iPhone 4 at the full retail price, send in your trade-in phone within 30 days of activation, and then wait four to six weeks to receive the debit card.
Best Buy's Buy Back Program will let you trade in old tat for new hotness
Best Buy's crafty ploy for the new year has seemingly been uncovered by BGR's tipsters. According to those knowledgeable sources (and the paperwork they've passed along), Best Buy intends to roll out a new Buy Back Program, which will guarantee a given trade-in value for your gadgets, depending on how old they are. Thus, any laptop, tablet, or smartphone you buy from the retailer will be tradeable for 50 percent of its original price within six months of purchase, 40 percent before the first year passes, 30 in the 12- to 18-month period, or 20 in the dying embers of a two-year ownership period. That's pretty hefty depreciation and you'll have to pay an up-front fee to get enrolled in the Program, but hey, if you upgrade like mad, maybe there's some way to make this a financially appealing proposition for the consumer. Maybe... though probably not.
Amazon.co.uk now taking game trade-ins for credit
No longer are our United Kingdom-based friends left with few gaming trade-in options other than ... whatever the British equivalent of Gamestop is (Gamestoppe?). Amazon.co.uk has begun extending the "trade your games and accessories for Amazon credit" program to its shoppers, some eighteen months after the program first arrived on the U.S. Amazon page. Shoppers interested in hocking their ludological wares in exchange for Amazonian currency can search for eligible games on Amazon's trade-in splash page, and can then print off a shipping label for free. Provided the items are shipped off within seven days, and don't arrive covered in scratches, bodily fluids or crumpet residue, the available credit will show up when the items arrive.
Radio Shack offers iPhone at big discount
Just in time for your Christmas shopping, "The Shack" is offering the iPhone 4 at an incredibly nice discount. The deal is this -- you can buy a 16GB iPhone 4 for just $149, which is $50 off the price that you'll find at Apple or AT&T stores, and much better than even picking one up at your local Walmart. That price, of course, requires a minimum 2-year commitment to an AT&T plan. The 32GB iPhone 4 is similarly priced at $249, and an 8GB iPhone 3GS is an absolute steal at $49. In addition, if you have a working and non-damaged iPhone 3G, you can get a $75 trade-in credit. A 3GS will get you a whopping $125 trade-in. You can only get this deal by walking into a Radio Shack location, and this is only good through Saturday, December 11. Grab that old 3GS and get movin' to "The Shack" before it's too late.
Dell offering free Venue Pros to employees in exchange for their BlackBerrys
You'd think working for a big tech company would have its gadget-related perks and in Dell's case that's very much true. The big PC vendor has demonstrated its commitment to building up its own smartphone services by offering to trade employees' old and busted BlackBerry devices for the shiny new hotness that is the Venue Pro. If everyone takes up Round Rock on its offer, there'll be 25,000 RIM smartphones looking for new homes soon, along with a sprightly start to Windows Phone 7's time in the limelight. The Wall Street Journal reports this'll cut Dell's mobile communications bill by a quarter, thanks to no longer having to support BlackBerry servers, while also noting that Android variants will be made available in the future as well. Where there's Lightning, there's gotta be Thunder, right?
DVD2Blu trade-up scheme lets you swap any old DVD (plus $4.95) for a Blu-ray
We may have to rethink our original stance comparing Warner's DVD2Blu trade-up program to a particular Maine shop owner, now that it's announced it will accept any DVD (only studio releases sold at retail and no porn, please) as trade towards one of its selection of 105 Blu-ray releases with most priced at $4.95 each. Add in the offer to waive the $4.95/per shipping fee for orders above $35 and you've got a pretty quick way to fatten up one's Blu-ray library, assuming you like films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, American History X, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, etc. Hit the source link for a full list of titles available and other details (U.S. only, sorry Canada.)
Best Buy and Target announce video game trade-in programs, clearly don't read webcomics
For some reason the used-video-games-as-controversy stars have aligned, and Best Buy and Target picked now of all times to announce new used game trade-in programs. Target is going to offer in store credit for all sorts of electronics trade-ins, including games and DVDs, with just a few stores for now, but expanding to 850 stores by the end of the year. Target isn't making any mention of reselling that stuff just yet, but Best Buy plans to start selling used games "soon," on top of the 600 stores it's launching it own trade-in program in this week. What's so special about all this? Well, THQ CEO Cory Ledesma just made headlines for a bit of a rant about the topic ("We hope people understand that when the game's bought used we get cheated"), and then Penny Arcade weighed in with a comic, as is their wont, which kicked off a bit of a gamer vs. publisher vs. retailer internet battle of the words. Which is our favorite kind. With online distribution, one time unlock codes, and DLC all warring to make used games obsolete, this debate might be moot in a few years time, but for now there's no shortage of opinions on the subject, and we'd love to hear yours in the comments!
Warner's DVD2Blu trade-up program gets bigger, cheaper (maybe)
Warner Bros. is making things a little less needful for new Blu-ray buyers with extensive DVD libraries in need of upgrading, slashing the lowest prices on its DVD2Blu upgrade program to $4.95 (+ the original DVD copy) and adding more movies to the list of eligibles for a total of 87. Of course there's still a catch, as the minimum order needed to score free shipping ($4.95 per order) has risen $10 to $35. Of course, if you've been looking for an opportunity to catch 2001: A Space Odyssey and Gran Torino and Ocean's Eleven in all their 1080p glory then check the price list after the break and do the math -- this offer might be for you.
T-Mobile offering up to $350 off an HD2 in exchange for your iPhone, soul
HTC's HD2 is the hottest piece of WinMo of the moment, and ever since it got the nod for an (unofficial) update to Windows Phone 7 it's been looking all the more tasty. Now it's getting more affordable too -- if you happen to have an iPhone you're willing to give up. T-Mobile appears to be running a promotion at certain locations through May 19 that would give between $100 and $350 off of a new HD2 for anyone trading in a working handset. Frankly we don't figure too many dedicated iPhoners will be taking this opportunity to hop onto the Windows Mobile train but, if you can get yourself a cheap old handset from a friend who upgraded, you might just be able to snag yourself a hefty discount on a hunky new smartphone.
