Declined on trade in because of BS reason that simply isn't true

[Mike Dee]

I've noted a couple of things reading this thread. One is that depending on the carrier version, you may stay signed in the device after a reset (https://www.androidrecovery.com/blog/factory-reset-protection-android.html).
Another item I did not see mentioned is removing and not giving away your SIM. The info stored here can be vast and personal.
And as a side note, when you cancel a website subscription, it's always good to go into your account before closing and anonymize/eliminate your info.
Good luck

I think it's important to distinguish that depending on the device brand, resetting a phone may remove the account but possibly not the FRP protection. That's exactly why I remove the account before resetting if I am selling a phone just to make sure.

Swappa specfically states that you should remove the account first to ensure FRP removal

Here is the link to the instructions for sales on Swappa

https://help.ting.com/hc/en-us/articles/205666168-Removing-your-Android-activation-lock

I thought that was also in the Samsung instructions but I don't have the time to search

The bottom line is if you don't remove your accounts before a reset you are taking a risk in not removing FRP. It's an easy step to include, so why not do it regardless of your personal past experience?

 

[Mike Dee]

I've never had to manually remove any accounts from phone's I've traded or sold. Once I did the factory reset, it cleared it all. This thread just has me a little worried.
Is it possible that the OP just reset the settings only?

See my post above.... Resetting doesn't always remove FRP

 

[Almeuit]

Never heard of Factory Reset Protection and have never logged out on any of my phones since Nexus One, never had any issues. I call BS on this

Logging out is done for your personal protection. Or you can unauthorize your previous devices from google website

Yes logging out is for you but if you also don't log out when selling a phone and it has the protection software (all Android now a days) it can prevent the new user from factory resetting and using the phone.

 

[kolyan2k]

I'm sure it sounds like overkill, but I delete all accounts, factory reset, go through setup, then factory reset again. Never a doubt that it's wiped.

Should have bought a new one from Google Store....just in case ))

 

[Mike Dee]

Yeah. I just read a similar issue that several (but not most) people had for the S10+ trade in program. Some actually filmed their phones, doing the factory reset, showing the removal of accounts etc with a timestamp just in case. Not sure what the outcome was though. I did think the $600 trade in was too good to be true, but Samsung is a reputable company, and I expect more from them. I shouldn't have to film everything just in case. Just won't be using this option in future.

One of the issues with trade ins is that you really aren't dealing with Samsung on the trade in process.

 

[methodman89]

I would suppose a swappa tech with ill will gets many opportunities to snatch data.
IME, the way I like to dispose of anything with ram or rom is a few seconds in the microwave. But nuking a 600 device that wouldn't be normal.

 

[anon(10274434)]

I would suppose a swappa tech with ill will gets many opportunities to snatch data.
IME, the way I like to dispose of anything with ram or rom is a few seconds in the microwave. But nuking a 600 device that wouldn't be normal.

Not normal - but fun

 

[Gary02468]

I would suppose a swappa tech with ill will gets many opportunities to snatch data.
IME, the way I like to dispose of anything with ram or rom is a few seconds in the microwave.

If your device is securely encrypted, a Swappa tech won't be able to recover data from it even if you neglect to do a factory reset.

 

[sulla1965]

Yes logging out is for you but if you also don't log out when selling a phone and it has the protection software (all Android now a days) it can prevent the new user from factory resetting and using the phone.

Agreed, this way if someone gets into our phone. He/she would have to also know your account passwords, pins, or even fingerprint, before belong able to remove the account. Remove accounts, turn off back up data option, also remove any lock screen pins or passwords just to be safe.

 

[rabernet]

the thead has proven very eye opening. I just went to FDR and it shows every account I'm logged in on. I would have done an external reset and not even known about the internal reset.

Same! I feel very bad for the OP, but so thankful that I read this thread before I did my own factory reset. I closed out/removed every account it showed on my phone first. Now just need to run to UPS (my trade through Verizon - which interestingly enough, sent me a FedEx box with a UPS label to return).

 

[torbach1]

Yes, they're doing this through Ingram Micro.

One of the issues with trade ins is that you really aren't dealing with Samsung on the trade in process.

 

[torbach1]

To close this thread out from me, I unfortunately requested my trade returned almost immediately because they said if I don't within 5 days, I just lose the traded in phone too.

