Apple Will Now Buy Back Your Old iOS Devices and Macs

Published on Cult of Mac | shared via feedly mobile

Apple has extended its electronics recycling program to introduce a new "reuse" option that provides users with the option of selling their old iOS devices and Macs back to the Cupertino company in return for an Apple gift card.
Apple has long provided users with the option of recycling their old gadgets, either by handing them into the company's Cupertino headquarters, or having them picked up free of charge by WeRecycle!. You can also hand in your old Apple batteries to your local Apple retail store for disposal. However, this is the first time Apple has offered to buy back your unwanted electronics.
The new initiative is thanks to a partnership with PowerON, who calculates a fair market value for your old iOS devices and computers from any manufacturer and offers you Apple credit for handing them over. The "reuse" option is just as friendly as recycling because it extends the life of your unwanted electronics in the second-hand market.
Apple explains the program on the new Reuse & Recycling page of its website:

If your product qualifies for reuse — meaning it has monetary value — you'll receive an Apple Gift Card equivalent to its fair market value as determined by PowerON.
You can use the gift card for eligible purchases at any U.S. Apple Retail Store or the U.S. Apple Online Store. If your product does not have monetary value, we'll recycle it at no cost to you.

You can get an estimate for your unwanted gadgets by visiting the Reuse & Recycling page and answering a few questions about your device, such as its current condition and whether you've removed your content and supplied a power cable. PowerON will then give you an estimate and if you're happy to accept it, they'll supply you with packaging and cover the shipping costs.
If your device is in fairly good condition and would probably sell better on eBay, you are likely to get more for your it that way. For example, my black 32GB iPhone 4 with some "light to moderate scratches" was worth just $170 through Apple. However, for devices that aren't working so well that you want to get rid of fairly quickly, Apple's new service could be the best solution.

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