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Apple to launch Mac trade-in program at U.S. retail stores

ASSOCIATED PRESS / 2019
                                The Apple logo is displayed at the Apple store in the Brooklyn borough of New York.

ASSOCIATED PRESS / 2019

The Apple logo is displayed at the Apple store in the Brooklyn borough of New York.

Apple Inc. plans to launch a trade-in program for Mac computers next week at its retail stores in the U.S and Canada, adding the devices to an effort already in effect for other products.

The Cupertino, California—based technology giant informed retail employees that the new program will begin on June 15 in the U.S. and June 18 in Canada, according to people familiar with the matter. Customers can exchange a Mac for credit toward a new computer or apply the trade-in value to an Apple gift card.

Customers have previously been able to trade in their Macs via Apple’s website. Apple already offers trade-in programs at its stores for many other products, including the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.

The move could help boost sales of Macs by giving customers a way to get credit toward a new model at the point of purchase. However, the full impact of the program will likely take several more weeks because about 200 of Apple’s retail stores are still closed due to Covid-19 precautions.

Mac sales generated about $25.7 billion in fiscal 2019, or almost 10% of the company’s total annual revenue.

This past Saturday, Apple announced the company is also preparing to launch installment payment plans for the Mac, iPad, AirPods and other devices via the Apple Card in the near future.

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