The Cardo Trade-In Program launched September 8, 2026, and it drops the usual same-brand restriction: riders can send in any communication unit, Cardo or competitor, working or dead, and get up to $130 back toward a new PACKTALK.
Most manufacturer trade-in programs only take back their own old hardware. Cardo’s version accepts a broken unit, a discontinued model, or a competitor’s comm system, and still counts it toward the purchase. “Riders rely on their communication systems every time they get on the bike,” said Cardo CMO Dan Emodi, framing the program as a lower-friction path to PACKTALK PRO and mesh communication.
How the Cardo Trade-In Program Works
Riders pick a new PACKTALK and select “Buy with Trade-In” at checkout, entering the brand and model of their current unit to get an estimated cash-back value. The new PACKTALK is purchased at full price up front, and Cardo sends a prepaid FedEx label for the trade-in unit.
The old communicator has to ship out within 30 days of purchase. Once Cardo receives and verifies it, the refund — up to $130 — goes back to the original payment method rather than showing up as an instant discount at checkout.
Two groups benefit differently here. Longtime Cardo owners get a straightforward upgrade path off aging hardware. Riders currently running a competitor’s system get an actual incentive to switch, since the trade-in isn’t gated to Cardo-only devices — something most brand loyalty and upgrade programs don’t offer.
The pitch for switchers centers on Cardo’s Dynamic Mesh Communication, natural voice operation, and rider-focused connectivity — the features Cardo leans on to differentiate PACKTALK from single-brand or Bluetooth-only comm systems already on the market.
The Cardo Trade-In Program is live now at CardoSystems.com, U.S. only for the moment. Trade-in values vary by brand and model, additional terms apply, and Cardo says it plans to expand the program to other markets down the line.
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