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I'm considering whether I should trade in my M1 MBP for either an M2 15" MBA or M3 MBP today, or wait until M3 MBAs become a thing. I'm also wary of the trade-i

I'm considering whether I should trade in my M1 MBP for either an M2 15" MBA or M3 MBP today, or wait until M3 MBAs become a thing. I'm also wary of the trade-in value of the M1 MBP, which I guess will go down the longer I wait... But I suppose the value of jumping to a more powerful chip may outweigh the trade-in value of jumping to an M2 today...

throwaway290 3y ago
If you have so much as worn down paint on keycaps Apple will give you 0$ for it, they want almost exactly new machines.
- drakonka 3y ago
  Oh good to know, thanks. The online quote they gave me was really decent and they didn't ask about keycaps, but I've never done a trade-in before so maybe they'd back out at the last minute after seeing my poor N key...
  - turquoisevar 3y ago
    Don’t listen to them. I’ve traded in more MacBooks than I care to count, almost always via mail (the method with the most complaints because it’s asynchronous). Never had any issues and my keycaps have almost always been worn out. As long as your device meets the condition as answered in the questionnaire, you should get what is quoted. Those are the only things they care about, they don’t even want the charger for example. If you’re truly anxious about it, you can also walk into an Apple Store and you’ll get the decision on the spot.
    - throwaway290 3y ago
      > Don’t listen to them. Thanks, I guess you are the only one with valid experience here. > As long as your device meets the condition as answered in the questionnaire > If you’re truly anxious about it, you can also walk into an Apple Store and you’ll get the decision on the spot. That's exactly what I did. The questionnaire was slightly different than for mail-in. The in-store questionnaire asked for "cracked keycaps" (online didn't) and the employee proceeded to answer yes saying that worn-out paint on keys is "cracked keycaps". Result: $0 value. You can trade in by mail only for store credit, right? Do you know what happens if some employee uses the same stupid logic when handling mail-in? I suppose they just keep the device and give no store credit?
      - turquoisevar 3y ago
        > Thanks, I guess you are the only one with valid experience here. No I’m not, but I am the one who points it out when someone is spreading misinformation about Apple’s trade-in policy. > That's exactly what I did. The questionnaire was slightly different than for mail-in. The in-store questionnaire asked for "cracked keycaps" (online didn't) This makes me wonder which country you were in. I’ve done in-store trade ins both in the US and two EU countries, in neither of those cases was this part of the in-store questionnaire. Keycaps are captured under the general functionality question both on the in-store as well as the online questionnaire. > and the employee proceeded to answer yes saying that worn-out paint on keys is "cracked keycaps". Sounds like you were dealing with an employee who didn’t know what they were doing. I wouldn’t have accepted that assessment to begin with, whether or not it was part of the questionnaire, and asked for a supervisor. > Result: $0 value At which point you of course would thank them kindly and keep your MacBook. > You can trade in by mail only for store credit, right? A gift card or value towards a pending order, so essentially store credit. Same as in-store. > Do you know what happens if some employee uses the same stupid logic when handling mail-in? I suppose they just keep the device and give no store credit? Same as in store. You get an email with an adjusted value offer (adjusted from the value based on the answers on the questionnaire) and if you don’t agree with that they’ll send it back to you at no cost. In either scenario the most you’ll lose is time.
        throwaway290 3y ago
        > misinformation about Apple’s trade-in policy I'm sure the policy is reasonable but if employees have overriding power over policy then it doesn't matter how good the policy is and saying it's misinformation implies I lie > This makes me wonder which country you were in. No comment:) By the way, I did look it up after my failed attempt and on Reddit people in the US have different luck with in store and mail in. Apparently in store is stricter and people get turned away. So looks like misinformation was on your part. > I wouldn’t have accepted that assessment to begin with, whether or not it was part of the questionnaire Ever tried arguing with an Apple Store employee? How far did it get you? > At which point you of course would thank them kindly and keep your MacBook. Yes except for the thank you part. Mail-in offers around 300 USD or so voucher so I may try that and can always just sell it myself. (Second market is probably what trade-in was intended to reduce...)
throwaway290 3y ago
> M1 MBP for either an M2 15" MBA or M3 MBP today, or wait until M3 MBAs become a thing My 2 cents, since I am also looking to replace the original M1 MBP with something. - Apple's official refurbished laptops are a thing, M2 already can be found on it. They have warranty. - Think what you need, RAM vs CPU. If you run Docker containers, hundreds of browser tabs, work with heavy multimedia etc. and your budget is limited (or you wouldn't be asking) then you may want to consider M1/M2 with specced up RAM (you'd need to get Pro or Max to unlock higher RAM) instead of a basic M3. Yes, basic M3 is faster than basic M1, but it won't make your RAM issues go away so if you are at the limit of RAM capacity then you'll shoot yourself in the foot. - If you do go for a basic model still consider upping at least storage because at the low end (less than 1TB) SSDs in M2 and M3 have been nerfed and are slower than SSDs in M1.

