GoPro Wants Your Old Digital Camera

If you’ve been thinking about buying a GoPro, now may be the time. The company—in an attempt to bolster less-than-robust sales over the 2017 holiday season—has extended last year’s trade-in program indefinitely and expanded it to include any digital camera. In exchange for your old camera, GoPro is offering deep discounts on their latest models.

Seriously, Any Camera

The TradeUp program promises to accept any digital camera, regardless of whether it works—or even whether it’s still in one piece. Theoretically, you could send them a totally wrecked piece of gear and still receive the discount. The company will be recycling the trade-ins, so don’t worry about your camera taking up space in a landfill.

How It Works

First, you need to decide whether you want the Hero6 Black or the Fusion camera. The Hero6 Black usually runs $400, but with a trade-in, the price drops to $350. The 360-degree Fusion retails for $700; the trade-in brings the price tag down to $600.

Once you’ve chosen your camera, you’ll add it to your cart and check out on the company’s website. During the purchasing process, you’ll receive a free shipping label for your old camera. Once GoPro receives the trade-in, they’ll finish processing your order at the discounted price.

Should You Do It?

As with many questions in life, the answer is that it depends. If you have an outdated point-and-shoot or an earlier-generation GoPro that you’re no longer using, then the discount could be very tempting. However, you’ll want to make sure that the resale value of your camera is less than the maximum discount of $100 on the Fusion. In other words, don’t send in your top-of-the-line Canon or Nikon.

If you’re a fan of instant gratification or need a camera in a hurry, then you may be frustrated while you wait for the company to receive your trade-in. Ultimately, if you were already thinking about buying a new GoPro, the TradeUp program is a good bargain, but be prepared to jump through a few hoops to get it.