It’s always an exciting time when your smartphone is up for an upgrade, but at the same time it can be stressful to try to figure out what to do with your old phone. Assuming that your used phone still has plenty of life left in it, you may be able to trade old phones for cash or PayPal credit using a variety of online instant-trade vendors. Here are some of the best places to sell used phones online:
Everyone’s familiar with eBay, but did you know that they have an Instant Sale division that takes electronics for instant credit? This eliminates the process of listing your smartphone, taking photos, waiting around for a buyer that could take days to pay, and potentially having to pay relisting fees if your phone doesn’t sell. With eBay Instant Sale, you define your phone’s condition based on their standards and guidelines, and they automatically make an offer, complete with free shipping labels.
Amazon’s not going to be outdone by eBay, so of course they have their own Trade-In division, too. Unlike eBay, which pays you cash via PayPal, Amazon offers you store credit in exchange for your goods. That can still be super useful, especially if you’ve just bought a new smartphone and need to buy a case and screen protector: accessories you can easily find on Amazon. Amazon also pays for shipping to the distribution center.
Gazelle buys pre-owned devices, including smartphones, and refurbishes them for like-new sale. They pride themselves in completing transactions super fast, so their customer service team might even be able to get your device approved and paid for same-day, assuming that you do a good job documenting the phone’s condition before sending in the information. They also have a referral program, so make sure you get on the bandwagon if you have friends looking to sell their phones—you can score $10 cash every time you refer a friend!
Gadget Gobbler tends to provide fast turnaround times compared to eBay and Amazon, though not quite as quick as Gazelle. They typically provide payment via PayPal within 3 business days, and they also offer payment by check. In addition to smartphones, Gazelle takes old-school cell phones (including flip phones!), MP3 players, cameras, gaming consoles, tablets, PDAs, and other smaller personal electronics.What’s really great about Gadget Gobbler is their fundraising option. If you want to unload your old devices but don’t need the cash, you can set up a fundraiser and designate that the value of the devices goes to the charity of your choice. You can “fundraise” your own devices only, or run a full-blown fundraising campaign and collect devices from friends and family (or door-to-door) to benefit a greater cause. Let’s face it, who doesn’t have a drawer full of obsolete electronics that they could easily part with?
Not looking to deal with packaging and shipping your used smartphone? Chances are, there’s a location near you where you can sell your used phone locally. Check out locally-owned communications stores first, since their small-biz mentality often means great customer service and fair deals. Pawn shops and consignment shops are another choice if you need fast cash.Finally, chain stores such as Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T buy back used phones for cash, but require it to be from their own carrier, and you might not get the best deal since they’re usually looking to maximize profit margins. Go with an independent store wherever possible.
Before you head into a used phone store or get your phone packaged up and ready to ship, consider taking some extra steps to ensure you’re getting the best value for your sale. Getting your phone certified by a service like PhoneCheck can add to the value because your buyer knows that they’re getting a phone in 100 percent working condition that can a non-biased third-party set of standards.These certifications check for a wide range of specs, such as:
This goes a long way toward making sure you get top-dollar for your used phone trade-in, so don’t hesitate.
Selling your smartphone for cash doesn’t have to be a struggle, and you don’t have to deal with the drawn-out process of listing your phone for sale on eBay as a third-party seller, or meeting up with Craigslist buyers in person. There are plenty of instant cash phone buyers who are happy to help you out online or in person. If you're still not convinced, check out online reviews for the best places to sell used phones and make sure you’re dealing with a place that’s fair and honest.