When I contacted Samsung customer support, it took long to get hold of anyone willing to discuss this. But they claimed that they would have been able to help me, but since I've requested the return of the trade in, they can't. After much discussion, they said they're not flexible on this it's a policy. Can't even decline it and have it returned to them exactly as is. They offered me a $25 gift certificate for more Samsung products as a sign of good will. I declined it.

For the record, I have a fully Samsung household from other family members who have used Samsung phones since the S6, to TVs, to washer dryers all registered on their site and this is why they offered me the $25 gift certificate. Lol. I did do the full reset properly. This isn't my first rodeo in this type of thing, only my first through Samsung directly. So buyer beware.

 

[bhatech]

To close this thread out from me, I unfortunately requested my trade returned almost immediately because they said if I don't within 5 days, I just lose the traded in phone too.

When I contacted Samsung customer support, it took long to get hold of anyone willing to discuss this. But they claimed that they would have been able to help me, but since I've requested the return of the trade in, they can't. After much discussion, they said they're not flexible on this it's a policy. Can't even decline it and have it returned to them exactly as is. They offered me a $25 gift certificate for more Samsung products as a sign of good will. I declined it.

For the record, I have a fully Samsung household from other family members who have used Samsung phones since the S6, to TVs, to washer dryers all registered on their site and this is why they offered me the $25 gift certificate. Lol. I did do the full reset properly. This isn't my first rodeo in this type of thing, only my first through Samsung directly. So buyer beware.

That sucks man, what are you planning to do next after returning the phone and getting your trade in?

At least you can verify once you receive your phone on what they say is actually true and if indeed it's your phone.

Never know with these people. Keep us updated.

 

[Mike Dee]

To close this thread out from me, I unfortunately requested my trade returned almost immediately because they said if I don't within 5 days, I just lose the traded in phone too.

When I contacted Samsung customer support, it took long to get hold of anyone willing to discuss this. But they claimed that they would have been able to help me, but since I've requested the return of the trade in, they can't. After much discussion, they said they're not flexible on this it's a policy. Can't even decline it and have it returned to them exactly as is. They offered me a $25 gift certificate for more Samsung products as a sign of good will. I declined it.

For the record, I have a fully Samsung household from other family members who have used Samsung phones since the S6, to TVs, to washer dryers all registered on their site and this is why they offered me the $25 gift certificate. Lol. I did do the full reset properly. This isn't my first rodeo in this type of thing, only my first through Samsung directly. So buyer beware.

That's too bad. Sorry it didn't work out for you.

 

[ClintRo]

I would suppose a swappa tech with ill will gets many opportunities to snatch data.
IME, the way I like to dispose of anything with ram or rom is a few seconds in the microwave. But nuking a 600 device that wouldn't be normal.

If your device is securely encrypted, a Swappa tech won't be able to recover data from it even if you neglect to do a factory reset.

Swappa Tech? Usually (Always) when using Swappa you are sending the device directly to the buyer...so

 

[torbach1]

That sucks man, what are you planning to do next after returning the phone and getting your trade in?

At least you can verify once you receive your phone on what they say is actually true and if indeed it's your phone.

Never know with these people. Keep us updated.

I've tweeted about it. If it isn't resolved, I'll sell the traded phone (likely for around $350), or just keep it as a spare since it's a Pixel 3.

 

[ClintRo]

Yea sorry that this happened... A few people have this issue every cycle. Sometimes user error sometime vendor error... You always roll the dice. That is why I do like to trade at BestBuy normally, since when you walk out on launch day it is all done and confirmed. But you never get the phone early since trade-in is only done in store. Plus the extra $300 on the trade was only on Samsung.com this time IIRC.

If my Note 9 was returned I would do the same and just sell it probably.

 

[anon(10274434)]

Just to add some more verbiage to this mess - I sent a Pixel 3a XL in to sell, not as a trade in on the Note 10 - The site I sent it to gave me the same not reset properly talk since my account was still on the phone.
(I think I mentioned all this previously)
I called and talked to a tech and he said that Google, with out telling anybody, had changed the reset procedure and accounts were not being erased. The phone was returned to me and sure enough, my Google acct was still on the phone. Like you, this wasn't my 1st rodeo, and I know that factory rest/erase all data/blah/blah/blah. I went in and removed the account, reset it again, made sure the account was gone, sent the phone back and my check is in the mail.

