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If you’ve been coveting new tech, there’s no better way to afford it than by selling your used tech. By trading in your device you can upgrade and get a new one while giving someone else the opportunity to enjoy your old one. You can also get cash to use on other things in the unlikely event that you don’t want to buy new tech.
This year more places than ever are offering you the opportunity to trade in your used tech. Some places only give gift cards to their store or credit towards a new device while other places give you cash. By figuring out which place gives you the best deal, you can maximize your return on your tech.
Also see, Where to Donate Your Used Tech
Trading In Your Tech
To stay competitive in selling electronics, stores are offering you a trade in value for your tech when you buy a new device for them. But you should be prepared before you leave home so you know whether the price you’re getting is a fair deal. You should also back up your device and wipe the data so you’re not trading in your privacy as well as your device.
Even if you don’t get the highest price for your tech, the convenience of trading in your tech may be worth it. Tech depreciates in value so your best intention of selling your device on your own may not pan out if you wait months before you get around to selling your device.
Check to see which stores take which devices. Some stores take a wide range of gadgets while others have a very limited trade in policy.
Where to Trade In Your Tech
These stores offer trade in value for your used tech in working order. Be sure to check out the store websites for their terms and conditions before you decide to trade in your tech. Make sure that you will be able to use a gift card to the store if that is the only way you’ll be compensated for your electronics.
Amazon
Amazon lets you trade in your used tech for an Amazon gift card, even if you didn’t buy the device from Amazon. Amazon accepts a wide range of electronics from a variety of manufacturers in exchange for Amazon gift cards. Check Amazon’s terms and conditions site to learn about their trade in policy.
Currently, Amazon is letting you lock in the price for your old iPhone until October 31 when you buy a new iPhone. With this deal you can keep your old iPhone until you receive your new one. See Amazon for more details.
Apple
Bring your old iPhone in to an Apple store to trade it in for a new iPhone. Apple’s new trade in program is run through Brightstar so be sure to check that website to get an idea of the trade in value before you head to the store. Your iPhone must be in working order with no water damage and you must use your trade in value towards the purchase of a new iPhone on contract with a carrier. Apple’s in store trade in program is currently US only.
Apple also offers device recycling through its website with the Apple Reuse and Recycling website. You can get a price on your used Apple devices and send them in for an Apple gift card. Apple offers electronic recycling in the US, Canada, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, Japan, Asia Pacific and Australia, Brazil and Costa Rica.
Best Buy
Best Buy accepts a wide variety of electronics for trade in, including computers, cell phones, tablets, ereaders, video games and consoles, DVD’s, musical instruments, and more. Best Buy also will accept electronics for recycling if you own devices that don’t have a trade in value.
Check out Best Buy’s trade in site to see the value of your device. Currently, Best Buy is offering a $50 Best Buy gift card in addition to the full trade in value of your phone if you upgrade your mobile phone.
RadioShack
Like Best Buy, RadioShack offers trade in value for a wide variety of electronics, including cell phones, GPS devices, tablets, cameras and more. You can trade in your devices in store or online. The Shack is currently offering $250 for an iPhone 5, $150 for an iPhone 4S and $100 for an iPhone 4 when you buy a new phone with a qualifying two year plan. Find out more at the RadioShack Trade In site.
Target
Target will accept electronics in exchange for a Target gift card online and at over 1400 stores in the US. Target accepts over 20,000 different devices for trade in. Check the Target Trade In Program website for more details.
Walmart and Sam’s Club
Bring your smartphone in to a Walmart or Sam’s Club to get between $50 to $300 off the price of a new phone on contract with a carrier or a Walmart pre-paid wireless plan. The stores also accept other electronics, such as tablets, ereaders and cameras, for Walmart gift cards. Find out more at the Walmart Gadgets to Gift Cards page.
Selling Electronics Online
Instead of trading in your electronics, you can sell them online to try to get a better price and get cash instead of a gift card. Check out these sites if you want to sell your devices directly to see which one will give you the best deal.
