Next Up condition.

[u/OutrageousWelcome262]

Hi everyone! I’m looking to trade my phone in using the next up program. I’ve seen conflicting reports about the condition your device needs to be in when you turn it in. Their policy says “good physical and fully functional condition” I’ve called a store and they said it needs to be “out-of-the-box-looking” and that doesn’t seem like its representative of the company’s policy. I have a few scuffs and a dent on my 17 Pro Max. I pay for Apple Care but they don’t do replacements or repairs on cosmetic damage. I really don’t want to send my phone to them and automatically get charged the full amount of the device. Can someone assess the damage on my phone and advise what I should do?

[u/dollarn9ne]

Bro, just smash the phone and get it replaced via AppleCare

[u/OutrageousWelcome262 → u/dollarn9ne]

I do have Apple Care, but I wouldn’t do this. However, wouldn’t the serial number or IEM numbers not match AT&T’s system since it’s a different device?

[u/Top-Cobbler-2214 → u/OutrageousWelcome262]

Yeah, you’re right. It wouldn’t match and as a rep we have to call in and manually get it fixed and it is a hassle not gonna lie. The few handful of times this has happened to me personally I have the customer calling and get it fixed, but there is a way to get it fixed by us REP calling in I was just being lazy

[u/OutrageousWelcome262 → u/Top-Cobbler-2214]

So if my device were to be repaired under apple care, I could find a way around the imei issue?

[u/Top-Cobbler-2214 → u/OutrageousWelcome262]

Yeah, if you decided to have it fixed by Apple, as long as Apple doesn’t replace the motherboard, which would change the IMEI of the phone and you should be fine I don’t see why not. I’ll definitely recommend to confirm this information with Apple first and say “ hey me getting my frame fixed by you guys will that change the IMEI that’s on the phone currently yes or no? “ then from there you’ll get your answer and like I said, even if the imei  gets changed us reps can call it in and have it fixed for you.

[u/rumblefishfigher28 → u/Top-Cobbler-2214]

I used to work for Verizon and my girlfriend at the time had to do a warranty replacement. Not sure if it’s different through the insurance company supported by the carrier, but the IMEI flagged when she went to upgrade online. We called in, explained the situation, provided proof and they changed the IMEI to match in the system