If you're one of the 4 million people who picked up a new Apple iPhone 4S during its first weekend, or if you're waiting eagerly for the next Android smartphone, you probably have an old phone that has suddenly become obsolete for you. That's an expensive piece of technology to dump in a landfill, though! Thankfully, there are several different ways you can get rid of your old smartphone and even make a little money in the process.
Apple Reuse and Recycling program
Apple has its own buy-back program for its gadgets, called the Reuse and Recycling Program. The program asks detailed questions about your old tech, including whether it's been engraved, if the battery charges completely, if there are scratches or scuffs, and whether it's had water damage. You can't get cash through Apple's buy-back program, but you can get Apple gift cards, so you can continue your Apple addiction. Apple will even provide shipping materials and a free shipping label, so all you have to do is put it in the box and drop it in the mail.
Assuming your device has no scratches or damage, a black 16GB iPhone 3GS is worth $105 through Apple's Reuse and Recycling program. A newer 32 GB iPhone 4 will net you $200. The offer drops to $140 for an iPhone 4 with "light to moderate scratches or scuffs." The online form asks if you've included the power cord, though it doesn't seem to affect the buy-back offer if you say no.
Swappa your Android
Looking for somewhere more Android-specific? Swappais a place to buy and sell gently used Android devices. You have to log in with either Facebook or an OpenID such as your Google account, and then you can list your phone and provide details such as its condition and whether or not it's rooted and has CyanogenModinstalled. Swappa requires that your device be fully functional and free of water damage and screen cracks.
It's free to list your phone on Swappa; there's a small fee included in the price that the buyer pays, which supports the site. Rather than selling your phone to a company, you're actually selling it to another Android user, so Swappa acts as an intermediary, much likeeBay or Craigslist. You're responsible for packaging and sending your phone to the buyer, after you receive payment through PayPal. Unlike selling your phone to a company like Apple or those listed below, you aren't guaranteed to actually sell your device on Swappa — but if you do, you'll likely make more than you might on another site. Currently, HTC Sensation 4G phones are selling for $300-$470, and Motorola Droid X phones are going for $150-$260.
NextWorth
One of the most popular places to sell your old technology, NextWorth buys all sorts of gadgets, from phones to game consoles to calculators. The web interface is very easy and intuitive to use — just find your item, answer a few quick questions about its condition, and get a quote. If you accept the quote, you can print off a prepaid shipping label, and then you have 21 days to send your item to NextWorth, after which you'll receive your payment.
Currently, NextWorth is offering $200 for a black 32GB iPhone 4 in good condition or $115 for a black iPhone 3GS. The HTC Sensation 4G sells for $145, and the Motorola Droid X is going for $86.57. You can choose to receive payment via PayPal, Target gift card, or a paper check mailed to your home.
Gazelle
Gazelle is another well-known electronics buy-back site that purchases used electronics of all sorts. Items that are still useful are resold, and those that aren't are recycled (which means that even if your phone is broken, Gazelle will still buy it).
Currently, Gazelle will give you $110 for your 16GB iPhone 3GS, $162 for a 32GB iPhone 4, $97 for a Motorola Droid X2, and $195 for a HTC Sensation 4G. Payment is made by Amazon gift card, paper check, or PayPal.
Wipe it clean
If you're like most smartphone users, your phone was packed full of personal information. Your contacts list, photos, email information — all of the things that make smartphones so helpful can also be used for nefarious purposes in the wrong hands. So before you send your old smartphone off to wherever you've decided to sell it, you need to wipe the memory clean and return it to its pristine, like-new state. It's pretty easy to do.
Whatever you choose to do with your old phone, make sure you know exactly what to expect. Research the company you choose, and know what your responsibilities are and what the company will give you in return. If you're careful (and with a bit of luck), you can nearly finance the entire cost of your shiny new phone by selling your old one!
kmg 300 iphone steve flickr yoshikazutakada
Apple has its own buy-back program for its gadgets, called the Reuse and Recycling Program. The program asks detailed questions about your old tech, including whether it's been engraved, if the battery charges completely, if there are scratches or scuffs, and whether it's had water damage. You can't get cash through Apple's buy-back program, but you can get Apple gift cards, so you can continue your Apple addiction. Apple will even provide shipping materials and a free shipping label, so all you have to do is put it in the box and drop it in the mail.