EleGreen
EleGreen is an online recommerce site that buys used mobile devices. You can find out the value of your device and get a quote that is guaranteed for 30 days. Shipping your device to Elegreen is free with a pre-paid shipping label you can print. EleGreen will evaluate the condition of your device when they receive it and pay you immediately if your device passes their inspection.
EleGreen accepts:
- iPod
- iPad
- iPhone
- Windows tablet
- HTC
- Nokia
- Motorola
- Samsung
- Android tablet
Find out more from the Elegreen website.
Gazelle
Gazelle will buy your electronics for a price that is good for 30 days from their offer. Gazelle accepts dozens of types of electronics and pays you after they receive the device and review the condition of it. Currently, Gazelle is offering to lock in the price of iPhones until October 31.
Gazelle is currently running a contest for you to win $1 million. If you win the grand prize, be sure to come back to The Wonder of Tech to share the good news with us!
You can read my full review of Gazelle here: Gazelle – Resell and Recycle Your Tech!
Glyde
Glyde is a site where you can buy and sell used electronics. You can list your item to sell to a buyer, Glyde suggests a price which should result in a sale within a few days but you can set your own price. If you want to get paid more quickly, sell the item to Glyde directly for a lower price.
Also check out Glyde if you’re in the market to buy used electronics. My full review of Glyde: Craving an iPad? Glyde Is on Your Side!
Swappa
You can list your smartphone to be sold for free on Swappa. Buyers pay a $10 fee above the list price of the phone. Swappa will suggest a price for you to sell your phone but you can set your own price.
Sellers must be from the US or the European Union. Buyers can be from anywhere around the world, but should check to see if a seller offers international shipping. Both buyers and sellers must have a PayPal account. Find out more details from the Swappa website.
You can also use Swappa to check a phone’s identification number to find out whether a phone has been reported as stolen.
My full review of Swappa can be found here: Swappa – Satisfy Your Mobile Cravings
Your Thoughts
What do you do with your used tech? Do you trade it in, resell it, recycle it or donate it to others? What has been your experience in trading in your tech? Let us know in the Comments section below!
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* Cell Phone with Dollar Signs courtesy of Stuart Miles at freedigitalphotos.net
Hi Carolyn,
Informative post indeed, yet again 🙂
Well, honestly speaking, I’ve never sold my old electronics but I’ve given or donated it always to the needy as we do have a few such people around, or to the servants who value these much more. Yes, selling them is an option but I think that’s worth it if your product is in a good condition. If you have used it well for a number of years, and it’s still working alright, and you just want a change, I wonder if it would fetch you good money.
What we as a family do where mobiles are concerned, whenever one new one comes in the family, we exchange the old one for it, and all of us kind of exchange our mobiles, so it gives a kind of chance to everyone to have something new in hand. Yes, this way we keep changing mobiles 1-2 times a year, so it’s working well so far. I guess that’s the only exchange I’ve really gone in for and that too from our local shop dealers because we purchase the new one also from them.
But I understand that those who are really keen on brands and getting the latest, would love this information shared, and they are the ones usually who prefer having a new change every few months too. So, great resource for then, which of course needs to be shared. 🙂
Thanks for sharing. Have a nice new week ahead 🙂
Hi Harleena, Excellent point, many people choose to give their used tech to others who will appreciate it. Not everyone wants or needs the latest and the greatest. I tend to hang on to my tech, handing it down to my girls who are excited to get it.
I have an article ready to go about where to donate your tech. I was going to include it at the end of this article, but I didn’t want it to get lost at the end of the article. Stay tuned to The Wonder of Tech!
Hi Carolyn,
I usually recycle my tech stuff but there are several great options here that I havent’t really given much thought to so I’m rethinking things a little and the links you’ve provided for trade-ins are a great place to start.
Thanks for the heads up on these.
