Want to swith from an iPad to a Surface tablet or another Microsoft (MSFT) product? In a competitive replacement twist, Micrsooft is offering users of older Apple (AAPL) iPads a Microsoft Store gift card valued at a minimum of $200 for turning in their “gently used” iPad 2, 3 or 4 units. 

The vendor hopes the promotion, which began on September 5 and runs to October 27, 2013, will generate trade-ins for its Surface RT and Surface Pro tablets, but it is not limiting it to swaps for those devices. Not all Microsoft Stores are taking part in the trade-in offer.

iPad users on their own may be able to exceed the $200 Microsoft is offering through Apple’s reuse and recycling program, which offers Apple Store gift cards for turning in old iPhones, iPads, Macs or PCs.

It’s difficult to say for sure but the trade-in deal appears to be Microsoft’s play to clear out older Surface inventory prior to the expected launch of new Surface models on September 23 in New York City.

Specs on the new Surface tablets have been floated about for weeks but here are some of the anticipated highlights:

There’s still no good word on expected pricing—will Microsoft stay with the current $349 price for Surface RT and $799 for Surface Pro or go back to the initial kick off figures?