The Trade-In Program in General

Who can use the Sony Trade-In Program?
Anyone with pre-owned Sony or non-Sony product(s) to trade in toward the purchase of the products listed below can access and use the Sony Trade-In Program directly at sony.com/tradeups. Get a Free Quote now to see if your pre-owned product is eligible.

Also, anyone with pre-owned products may use the Trade-In Program to donate or recycle* them.

* A recycling fee and shipping charges will apply. The recycling fee is waived when recycling notebook product and purchasing a new Sony VAIO notebook.

How do I use the Sony Trade-In Program?
You may either register to establish a log-in ID, or use guest access to skip the registration process. (Note that you .will need to register in order to complete a trade on the website.) A key advantage of registering is the ability to save multiple quote lists for later access. Your saved quote list will automatically be updated with the current trade-in values. Customers, Sony Resellers and Sales Representatives will be able to access the Sony Trade-In Program web site, enter the equipment to be traded, and receive a quote for the value of the equipment. From that point, you can decide whether or not to continue working through the process to ship pre-owned product back to Market Velocity for trade-in, or recycling*. If you accept the quote and choose to trade in your pre-owned equipment, you will need to show proof of your eligible new Sony product purchase in order to receive your redemption check.

* A recycling fee and shipping charges will apply. The recycling fee is waived when recycling notebook product and purchasing a new Sony VAIO notebook.

Why is Sony using Market Velocity?
Sony's Partnership with Market Velocity provides a complete trade-in solution for our customers. Together we have developed a customized Sony Trade-in Program that is always available via the Internet. Market Velocity specializes in remarketing, refurbishing, and dispositioning pre-owned equipment and can provide the maximum values for customers interested in updating to new Sony equipment. Market Velocity can support the wide breadth of product categories that Sony Trade-in Program offers, providing an integrated, easy to use solution for our customers.

Can a Sony channel partner or sales representative act on behalf of a customer?
We encourage Sony channel partners and sales representatives to use the program as a sales tool to communicate additional savings to their customers. However, if the customer decides to engage in the trade-in process, it is best to direct the customer to the web site in order to conduct the transaction themselves. The relationship is between Market Velocity and the user of the program.

What products will Market Velocity accept for trade-in or donation?
Any amount or combination of products that have a trade-in value, either Sony or non-Sony, can be traded in the product categories listed below. Once you begin the Get a Free Quote process, you will see which professional products are eligible.

All trade-in products must be in working condition. The featured trade-in promotions will be limited to the specific products identified within each promotion. Refer to the featured promotion's terms and conditions or eligibility rules to see if you qualify. If a pre-owned product is deemed to have no remaining market value, it may be recycled according to the recycling terms and conditions*.

* A recycling fee and shipping charges will apply. The recycling fee is waived when recycling notebook product and purchasing a new Sony VAIO notebook.

What are the other trade-in offers I see from Sony?
Periodically, Sony may run a special enhanced trade-in promotion which you can learn about on the Sony Trade-in Program website via the featured promotions link. In general, these programs run from 60-90 days and offer a better trade-in value for a specific trade-in scenario. Be sure to read the unique terms and conditions (also called eligibility rules) that apply to the featured trade-in offers. Many times they differ from the standard program terms and conditions.

Trading In Products

How are the trade-in rebate values determined?
The values stated in the Sony Trade-in Program are based on their value in the pre-owned or secondary marketplace also known as Fair Market Value (FMV). Market Velocity maintains relationships with dozens of re-marketers throughout North America and also maintains a proprietary pricing database which feeds the Sony Trade-in Program web site. We pass along whatever the re-marketers will pay for the pre-owned equipment to the customer. It is best to think of the trade-in value as the pre-owned wholesale value.

How is the money for the trade disbursed?
All redemption checks are mailed via the U.S. Postal Service to the address designated in your transaction. Market Velocity, Inc. will issue your redemption check approximately 45 days after receipt and inspection of your trade-in product and validation of your proof of purchase, whichever is later. If you need assistance, please contact sonycustomerservice@marketvelocity.com.

Is there a minimum amount of product that must be traded?
No. In the standard trade-in program, any amount or combination of products that have a trade-in value, either Sony or non-Sony, can be traded in the following categories:

Do I have to purchase my new product via Market Velocity?
No. Market Velocity only needs to have proof that a new Sony product from the categories listed below was purchased. The program user can purchase a new eligible Sony product through whatever channel they wish.

Does my trade-in product have to be in the same category as what I want to purchase?
For most products in the standard trade-in program the answer is no.

What is the transaction date?
The transaction date refers to when you have agreed to move forward with the trade-in process and are assigned a quote number. Under the standard program this date would be recognized as when you accepted the quote online.

What is an acceptable Proof of Purchase (POP)?
A sales invoice or lease agreement is required for professional products and preferred for IT products. Also acceptable for IT products only is a packing slip, which must include your name, the purchase date, purchase amount, model and serial number(s). The following are NOT acceptable forms of proof of purchase: purchase orders, order confirmations, and order acknowledgements.