throwaway290 3y ago

If you have so much as worn down paint on keycaps Apple will give you 0$ for it, they want almost exactly new machines.

drakonka 3y ago
Oh good to know, thanks. The online quote they gave me was really decent and they didn't ask about keycaps, but I've never done a trade-in before so maybe they'd back out at the last minute after seeing my poor N key...
- turquoisevar 3y ago
  Don’t listen to them. I’ve traded in more MacBooks than I care to count, almost always via mail (the method with the most complaints because it’s asynchronous). Never had any issues and my keycaps have almost always been worn out. As long as your device meets the condition as answered in the questionnaire, you should get what is quoted. Those are the only things they care about, they don’t even want the charger for example. If you’re truly anxious about it, you can also walk into an Apple Store and you’ll get the decision on the spot.
  - throwaway290 3y ago
    > Don’t listen to them. Thanks, I guess you are the only one with valid experience here. > As long as your device meets the condition as answered in the questionnaire > If you’re truly anxious about it, you can also walk into an Apple Store and you’ll get the decision on the spot. That's exactly what I did. The questionnaire was slightly different than for mail-in. The in-store questionnaire asked for "cracked keycaps" (online didn't) and the employee proceeded to answer yes saying that worn-out paint on keys is "cracked keycaps". Result: $0 value. You can trade in by mail only for store credit, right? Do you know what happens if some employee uses the same stupid logic when handling mail-in? I suppose they just keep the device and give no store credit?
    - turquoisevar 3y ago
      > Thanks, I guess you are the only one with valid experience here. No I’m not, but I am the one who points it out when someone is spreading misinformation about Apple’s trade-in policy. > That's exactly what I did. The questionnaire was slightly different than for mail-in. The in-store questionnaire asked for "cracked keycaps" (online didn't) This makes me wonder which country you were in. I’ve done in-store trade ins both in the US and two EU countries, in neither of those cases was this part of the in-store questionnaire. Keycaps are captured under the general functionality question both on the in-store as well as the online questionnaire. > and the employee proceeded to answer yes saying that worn-out paint on keys is "cracked keycaps". Sounds like you were dealing with an employee who didn’t know what they were doing. I wouldn’t have accepted that assessment to begin with, whether or not it was part of the questionnaire, and asked for a supervisor. > Result: $0 value At which point you of course would thank them kindly and keep your MacBook. > You can trade in by mail only for store credit, right? A gift card or value towards a pending order, so essentially store credit. Same as in-store. > Do you know what happens if some employee uses the same stupid logic when handling mail-in? I suppose they just keep the device and give no store credit? Same as in store. You get an email with an adjusted value offer (adjusted from the value based on the answers on the questionnaire) and if you don’t agree with that they’ll send it back to you at no cost. In either scenario the most you’ll lose is time.
      - throwaway290 3y ago
        > misinformation about Apple’s trade-in policy I'm sure the policy is reasonable but if employees have overriding power over policy then it doesn't matter how good the policy is and saying it's misinformation implies I lie > This makes me wonder which country you were in. No comment:) By the way, I did look it up after my failed attempt and on Reddit people in the US have different luck with in store and mail in. Apparently in store is stricter and people get turned away. So looks like misinformation was on your part. > I wouldn’t have accepted that assessment to begin with, whether or not it was part of the questionnaire Ever tried arguing with an Apple Store employee? How far did it get you? > At which point you of course would thank them kindly and keep your MacBook. Yes except for the thank you part. Mail-in offers around 300 USD or so voucher so I may try that and can always just sell it myself. (Second market is probably what trade-in was intended to reduce...)

throwaway290 3y ago

> M1 MBP for either an M2 15" MBA or M3 MBP today, or wait until M3 MBAs become a thing My 2 cents, since I am also looking to replace the original M1 MBP with something. - Apple's official refurbished laptops are a thing, M2 already can be found on it. They have warranty. - Think what you need, RAM vs CPU. If you run Docker containers, hundreds of browser tabs, work with heavy multimedia etc. and your budget is limited (or you wouldn't be asking) then you may want to consider M1/M2 with specced up RAM (you'd need to get Pro or Max to unlock higher RAM) instead of a basic M3. Yes, basic M3 is faster than basic M1, but it won't make your RAM issues go away so if you are at the limit of RAM capacity then you'll shoot yourself in the foot. - If you do go for a basic model still consider upping at least storage because at the low end (less than 1TB) SSDs in M2 and M3 have been nerfed and are slower than SSDs in M1.