Apple is expanding its USB Power Adapter Takeback Program to countries beyond the United States and China, reports 9to5Mac. First introduced last month following the electrocution of a Chinese woman using a counterfeit iPhone charger, the recycling initiative is designed to allow iOS users to safely replace and dispose of questionable third-party power adapters.

appletakeback
Under the terms of the program, Apple will accept and recycle any third-party charger, no questions asked. The company will also provide an authentic replacement charger for a fee of $10 in the United States, which is $9 cheaper than the standard $19 cost.

While the trade-in program was initially aimed at U.S. and Chinese Apple customers, it has now been expanded to cover Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and the U.K. as well, with the website displaying appropriate pricing included for each country.

Apple is currently preparing its retail locations for the program’s launch, providing training materials for employees. Trade-ins will be accepted beginning on August 16, with users able to bring any USB power adapter and an iPhone, iPad, or iPod to an Apple Retail Store or participating Apple Authorized Service Provider for a replacement. The program is set to last for several months, ending on October 18, 2013.

Top Rated Comments

gnasher729 Avatar
126 months ago
How is it that this is limited to certain countries only?

Is my knockoff charger not dangerous here in Denmark where I live?

Come on Apple, you need to make this program world wide!

So you have a dangerous charger, but you keep on using it because Apple doesn't give you a rebate on a safe one? :eek:
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Born Again Avatar
126 months ago
You're charging it wrong.

-Steve jobs
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cameronjpu Avatar
126 months ago
A good first step. What Apple truly needs to do is to include two Apple charging cables with every new phone that uses the lightning connector. When changing the connector, Apple converted one of its greatest assets (the sheer ubiquity of finding charging cables for your Apple product anywhere you were) into a liability.

Because of that decision, Apple has created a market for extremely cheaply built cables sold by random Chinese sellers on Amazon and the like. Apple could put an end to the market, as well as make its longtime customers happy, by giving out more free lightning cables.

I personally walked into the Apple store about a month after I bought my iPhone 5 last year and demanded that they give me a free lightning cable. I told them I have six iPhones, and six iPhone chargers scattered all around my house. I am not willing to pay $30 for a new cable that cost Apple one dollar to make. I told the guy to walk into the back of the store where the repair Desk is, and get me a lightning cable. To his credit, he did exactly that. There is simply no reason why customers should be put through this amount of inconvenience for the sake of one stupid cable. I know several Apple fans who are specifically not upgrading their phone because they don't want to have to buy new cables. Is that a little ridiculous? Yes. But it's definitely the truth. Apple should know (And I'm sure they do know) just how much their decision to change the connector and not give out free cables has hurt them. That is one reason why they are illuminating the older model phones and replacing them with the 5C model.

Please excuse any typos, this was dictated with Siri and I did not carefully review my edits for non sequiturs and homonyms.

----------

Where's the profit in that though?

Because instead of selling a very very few of the adapters at a ridiculous price, creating a market for cheap dangerous Chinese chargers, they would sell potentially many times more chargers at a much more reasonable price.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SteveJobs2.0 Avatar
126 months ago
Good thing I didn't throw out my junky 12W Chinese knock-off charger than never worked.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nutmac Avatar
126 months ago
I would probably get flamed for this, but I think better solution would be to permanently lower the prices of 12W USB Power Adapter (for 10-inch iPad), 5W USB Power Adapter, and Lightning to USB Cable by $9 to $10.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
landroverz7 Avatar
126 months ago
Is the replacement charger 12W or 5W?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17 on Phone Feature

Gurman: iOS 17 to Provide Several 'Most Requested Features'

Sunday March 26, 2023 6:05 am PDT by
Apple changed the strategy for iOS 17 later in its development process to add several new features, suggesting that the update may be more significant than previously thought, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. In January, Gurman said that iOS 17 could be a less significant update than iPhone updates in previous years due to the company's intense focus on its long-awaited mixed-reality...
dynamic island

iPhone 15 Dynamic Island to Include New Integrated Proximity Sensor

Friday March 24, 2023 12:27 am PDT by
This year, all iPhone 15 models will include Apple's Dynamic Island that unifies the pill and hole cutouts at the top of the display, but there will also be a material change to the feature that wasn't included in the iPhone 14 Pro models. According to a new tweet by Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the proximity sensor on the iPhone 15 series will be integrated inside the Dynamic Island ...
top stories 25mar2023

Top Stories: iPhone 15 Pro Design Leak, iOS 16.4 Coming Soon, and More

Saturday March 25, 2023 6:00 am PDT by
We're still almost six months away from the official unveiling of the iPhone 15 lineup, but it seems like every day we're learning more about what to expect from the next-generation models. Notably, this week gave us our clearest look yet at what appear to be some changes for the volume and mute control hardware. iOS 16.4 and associated releases are also right around the corner with some new ...
Hero0009

Best Apple Deals of the Week: Samsung's Smart Monitor M8 Gets Massive $250 Discount, Along With Year's Best AirPods Prices

Friday March 24, 2023 10:23 am PDT by
We saw a lot of great deals on Apple products and related accessories this week, including Samsung's iMac-like Smart Monitor M8 for $250 off, a 30 percent off spring sale at Anker, and the year's best prices on numerous AirPods models. All of these deals are still available to purchase right now, so we're recapping them and more below. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these ...
Steve Jobs Theater dusk

Apple Reportedly Demoed Mixed-Reality Headset to Executives in the Steve Jobs Theater Last Week

Sunday March 26, 2023 5:53 am PDT by
Apple showcased its mixed-reality headset to the company's top 100 executives in the Steve Jobs Theater last week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that the "momentous gathering" is a "key milestone" ahead of the headset's public announcement planned for June. The event was intended to rally Apple's top members of...
apple mixed reality headset concept by david lewis and marcus kane

Some Apple Employees Seriously Concerned About Mixed-Reality Headset as Announcement Draws Closer

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:25 am PDT by
Some Apple employees are concerned about the usefulness and price point of the company's upcoming mixed-reality headset, The New York Times reports. Apple headset concept by David Lewis and Marcus Kane Initial enthusiasm around the device at the company has apparently become skepticism, according to eight current and former Apple employees speaking to The New York Times. The change of tone...
iphone 14 pro max deep purple feature purple

iPhone 15 Pro Rumor Recap: 10 New Features and Changes to Expect

Thursday March 23, 2023 6:42 am PDT by
While the iPhone 15 series is still around six months away from launching, there have already been plenty of rumors about the devices. Many new features and changes have been rumored for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max in particular. Below, we have recapped 10 changes rumored for iPhone 15 Pro models that are not expected to be available on the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus:A1...
iOS 16

iOS 16.4 Will Add These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:06 am PDT by
Following nearly six weeks of beta testing, iOS 16.4 is expected to be released to the public as soon as this week. The software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone 8 and newer. To install an iOS update, open the Settings app on the iPhone, tap General → Software Update, and follow the on-screen instructions. Below, we have recapped eight new features and...