{"id":12902,"date":"2020-07-02T07:45:11","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T12:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/?p=12902"},"modified":"2020-07-12T14:33:49","modified_gmt":"2020-07-12T19:33:49","slug":"trade-in-used-cell-phone-for-cash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/trade-in-used-cell-phone-for-cash\/","title":{"rendered":"How can I trade in my used cell phone for cash?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Whether you\u2019re upgrading to a newer phone or you just want to make some extra cash, you may be considering selling your iPhone or Android to a cell phone trade-in or buyback program. Getting rid of your old device not only helps you declutter, but you can also make a good amount of cash <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/places-to-sell-your-iphone\/\">if you play your cards right<\/a>. Selling your old phone is also great for the environment, since you are extending its useful lifespan and preventing it from ending up in a landfill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, we\u2019re taking a closer look at cell phone buyback, trade-in, and recycling programs to see how you can <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/sell\">get the most cash for your used iPhone or Android phone<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Table of Contents:<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"#trade\">Cell phone trade-in<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#buyback\">Cell phone buyback<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#recycle\">Recycle old cell phones<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#swappa\">Make twice as much for your used phone<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"trade\">Can I trade in my cell phone?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/apple-tradein.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12906 img-responsive\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, you can actually <strong>trade in your cell phone<\/strong> &#8212; either online or in person at a retail store near you. Trade-in programs are a safe and relatively easy way to sell your used iPhone or Android phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several options for cell phone trade-in such as <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/is-apple-trade-in-worth-it\/\">Apple&#8217;s Trade-In Program<\/a>, Decluttr, Gazelle, and Amazon. They all work in a very similar way: You fill out a form &#8212; either in person or online. Then, you&#8217;re given a quote for how much they think your used phone is worth. If you accept their offer, they\u2019ll pay you for your used phone, usually in the form of a store gift card. If you&#8217;re using an online trade-in service, payment typically comes a week or two after your device has been reviewed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to trade in a phone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cell phone trade-in isn\u2019t terribly difficult, and that\u2019s why many people are drawn in. But there are a few pitfalls and a bunch of fine print to be aware of. Here\u2019s how you can trade in your used phone:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>How to prepare a phone for trade-in<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The first thing to prepare a phone for trade-in is to back up and clear your device. Instructions for this vary, depending on whether you want to <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT201351\">reset an iPhone<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/android\/answer\/6088915?hl=en\">reset an Android phone<\/a>. Not only does backing up and clearing your phone make sure that you don\u2019t permanently lose any important data, but it also keeps your personal information&#8230; personal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Assess its condition<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>After resetting your phone, you have to thoroughly inspect it and assess its condition. Most trade-in programs use an online questionnaire that asks whether your phone has any damage such as scratches or a cracked screen, if it\u2019s unlocked, whether it\u2019s fully paid off, and if it\u2019s tied to any specific Apple or Google accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those with damaged phones may be wondering if you can trade in a phone with a cracked screen. Unfortunately, most trade-in services simply do not take broken phones. However, a cracked screen doesn\u2019t mean that you can\u2019t get money for your used device. Your best bet is to find a <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/repair\">local repair shop near you<\/a> and then figure out the best place to <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/places-to-sell-your-iphone\/\">sell it the most money<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Find out how much your used phone is worth<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>After filling out the online or in-person questionnaire, the trade-in shop will give you a quote for how much they feel your used Android or iPhone is worth. But brace yourself &#8212; trade-in programs are middlemen, meaning that it is in their best interest to give you as little as they can for your used phone. We\u2019ve taken a closer look at this and found that you can usually <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/places-to-sell-your-iphone\/\">make over twice as much by selling direct through Swappa<\/a>! If you\u2019re trading in your phone locally, you\u2019ll usually be given a store gift card then and there. However, if you\u2019re going through an online cell phone trade-in shop, it can often take as long as two weeks to get paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cell phone trade-in advantages:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Safe and convenient way to get rid of your used phone<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cell phone trade-in disadvantages:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Greedy middlemen take a chunk of the profits, so you get less than half of what you would selling direct<\/li><li>Most trade-in shops pay you in the form of a store gift card rather than cash<\/li><li>Online trade-in shops pay cash, but typically wait up to 2 weeks before they mail out your payment<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should I trade in my used cell phone?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While trade-in programs are convenient and streamlined, they generally aren\u2019t the best option for most people. Because you\u2019re selling your used phone to a middleman whose goal is to turn around and sell it for a profit, trade-in services take a rather large cut of the profits. A better alternative is to sell your phone directly on Swappa. Not only can you make <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/places-to-sell-your-iphone\/\">more than twice as much for the same phone<\/a>, but you are paid in cash rather than a store gift card you may never use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn-lg btn-success\" href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/sell\"><span class=\"fa fa-\"><\/span> MORE CASH FOR YOUR USED PHONE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"buyback\">Will my carrier buy my phone back?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/verizon-store-square.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12916 img-responsive\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cell phone buyback<\/strong> programs are nearly identical to trade-in programs. The only difference is that in a buyback program, the store that originally sold you the phone is the one that buys it back &#8212; and that\u2019s usually your wireless carrier.