Apple now offering trade-ins on electronics

NEW YORK (WABC) -- iPhone5 news is expected in less than two weeks.

Are you itching for a new iPhone, iPad or Mac but don't want to just trash your old one?

Well Apple's new recycling program may be an option.

That year-old iPhone for example could fetch nearly $350 in Apple store credit.

Here's how it works; customers answer a few questions online about their iPhone's condition, then get trade in estimate.

It has to be shipped in.

So if you exaggerated the condition, you might get less than promised online.

"It's very common for third parties, there's even kiosks in malls now that do that. But, I haven't seen this from Apple before. It does suggest that an iPhone is coming and of course we know one is coming. Certainly Apple is trying to get people to buy a new phone and getting them up for that," said Kent German, CNET Senior Managing Editor.

Mi-pam Thurman says TekServe in Chelsea also offers a trade in program for most electronics.

"With the economy the way it people want to get the best bang for their buck," Thurman said.

Customers say it's the way to go when you want to keep up with the quickly changing technology.

"It's very old, but it works," said Harriet Holtsman, an iPhone user.

"'Keep people like me from lagging behind. I'm perfectly happy, but they want people to ramp up to their newest and better things," said Bill Lee, an iPhone user.

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