01 May Where to Get Cash or Credit for Your Old Phone
Cell phones are great while they’re in use, but disposing of them is another story. They’re bad for landfills so they should never be thrown away. Many cell phone owners have younger siblings or children to whom they can pass old phones down. If that’s not the case, you may keep it as a backup in case something happens to your new phone or you could sell it and make a little extra cash. If you don’t mind dealing with marketplaces like Craigslist and Facebook, you could probably get a premium price for your phone. But, if you don’t like dealing with people, there are many companies that buy old cell phones on the spot. Here are some of the more popular places that will pay cash for your used phone.
1. Kiosks
Kiosks aren’t just for Netflix rentals. The ecoATM has emerged as a convenient means of disposing of your smartphone. What is ecoATM? This kiosk will scan your device for flaws and then have you plug it into a port to confirm the device is operational. After a quick inspection, you’ll receive an offer for your phone. If ecoATM decides it can’t offer cash for your phone, you can also opt to recycle it.
2. Your Current Wireless Provider
Most wireless carriers offer trade-in deals on new devices. The value of your old phone will be credited to the purchase price of your new phone. However, your used phone will still need to be in somewhat high demand because your carrier will likely refurbish and resell it.
3. Online Auction Sites
When you think of an online auction site, probably the first one that comes to mind is eBay. If you have time to wait a little longer for your funds, eBay is going to be one of your better options, as the buyers will likely bid your phone up to the going rate, giving you the best possible deal on your old phone. The drawback isn’t just waiting for your item to sell, but then you have to pack and ship it. The shipping fee will eat into your profits, and so will the eBay seller fees.
4. Amazon
Like eBay, when you sell on Amazon, you will wait for a buyer to purchase your device. On Amazon, unless you price your phone way below retail value, this could take months. And like eBay, you’ll have seller fees to pay as well as shipping which will eat into your profits. If you’re not in a hurry for funds or to be rid of your phone, neither one of these online routes is a bad deal. You’ll probably still end up making more than you would at a brick and mortar store.
You have plenty of options for passing on your old cell phone. If you don’t have someone young who will appreciate you handing down your old phone, find someone else who will take it. Even if your old phone has zero value, leaving it with the ecoATM kiosk is better than tossing it in the landfill.