Microsoft has launched a new trade-in scheme. The deal is headlined as follows; “Trade in your iPad, Get a min. $200 gift card”. Folk with old and unwanted (but “gently used”) iPad 2, 3 or 4 tablets can get a minimum $200 gift card from Microsoft Stores in the US and Canada. Microsoft suggests you use the card “towards the purchase of a Surface” but you are welcome to use it to pay towards “other cool products” from the store (not valid online).
Please note that the $200 gift card is a minimum value you will be offered for your old iPad. However I have as yet to see any early reports of what Microsoft Stores will offer for the iPad 3, the iPad 4 and models with expanded storage and cellular connectivity. Microsoft isn’t interested in the popular 8-inch iPad mini and it is very firm on that; “only valid for the exchange of listed iPad products, no exceptions”. Further conditions of the offer include the usual ‘not transferrable for cash’ and ‘not applicable to prior purchases’, also the offer is limited to one trade-in per customer.
Interestingly this trade-in offer is valid until 27th October so it is entirely possible that the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 will be purchasable, helped along with the contribution of the trade-in gift card. We are expecting the Surface 2s to be launched on 23rd September. The hardware should become available on, or shortly after, the Windows 8.1 GA date of 18th October.
As the UK is extremely short on bricks and mortar Microsoft Stores, despite previous rumours of an impending high street/mall presence, it looks like this trade-in won’t be offered to UK customers.
