The best way to sell used electronics
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The easiest way to sell used electronics
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The easiest way to sell used electronics
Amazon Trade-in
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The best way to sell used appliances in your store
Best Buy Trade-In Program
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The best way to sell used electronics
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Many of us tend to hold on to our old electronics. It can be hard to let go, but hoarding old electronics can lead to clutter and your precious vintage gear can stop working over time while in storage. Instead, why not give it a new life? If you choose the right way, you might even be able to sell your old gear and make some cash. Before you put your old phone or Xbox controller away in a storage unit to be forgotten forever, consider how much money you could make by selling them. There are plenty of places, both online and in stores, where you can exchange your used gear for cash. We’ve compiled this list to help you choose the service that best suits your needs.
CNET is full of tech-loving people who are always buying new gadgets. And to keep up with that habit, many of us trade in or sell used personal equipment. Along the way, we’ve learned a thing or two about selling old devices. From trade-in programs to online marketplaces, here are the best places to sell your used electronics.
Where is the best place to sell used electronics?
We found Swappa to be one of the best options in terms of value, ease of use, and peace of mind that you’re protected from scams. If you’re simply looking to drop your phone or tablet in a box and get paid a few days later, there are some other great options, but if you want to make as much money as possible, fast, this is the ideal option. Swappa lets you list your tech at a price you think is fair, and helps you make that decision by showing you what other versions of your product are currently selling for.
When you sell on Swappa, you’re selling directly to other people. If someone is interested in buying but needs additional photos or details, they can request them from you directly. When it comes to the buying stage, Swappa makes sure you get paid quickly, and buyers can be confident that you’ll ship the product quickly. Everyone benefits, and Swappa staff is involved throughout the process to prevent fraud.
The best places to sell used electronics in 2024
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While many of the other services on this list require you to send in your hardware to be appraised and paid, Swappa is a direct-to-consumer service. You list the hardware you want to sell with photos and your desired starting price. Once staff approves your listing, it appears in a list for all buyers who want to buy. When a buyer does buy, Swappa sticks to its shipping and payment timelines, so everyone is treated fairly.
While this method requires a little more work on the seller’s part, the end result is often a much higher payment, and the Swappa team protects both parties in the transaction from fraud.
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If you haven’t used Decluttr before, you’ll love it. It’s one of the fastest bidding services you can use to sell different kinds of technology. Once you fill out the form with your details, you’ll see bids for your gadget within seconds. If the bids are something you like, you’ll have the option to complete the sale and start the delivery process. Payments are quick, which is why the company has the highest rating on TrustPilot.
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Amazon’s trade-in program works a lot like its retail stores: you simply search for your electronics, enter the necessary details (storage, screen size, etc.), select the condition of the device, and Amazon will make you an offer for the electronics, and if you accept it, you’ll be given a free shipping label for it.
The number of products Amazon accepts ranges from video doorbells, wireless routers, and other home security devices.
Once we ship the item, Amazon will inspect it and make sure it matches the original description. If everything checks out, an Amazon eGift card for the offer amount will be credited to your Amazon account. If the item is in better condition than described, Amazon customer service will promise to pay you more than that amount.
If you want to trade in your device in person, Amazon has a list of locations where you can take your Amazon devices and some phones. Amazon says it will even take in non-working devices.
The downside is that the money is only sent to your Amazon account.
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Unlike previous online electronics sales services, the ItsWorthMore program allows you to choose between PayPal, Zelle, or an old-fashioned paper check to get paid.
The process of selling electronic products requires you to answer a few questions about the old phone, tablet, Apple Watch (or other Apple device), or computer you want to sell. ItsWorthMore will then make you an offer, and if you accept it, you will be provided with a pre-paid shipping label. During the checkout process, you can choose how you want to get paid. You also have the option to pay $15 for 2-day shipping and 24-hour processing time. Otherwise, it’s standard shipping and a target processing time of 72 hours. Processing may take up to 5 business days.
Once the device is received, ItsWorthMore will verify that the working condition shown is accurate – whether it’s in good condition, fair condition, broken, etc. If there are any discrepancies, you can choose to ask for the device back or accept the revised offer.
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Getting a quote from Best Buy is easy, just select the product category, make, model and condition. Fill out the questionnaire and we’ll give you an instant quote with a tool-free quote for your device. The offer amount will only be given as store credit in the form of a Best Buy gift card if accepted.
The company lists only a handful of stores that don’t participate in the trade-in program.
Best Buy’s payment processing times are slower than other services, but the company accepts a wide variety of gadgets and covers almost every type of electronic device that the company sells. This includes a variety of laptop options, smartphone options, wearables, digital camera options, and video game consoles. For example, you can trade in a gaming system, a video game, and an iPhone or iPad at the same time.
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BuyBackWorld buys back a wide range of products including cell phones, tablets, iPods, cameras, game consoles, computers, headphones, drones, etc. You can also get a custom quote for products not listed on the site.
Once you’ve gotten a quote and chosen your payment method, send your item to BuyBackWorld. Once your package arrives, it will be inspected and payment will be taken. If the quote is adjusted after inspection, you can choose to accept the new offer or have your device returned.
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Apple’s trade-in program accepts a wide range of company devices, not just its own products. Currently, Apple accepts laptops, smartphones, tablets, watches, and other devices, as well as older equipment. If there is no trade-in program for a device, such as an iPod or AirPods, Apple will recycle it for free.
Apple says that online trade-in takes 2-3 weeks to process. If you want to order a new device now, the trade-in value will be credited to your payment method once it’s processed. Or, if an Apple Store is open in your area, you can stop by and get an instant store credit for your trade-in value, which is especially useful with the launch of the iPhone 14.
Using Apple’s trade-in service makes sense if you’re already planning on buying a new iPhone or Mac. It’s not a worthwhile option for people who want to buy the latest Samsung Galaxy smartphone, for example.
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BackMarket makes it super easy to trade in your old equipment and get cash in your account right away. The company accepts phones, tablets, gaming consoles, and even headphones, and will pay you up to $815 depending on the product and its condition. Getting started is quick and easy, just answer a few questions and you’ll get an offer. If you agree, they’ll ship your device to you (for free) and once their inspection is complete, they’ll send you the money.
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Know the value: Nearly all services will tell you how much their tech is worth by asking you a series of questions about the current state of your phone before they even put you on the list. With one of these services, you’ll know how much you can expect to pay before you make a decision.
Check multiple services: Each service offers different prices for almost everything. In most cases, the difference is only a few dollars, but you can sometimes find significantly better offers depending on the time of year. For example, if you’re selling a cell phone, it’s usually worth the most right before a new phone goes on sale.
Beware of scams: If you’re using a service that lets you speak directly with potential buyers, it’s important to keep that conversation within that service — don’t start another one, especially if the person promises you a higher price or offers to help you avoid a sales commission.
To be honest: If your technology is scratched or damaged, make sure you claim for the damages, or you may not receive what you were promised and may even be banned from selling other technology in the future.
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