Liz
Hi Liz, I’m glad you found this to be very helpful. Many people are so excited to get their new tech that they don’t take the time to investigate their options to sell and trade in their tech. I hope this does help people get the best price for their device!
Well, I haven’t had much experience with selling tech (all my used laptops were done, can’t use them because they are broken or too old – I still keep them ever since I watched a video by Vsauce on how things aren’t really deleted, and that people can still retrieve the files).
As for smartphones, my parents always trade phones – No problems there, it works very well 🙂
But, these are some great resources, Carolyn 🙂 I do appreciate you sharing them!
Hi Jeevan, I’m like you, I tend to keep my laptops until they’re unusable. My last laptop was held together with duct tape before I gave up on it!
Yes, you’re right, security can be a concern, especially with computers. It takes a lot of effort to retrieve data off of a wiped hard drive though.
Hi Carolyn – it’s interesting to know there are so many potential outlets for old tech. Apart from once trading in a phone and selling a computer, I’ve tended just to keep my old stuff – I’ve got a few laptops and pcs mouldering in the loft! One reason I haven’t got rid of more is the worry about making sure any confidential data is completely deleted.
Thanks for this great list of options 🙂
Hi Sue, Yes, there are ways to delete data off of your devices, but it’s important to do that before you donate your tech.
I tend to either use my tech until it becomes obsolete or I give it to my daughters. Occasionally I have sold tech but I generally use it too long to have any value.
For example, I now am ready to get rid of my iPhone 3GS but it has lost its value.
Hi Carolyn !
This is something new for me , i knew that used items could be sold for money on classified/auctioning sites but didn’t know that items used items can be exchanged for an another item .Excluding Best Buy , Amazon and Apple , i’ve never heard of the other names mentioned in this list . These names might be very popular and big brands in the western countries.I’ll have a look at the websites to get detailed info on them.Anyways, thanks for sharing the information .
-Pramod
Hi Pramod, Yes, these names are big in the US. I wish I could list all of the places in all countries, but I am not familiar with them. If you know of any good places to trade in tech in your country, please feel free to share that information here. 🙂
I remember asking you about my old flip phones Carolyn and I know they are SO outdated. I would think though that someone who really isn’t into all the fancy stuff may still appreciate them although I can see where they wouldn’t be in such high demand anymore. Phone usually don’t last too long anyway but of course I always took care of my stuff and my Mom’s is in even better shape. Oh well, that’s all I have to turn in still.
Great share with these sites though. These are good to know.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, You’re right, older flip phones don’t have resale value but they can be immensely valuable to charitable organizations. Be sure to check out Where to Donate Your Used Tech for ideas on what to do with your flip phone.
Great idea. We forget to upgrade and make the most of the value in our tech til its too late. I am sitting on my iphone 3S right now. Havent managed or needed a new one til now. But it is time for sure! Thanks for all the options. But most dont apply in europe however perhaps recycling is my best bet!
Hi Ashley, Yes, I have an iPhone 3Gs left over from when I lived in Europe. I think we missed the boat a bit on getting value out of the 3GS. It’s not compatible with the updated iOS 7 so it won’t be a coveted device. Sorry!
Honestly, I only keep the tech stuff that I already used. I never sell it again, since it was already damaged goods 🙂
By the way, it’s nice information indeed. Thanks for sharing this useful article :-bd
Hi Nanda, I’m so glad you found this article to be useful. Yes, I tend to use my tech until it’s obsolete or it breaks. My last laptop was held together with duct tape before I was ready to give up on it! 🙂
Hahaha.. :))
You really know how to utilize your stuff. I never thought that you would hold your laptop with duct tape. Even though not with laptop, I also often use the duct tape with another item 😀
Hi Nanda, Yes, I really try to put off getting a new computer for as long as possible. The duct tape wasn’t the best look so I had to break down and get a new computer. I spend a lot of time customizing my computers so the longer I can keep a computer the better!
You’re right, duct tape solves a lot of problems.