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since a phone buy back program is essentially a trade-in program run by your carrier, most of the same pros and cons apply. Cell phone buyback programs are a safe and relatively easy way to get rid of your used phone. But just like with trade-in programs, a buyback will get <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/places-to-sell-your-iphone\/\">less than half as much<\/a> as you would by selling direct. And when you do get paid, it\u2019ll be in the form of store credit that you\u2019ll be forced to spend with your existing carrier. So if you were hoping to switch carriers and <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/what-it-means-to-buy-an-unlocked-phone\/\">enjoy the freedom of an unlocked phone<\/a>, you can kiss those dreams goodbye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cell phone buyback advantages:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Safe and convenient, just like trade-in programs<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cell phone buyback disadvantages:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Another middleman means that you get less than half of what your phone is worth<\/li><li>You get a gift card, not cash<\/li><li>This gift card can typically only be used with your existing wireless carrier, denying you the freedom of changing carriers any time soon<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is a cell phone buyback program worth it?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like with trade-in programs, cell phone buyback sounds nice at first, but it really doesn\u2019t hold up well when digging deeper. You\u2019d be better served by selling your phone on Swappa and making over twice as much. And while you\u2019re at it, you can use those proceeds to fund the purchase of an unlocked replacement phone, giving you freedom to pick the best carriers and phone plans for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn-success btn-lg\" href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/sell\"><span class=\"fa fa-\"><\/span> GET THE MOST FOR YOUR USED PHONE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"recycle\">Recycle old cell phones<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/cell-phone-recycling-bin.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12910 img-responsive\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, we have <strong>cell phone recycling<\/strong>. Quite a few places that offer used tech recycling, so you\u2019ll almost always find cell phone recycling near you. However, be aware that most places claiming to offer cell phone recycling are actually <a href=\"#trade\">trade-in programs in disguise<\/a>. These imposters are easy to spot, since they\u2019re generally electronic kiosks that you see in the mall or at your local Walmart. These kiosks typically work by giving you a trivial amount of money for your used phone. Afterward, they refurbish and resell your device for profit &#8212; either to another person or to a retail partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because we&#8217;re talking about middlemen again, cell phone recycling kiosks pay you far less than your used phone is worth. On the plus side, they\u2019re safe and pay you cash on the spot. But with these so-called recycling kiosks, you\u2019re often dealing with <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">two<\/span> layers of middlemen. As a result, you&#8217;re making even less money using a cell phone recycling kiosk than you would with other types of trade-in programs. All the other downsides of standard trade-in programs still apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What about <em>actual<\/em> recycling services like those offered by your local electronics retailer? These are often drop boxes where you can place your electronics to have them recycled free of charge. Rather than turn around and resell your used phone, these services actually safely dispose of your unwanted electronics. Generally, this means that the rare earth magnets and valuable metals like copper and gold are harvested from the phone. These components are then used down the line, in the production of new phones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, you don&#8217;t get a dime when actually recycling your old phone. And due to the manufacturing processes required to create a new phone down the line using these recycled components, it&#8217;s much more eco-friendly to just <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/sell\">find a new home for your working phone on Swappa<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cell phone recycling advantages:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>At least your used phone won\u2019t end up in a landfill<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cell phone recycling disadvantages:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>You won\u2019t get a dime for your used phone<\/li><li>Not as eco-friendly as extending your phone&#8217;s life by finding it a new home<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should I recycle my old phone?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While the idea of cell phone recycling sounds great at first, it quickly falls apart when you look a little closer. Whether we\u2019re talking about a recycling kiosk that\u2019s really a trade-in program in disguise or an actual recycling program at an electronics retailer, there are better options. Sell your used phone on Swappa instead, and get what you truly deserve. Not only will you make a lot more money, but it\u2019s also better for the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn-success btn-lg\" href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/sell\"><span class=\"fa fa-\"><\/span>\u00a0FIND YOUR OLD PHONE A NEW HOME<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"swappa\">Sell your phone for more cash at Swappa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Swappa is a better way to sell &#8212; both <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/sell\">online<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/local\">in person<\/a>. Unlike trade-in and buyback programs, Swappa directly connects buyers and sellers to cut out the middlemen. This means that you&#8217;ll always get fair market value for your used iPhone or Android phone. On average, you&#8217;ll <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/places-to-sell-your-iphone\/\">make more than twice as much by selling on Swappa<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike trade-in programs, sellers on Swappa get cash, not some store gift card you&#8217;ll never use. And since <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/fees\">there aren&#8217;t any listing fees<\/a>, all that cash stays right where it belongs: in your wallet. Swappa is safe, simple, and sure to get you the most for your used tech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So what are you waiting for? Join the Swappa community and experience the best way to buy and sell used tech!<\/p>\n\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn-lg btn-success\" href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/sell\"><span class=\"fa fa-\"><\/span> SELL FOR MORE ON SWAPPA<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n&nbsp;\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you\u2019re upgrading to a newer phone or you just want to make some extra cash, you may be considering selling your iPhone or Android to a cell phone trade-in or buyback program. Getting rid of your old device not only helps you declutter, but you can also make a good amount of cash if [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":12912,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,12],"tags":[646,230,229],"products":[],"class_list":["post-12902","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-protips","category-seller-tips","tag-apple-trade-in","tag-cash-for-cell-phones","tag-cell-phone-trade-in"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12902","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12902"}],"version-history":[{"count":53,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12902\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13079,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12902\/revisions\/13079"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12912"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12902"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12902"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12902"},{"taxonomy":"products","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/products?post=12902"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}