Your partner emails a free prepaid shipping label after you accept an offer, usually within one business day. Print it at home. There is no charge. From there, packing it right is what protects your payout.

1. Pack with padding. Use a small box with bubble wrap or foam. Phones survive a bumpy ride when they are snug. Loose phones in oversized boxes are the top cause of in-transit damage. Skip paper-only wrapping, and never use a padded envelope for anything with a glass back.
2. Prep the device. Power it off before you seal the box. Remove SIM cards, SD cards, and any cases or screen protectors you want to keep.
3. Follow the partner's checklist. Most partners include one in the same email as the label. If they ask for a specific battery percentage or no SIM tray, do exactly that.
4. Drop it off. Hand the package to any location for the carrier on the label. USPS, UPS, and FedEx are all common. You can schedule a pickup if your carrier offers one.
5. Keep the tracking number until payment clears, just in case.

Each trade-in partner sets its own packing rules, and following them prevents inspection surprises. For shipping rules across the rest of the site, see the Shipping FAQ. Start a trade-in any time at Swappa Trade-In.