Many people don’t realize that when they send their device into Apple Trade-In, they’re not actually sending their device to Apple. Apple contracts Phobio, a company that offers white label trade-in services so the companies that hire them can pass their services off as their own. Not only is your device not inspected by an Apple technician (which would be the assumption) but Phobio has had many recent complains about unfair inspections and offers.
Over 500 complaints have been filed with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) about Phobio, and the BBB issued a statement warning Apple users that Phobio has a “pattern of complaints alleging Refund or Exchange Issues, Sales Issues, and Service Issues.