Assuming your device has no scratches or damage, a black 16GB iPhone 3GS is worth $105 through Apple's Reuse and Recycling program. A newer 32 GB iPhone 4 will net you $200. The offer drops to $140 for an iPhone 4 with "light to moderate scratches or scuffs." The online form asks if you've included the power cord, though it doesn't seem to affect the buy-back offer if you say no.
kmg 300 android flickr aland
Looking for somewhere more Android-specific? Swappais a place to buy and sell gently used Android devices. You have to log in with either Facebook or an OpenID such as your Google account, and then you can list your phone and provide details such as its condition and whether or not it's rooted and has CyanogenModinstalled. Swappa requires that your device be fully functional and free of water damage and screen cracks.
It's free to list your phone on Swappa; there's a small fee included in the price that the buyer pays, which supports the site. Rather than selling your phone to a company, you're actually selling it to another Android user, so Swappa acts as an intermediary, much likeeBay or Craigslist. You're responsible for packaging and sending your phone to the buyer, after you receive payment through PayPal. Unlike selling your phone to a company like Apple or those listed below, you aren't guaranteed to actually sell your device on Swappa — but if you do, you'll likely make more than you might on another site. Currently, HTC Sensation 4G phones are selling for $300-$470, and Motorola Droid X phones are going for $150-$260.
NextWorth
One of the most popular places to sell your old technology, NextWorth buys all sorts of gadgets, from phones to game consoles to calculators. The web interface is very easy and intuitive to use — just find your item, answer a few quick questions about its condition, and get a quote. If you accept the quote, you can print off a prepaid shipping label, and then you have 21 days to send your item to NextWorth, after which you'll receive your payment.
Currently, NextWorth is offering $200 for a black 32GB iPhone 4 in good condition or $115 for a black iPhone 3GS. The HTC Sensation 4G sells for $145, and the Motorola Droid X is going for $86.57. You can choose to receive payment via PayPal, Target gift card, or a paper check mailed to your home.
Gazelle
Gazelle is another well-known electronics buy-back site that purchases used electronics of all sorts. Items that are still useful are resold, and those that aren't are recycled (which means that even if your phone is broken, Gazelle will still buy it).
Currently, Gazelle will give you $110 for your 16GB iPhone 3GS, $162 for a 32GB iPhone 4, $97 for a Motorola Droid X2, and $195 for a HTC Sensation 4G. Payment is made by Amazon gift card, paper check, or PayPal.
kmg 300 dead iphone flickr nathanborror
If you're like most smartphone users, your phone was packed full of personal information. Your contacts list, photos, email information — all of the things that make smartphones so helpful can also be used for nefarious purposes in the wrong hands. So before you send your old smartphone off to wherever you've decided to sell it, you need to wipe the memory clean and return it to its pristine, like-new state. It's pretty easy to do.
- First things first: Back up your old data! Make sure you get all your pictures, phone numbers, and other important information off your phone before you delete it forever.
- Most Android phones come with a microSD card that stores your data. If you're keeping the microSD card from the old phone to use in the new, just pop it out and you're done. If you'll be erasing it to leave it for the next user, you can reformat it by going to the settings menu, tapping Storage, and selecting Format SD Card.
- Resetting the phone works similarly for both Android phones and iPhones. On an Android phone, find the main system settings page, go to Privacy, and tap "Factory data reset." Once you've confirmed that you really want to do this, the phone will reset to the original state in which it rolled out of the factory. On an iPhone, at the very bottom of the General Settings menu, you'll find a Reset button. You can choose various options, but if you're prepping your phone to sell, you'll want to choose Reset All Settings; if you're running an older OS, this might be called Erase All Content and Settings. You'll have to enter your password and confirm that you really want to do this, and voilà. Note that it might take up to two hours for all data to be completely erased from your phone.
- Remove the SIM card. Some phones also have a SIM card that stores personal account data; check your phone's manual to see if yours does have such a card and how to remove it.
Whatever you choose to do with your old phone, make sure you know exactly what to expect. Research the company you choose, and know what your responsibilities are and what the company will give you in return. If you're careful (and with a bit of luck), you can nearly finance the entire cost of your shiny new phone by selling your old one!
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