Apple’s ruthless Trade In service has come under the spotlight after a tech journalist discovered that a Mac Pro that cost US$52,199 three years earlier was given a current trade-in value of just US$970. Disconcertingly, the same Mac Pro was apparently still available via the Apple store at the identical original price of US$52,199.
Tech journalist and writer for MKBHD, David Imel, has posted an enlightening tweet concerning Apple Trade In. Apparently, a three-year-old Mac Pro that was purchased for US$52,199 was given a current trade-in value of US$970 (of Apple Credit). This represents a loss in value of over 98% for the Apple Mac Pro in a space of just three years, with Imel asking his followers what else could depreciate as much as this and at this speed apart from cryptocurrency. The writer also pointed out that the same model was still available on the Apple website for US$52,199.
At the end of 2019, Apple revealed the Mac Pro that could be configured with up to a 28-core Intel Xeon W processor for an extra US$7,000, while buyers with an additional US$25,000 to burn could choose to have their 2019 Mac Pro fitted with 1.5 TB of RAM. This SKU, which also comes with two Radeon Pro W6900X graphics cards and 8 TB SSD storage, currently costs US$51,799. But if you throw in US$400 for the wheels, which at this point you may as well, then that brings the grand total to US$52,199. It may not be exactly the same model as Imel’s, but this Mac Pro configuration was available in 2019 and is still listed now in 2023.
To rub salt into the wound, Apple advertises a maximum trade-in value of up to US$1,250 for the Mac Pro, so the US$970 offered here isn’t even the highest amount theoretically available – after all, it is possible to pay almost US$55,000 for a Mac Pro with everything included. As Imel pointedly quips, the three-year-old Mac Pro wouldn’t even receive enough credit to buy the cheapest iPhone 14 Pro (US$999 with 128 GB storage and a whole 6 GB of RAM). As a sort of final insult, a quick glance on Apple’s certified refurbished site reveals listings for various Mac Pros, with models sporting 1.5 TB of memory advertised at prices of US$37,479 to US$39,239.
Just tried pricing out our $52,199 Mac Pro’s at the office for trade in, which you can still buy from Apple, $52,199.
What else has dropped 50x in value in 3 years.. besides crypto? pic.twitter.com/pRESBQBoT4
— David ImeI (@DurvidImel) January 17, 2023
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Daniel R Deakin – Managing Editor News & Magazine – 2921 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2012
My interest in technology began after I was presented with an Atari 800XL home computer in the mid-1980s. I especially enjoy writing about technological advances, compelling rumors, and intriguing tech-related leaks. I have a degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies and count my family, reading, writing, and travel as the main passions of my life. I have been with Notebookcheck since 2012.
Daniel R Deakin, 2023-01-18 (Update: 2023-01-18)
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