What if the condition of my product is different from what I represented when initiating my trade in?
To receive your redemption check, you must accurately state your current product's condition. Market Velocity will perform an inspection upon receipt of your product. If the product's condition differs materially from that which you described, Market Velocity reserves the right to re-price your transaction quote using the same condition parameters originally available to you. You agree to state product conditions accurately and to the best of your ability based on the guidelines posted on this site. Packing and shipping recommendations should be followed in order to avoid possible damage or loss. If you follow the supplied packing guidelines and instructions, the product should arrive in the same condition as when it left your site. If the product is damaged during shipping and there is visible damage to the packing materials (box is dented, ripped, smashed, etc.), Market Velocity will take responsibility for resolving any claims with the courier. If the packing is intact, but the product is not in the condition stated by you in the quote process, Market Velocity will contact you to advise you of the adjusted quote value. If your current product(s) is received and, through the inspection process, it is determined that the product condition was misrepresented by you, and there is no trade value, (also see Determining Values), then Market Velocity reserves the right to charge you a recycling fee for the disposition of the product. If the product can be returned to you, you will be responsible for any and all associated shipping costs.

Shipping

How do I ship my product?
During the trade-in process (this also applies to shipping for recycling or donation), you will be asked for the e-mail address where you would like your shipping instructions e-mailed. Within one business day of completing your trade, an e-mail with the subject line "Sony Trade-In Program shipping instructions" will be e-mailed to the address you provided while registering and will provide the steps for retrieving your shipping label or shipping placard. This e-mail will contain embedded links for each product you are trading. To view, simply click on the link and your prepaid, pre-addressed shipping label or shipping placard will appear. A Microsoft window will direct you on how to print out your label or placard. Print two copies, and attach one to the shipment of your trade-in product and retain the second copy for tracking purposes. If you are shipping multiple items, please package each item individually and use the appropriate shipping label for each item. It is important to use the correct shipping label/placard for each individual item, as the label/placard is used to expedite tracking, identification and increase the speed of processing. You have 30 days from the day you completed your on-line trade to ship the product. The expiration date will appear on the shipping label in the "Reference # field" and as "Expiration date of the trade-in" on the shipping placard. If you experience technical difficulty in printing these items or you lose your shipping instructions e-mail, please contact customer service.

Who pays for shipping?
Shipping and handling fees will be deducted from the trade-in value. For your convenience, Sony will supply you with prepaid shipping labels.

What if I cannot print my shipping label or placard?
If you experience difficulty in printing your shipping label or placard, simply contact customer service and a customer service representative will assist you.

What if I lose my Sony Trade-In Program shipping instructions email?
Simply contact customer service and a customer service representative will assist you.

What if my products are in multiple locations?
On the "Sony Trade-in Program: shipping instructions page" there is a box that you will check if you have multiple locations. Upon checking the box, a trade-in representative will contact you via email within one business day.

Using the Trade-In Program Web Site

Do I have to register to use the Sony Trade-In Program web site?
No, you may enter as a guest by selecting "Get a Free Quote" to receive an instant quote. The advantage of becoming a registered member on the web site is that you will have the ability to save multiple quote lists that will automatically be updated as the system is updated with the most current values.

How can I get a free quote for my product?
From the Sony Trade-in Program home page, click on the "Get a Free Quote" link in the top navigation bar. This leads directly to the quote engine. Follow the instructions on this page to get your free quote.

What if I have problems navigating through or exiting an area of the Sony Trade-In Program's web site?
If you are experiencing problems navigating through or exiting an area of the Sony Trade-in Program site, this may be related to bad/corrupt cookies on your PC. A quick and easy way to correct a bad or corrupt cookie is to delete your cookies and restart your browser session.
Below is a quick "delete your cookies" tutorial based on browser type. *Make sure you close (exit) your browser and open a new browser before you begin.
     1. Open Internet Explorer, click the Tools menu and choose Internet Options.
     2. Click the Delete Cookies button.
     3. Click OK.
    Windows Internet Explorer 4:
     1. Open Internet Explorer.
     2. On the view menu, click Internet Options, and click the Settings button.
     3. Click the View Files button.
     4. Click the View menu and Select Details.
     5. Highlight the cookies you wish to delete, and then press the Delete key.
    Windows Netscape 4.x:
     1. Locate the Netscape folder on your hard drive (usually located in c:/Program Files/Netscape/).
     2. Double click the Users folder within the Netscape folder.
     3. Double click your Profile Name folder (this will usually be your username).
     4. Click the cookies.txt file once to highlight it, then click the File menu and choose delete.
    Netscape 7:
     1. Click the Tools menu and choose Cookie Manager.
     2. Choose Manage Stored Cookies from the submenu. The Cookie Manager window opens with a list of all the cookies stored on your computer.
     3. Select one or more cookies and click Remove Cookie, or click Remove All Cookies.

How do I remove data from my system?
Before you ship your product, Market Velocity strongly recommends that you back up your data and then erase the data from your hard drive. Any files or data left on your system may be accessible to others if the data is not erased. As of 10/01/03, a freeware tool that may assist you in erasing your data can be found at http://www.pcinspector.de/emaxx/uk/welcome.htm. Download the free version of the software, which will allow you to erase the data to US Military standards for cleaning and sanitizing magnetic media.

Can I save the information I enter to reference later?
As a registered user of the Sony Trade-in Program, you have the ability to save multiple quote lists and reference or update them as needed. To access a saved quote, you must sign in and then choose “View Quotes” from the left navigational bar.