Apple Store Customers Targeted With Creative AirDropped Ad Campaign to Promote 'Cheaper and Greener' Refurbished Devices

Apple Store customers in Paris, Berlin, and London shopping for a new iPhone were recently presented with a unique and creative surprise when they saw an AirDrop message appear on the devices that aimed to convince them to purchase a refurbished ‌iPhone‌ instead of a completely new model.

back market airdrop Large
The ad campaign by Back Market, a website that specializes in selling refurbished consumer electronics, consisted of sending an AirDrop message to iPhones on display in Apple's retail store that led to a webpage that promotes refurbished devices.

"Quick! Security isn't looking... It's time to go refurbished with a cheaper and greener model," the webpage read. "Did you know this ‌iPhone‌ is available in white, black, blue, and greener?" it added.

Back Market offers a wide range of refurbished devices for sale. Back Market offers a wide range of refurbished devices for sale, with prices varying depending on model and condition. Back Market says that a "refurbished phone represents 176 lbs off of our collective carbon footprint. Manufacturing a new smartphone produces about 191 lbs of CO2e. Refurbishing? Just 15 lbs. Lose the weight: no extra effort, just extra savings."

Apple does have its own refurbished program, but unlike Back Market, it's only currently offering the iPhone 11 Pro from three years ago for $919.

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Top Rated Comments

bLackjackj Avatar
42 months ago
Even better,..they managed to dupe MacRumors into advertising them for FREE! ?‍♂️
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
japanime Avatar
42 months ago
Oh, I'm for sure gonna click on an AirDropped link from somebody or something I don't know. ?

"Creative surprise"? Is that what you really think this is, Sami?
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rorschach Avatar
42 months ago
This is why my AirDrop stays off or on "Contacts Only".
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ruka.snow Avatar
42 months ago
Well there is a company to strike off ever doing business with. It is completely unacceptable that they feel they are allowed to send messages to my or anyone else’s phone.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrENGLISH Avatar
42 months ago

Well there is a company to strike off ever doing business with. It is completely unacceptable that they feel they are allowed to send messages to my or anyone else’s phone.
Exactly! I'm also cringing at the idea that articles like this are also giving them all this free marketing exposure. I find all of this disgusting.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
antiprotest Avatar
42 months ago
This looks like regular Airdrop spam. How is it "unique" and "creative"? Is there something different that I missed?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)