You sent a Pixel, I sent a Pixel - I'm not sure Samsung is to blame in this situation - seems to me the issue is with Google/Pixel. I don't know if anybody else has had this issue with any other phones - just sayin'

While I don't have a house full of Samsung products as you do, I have purchased enough Samsung SSDs to supply a small 4th world country, and been happy with all of them.

As far as dealing with the Cust Serv Reps, most companies have a "system" - and God forbid you try to ask about, or do anything that falls outside the system. Several years ago I bought something on line from Macy's, it never arrived, called them and they issued me a credit. A few days go by and the package shows up on a porch I wasn't expecting it to be on. I call Macy's, tell them I finally found the package and I owe them the money for the shirts. Rep says " you mean to tell me you are calling to tell us you owe us money" I said "yep" - she says "hold on". Comes back on the phone and tells me their system is not set up charge under these conditions and I was to enjoy the shirts on them.

what has been learned here:

I have way to much time on my hands
I am an honest person
Never mess with "the System"
AND
Offering you a $25.00 gift certificate to buy more stuff from someone you are complaining about is a "system" thing, not a "person" thing.

I feel a lot better now.

 

[torbach1]

Yea sorry that this happened... A few people have this issue every cycle. Sometimes user error sometime vendor error... You always roll the dice.

True. I usually prefer trading in at T-Mobile for the same reason. But this $600 value for the trade if you get an unlocked Note 10+ was too good to be true. And yeah, you always roll the dice with these things unless you do this in-person.

 

[torbach1]

Not sure I agree that I didn't reset it properly. Is there a difference between doing what you did, and going into my Google account after reset on a computer and removing the device from my list of devices, etc?

Anyway, the difference between Samsung and their real competitors like Apple, or even Microsoft is stark. I recently had to get my MacBook fixed at an Apple store. When I came to pick it up, the charge after Apple Care was $300, but their credit card machine wasn't working. They just gave me back my laptop. I walked out of there into the Microsoft store at the same mall with my daughter's Surface Laptop which we bought from Best Buy, was out of warranty, but whose trackpad wasn't working. They gave me a new one. No questions asked. Compare that to this $25 gift certificate. Samsung is great but they've got a lot to learn about customer service. And this incident is not the only reason I'm saying that. Anyway, despite that, I love their phones.

Just to add some more verbiage to this mess - I sent a Pixel 3a XL in to sell, not as a trade in on the Note 10 - The site I sent it to gave me the same not reset properly talk since my account was still on the phone.
(I think I mentioned all this previously)
I called and talked to a tech and he said that Google, with out telling anybody, had changed the reset procedure and accounts were not being erased. The phone was returned to me and sure enough, my Google acct was still on the phone. Like you, this wasn't my 1st rodeo, and I know that factory rest/erase all data/blah/blah/blah. I went in and removed the account, reset it again, made sure the account was gone, sent the phone back and my check is in the mail.

You sent a Pixel, I sent a Pixel - I'm not sure Samsung is to blame in this situation - seems to me the issue is with Google/Pixel. I don't know if anybody else has had this issue with any other phones - just sayin'

While I don't have a house full of Samsung products as you do, I have purchased enough Samsung SSDs to supply a small 4th world country, and been happy with all of them.

As far as dealing with the Cust Serv Reps, most companies have a "system" - and God forbid you try to ask about, or do anything that falls outside the system. Several years ago I bought something on line from Macy's, it never arrived, called them and they issued me a credit. A few days go by and the package shows up on a porch I wasn't expecting it to be on. I call Macy's, tell them I finally found the package and I owe them the money for the shirts. Rep says " you mean to tell me you are calling to tell us you owe us money" I said "yep" - she says "hold on". Comes back on the phone and tells me their system is not set up charge under these conditions and I was to enjoy the shirts on them.

what has been learned here:

I have way to much time on my hands
I am an honest person
Never mess with "the System"
AND
Offering you a $25.00 gift certificate to buy more stuff from someone you are complaining about is a "system" thing, not a "person" thing.

I feel a lot better now.