Microsoft has started emailing some Xbox owners about trading in their consoles. The emails, which Nintendeal shared on X, go to people who haven’t used their Xbox recently. They suggest a trade-in at Best Buy worth up to $375.
Nintendeal’s post shows the email asking whether the recipient has played on their console lately. For people who now use Xbox on PC or another platform, it suggests trading the console in at Best Buy for up to $375 back.
The emails follow a recent Xbox price increase. Microsoft raised the 512GB console by $100 and the 1TB console by $150, less than a year after the last increase.
Microsoft said in its announcement that it is working with retail partners on programs to offer previously played consoles at lower prices. The company needs older units to refurbish and resell, and at the time it suggested that owners who no longer use their Xbox trade it in for cash or store credit.
For buyers, though, a refurbished Series X now runs about $650. That is $150 above what the console cost at launch six years ago.
Owners thinking about a trade-in should look at the condition requirements first. The $375 in the email is only for consoles in excellent condition that include the power cable, controller, and stand, while one in “poor” condition will probably get around $150. Selling on eBay may pay more, but buyers lose the assurance of refurbishment and guarantees.
The trade-in campaign arrives as console sales continue to slide. Circana analyst Mat Piscatella shared figures earlier this month showing that consumers bought 559,000 consoles in August. That is a 15% drop from a year earlier and the weakest August since 2013. With even refurbished consoles priced above what new ones cost at launch, a turnaround doesn’t look likely any time soon.
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