If you’re short on cash and you have unused phones at home, you’re probably thinking, “Can I sell my phone for cash today?” Yes, you can.
The first thing that comes to mind may be “pawn shops that buy phones near me.” But you can also trade phones for cash online. There are many online websites that purchase old, used, and even broken phones.
Places that Buy Used Cell Phones for Cash – Broken or Working
Here’s a list of websites where you can sell old, unused, and even broken phones and other electronic devices.
1. SellCell
If you’re looking for a place where you can sell your phones online then SellCell should be on top of your list. The site won’t purchase your phone directly but it gives you estimates of how much your device will fetch if sold on certain websites. In short, SellCell is the place to go if you’re looking for a site that can help you compare how much you’ll get when you trade phones for cash.
It’ll save you the hassle of having to go through each website that buys the phone you intend to sell. Once you’ve chosen the best deal, all you need to do is select the online store and complete the sale. SellCell has helped sell more than 2 million devices worth over $250 million since 2008. The site also caters to consumers or businesses that wish to sell used phones or electronic devices in bulk. Just visit their business page for more information.
2. Backflip
If you have used electronics, including cell phones that you want to get rid of, you can visit Backflip, formerly known as Whistle. It’s a site that helps people sell their used electronic devices such as tablets, phones, and laptops fast to a network of professional resellers. All you need to do is look for the item you wish to sell on your website and answer a few questions to describe the condition of your device. You can reach out to Backflip’s customer support team if you wish to add or update your sale.
Backflip will then give you an offer and if you accept, you proceed with the checkout process. Upon receipt of your device, Backflip will check the phone condition of your phone and pay you the full amount as per the initial offer or give you an amended one.
3. uSell
If you’re looking for a place where you can sell used iPhones that are either working or damaged then uSell is the place to go. It specialises in Apple phones but it also accepts other brands. Select the device you wish to sell among the list of electronics accepted and you’ll be provided with an upfront offer from one of uSell’s network of trusted buyers. No haggling. No hidden fees.
You can choose a buyer based on the price or customer reviews. If you accept an offer, you will get a free shipping kit. Prepare your phone and drop it in the mail. That’s it. Upon receipt, you can expect payment from your buyer within five business days. You can choose between PayPal or check as the mode of payment. With uSell, you can sell up to five phones per transaction. You can contact their customer service team if you have questions or concerns.
4. OCBuyBack
You can also sell your used mobile phones, iPod, tablet, smartwatch, or GoPro on OCBuyBack. It’s known for its seamless easy check-out process and higher offer than the other sites on this list. Just click on the “Get Cash Button”, select the type of phone or device you want to sell and answer a few questions like which carrier is your device for, what is its storage capacity, and the condition to determine the price offer. The offer stands up to 14 days from the day you submit your order to OCBuyBack. If your item is received way past the 14-day mark, then you’ll get the current offer for the device you sold.
There’s no limit to the number of phones you can sell. But it’s best to contact their customer support if you plan to sell more than 10 items. You can indicate whether you want to receive your payment by check and PayPal when you check out. It will be sent to you within 2 business days after the receipt and inspection of the sold items.
5. Decluttr
Another site that accepts old phones and other electronic devices is Decluttr. It offers a “Tech Price Promise,” which means you’ll get the first price that’s offered for your device, as long as it passes the inspection. If during the inspection, discrepancies were found on the information you provided when you listed the product, you will have 14 days to either accept or decline a revised offer. You can choose from different payment methods such as paper checks, direct deposits, and PayPal.
6. Swappa
Swappa offers a peer-to-peer service that allows you to list a used phone in exchange for PayPal cash. Unlike other online websites where you only have to choose the type of device that you want to sell and immediately get an offer, you need to create your own listing if you decide to use Swappa. Creating a free listing is free but it takes $20 from your sale price if it ranges from $501 to $700. If it’s more than $701 but less than $999, Swappa will have a $25 cut.
7. eBay
eBay is a popular site for selling any legal goods, including used phones. Since it’s a DIY platform, you have to create your own product listing. You need to take photos of the phone you want to sell, research its current market price, and cover any applicable fees. Once you get your final sale price, eBay will take a cut of about 10% at most.
8. Amazon
Just like eBay, Amazon is also a DIY platform where you can sell your pre-owned phones. You will have to make an effort when you make a listing like coming up with an appealing description or taking nice photos so you can attract potential buyers. But it comes with several fees that you need to cover or pass the cost on to your phone’s buyer. There’s a listing fee of %0.99, an 8% referral fee, and a shipping fee of at least $4.99.
9. EcoATM
EcoATM is a great option if you’re looking for a unique way of selling your used phone. You’ll find EcoATM kiosks across the country. You may even find one inside your local Walmart or Kroger grocery store. You can turn in your phone through the machine in return for cash. Just place it in the kiosk, where it will be examined. After that, you’ll get a price offer and if you agree, you’ll get your money right away.
Can You Trade In Your Used Cell Phones?
Some major brands offer trade-in programs, which involve returning old cell phones and getting credit in return, which you can use to purchase a new phone. Many people go for this option because it’s convenient. However, you’ll get lower in-store credit compared to what you can earn when you sell your phone online. So, be sure to check major companies if they have any existing trade-in programs, which usually happens whenever they release a new product.
If you have an iPhone, Apple has a trade-in program (trade-in eligible Apple device and get an Apple gift card or credit toward your next purchase) or upgrade program (return your used phone every year and get a new iPhone in return for as low as $35.33 per month). Samsung also has a trade-in program for Android users.
You can also send your old smartphone and get a gift card through Amazon’s trade-in program. If you’re a frequent shopper in Best Buy, you can also trade phones for cash (damaged phones not accepted) and get store credit.
You’ll also find carrier trade-in programs from service providers such as T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon. GameStop, Apple, and Walmart also offer trade-in programs for old phones.
What Do You Need to Do Before Selling Your Old or Broken Phone?
Before you trade-in or ship out your old or used phone or before you sell broken iphones, there are a few things you need to do to protect your privacy.
- Remove the sim card – Even if you’re getting a new sim for a new phone, you must never forget to take out the old sim card from your old phone. It contains all your contacts and probably other confidential data that you wouldn’t want other people to get their hands on.
- Remove the memory card – Don’t forget to remove the microSD card if your old phone has a slot for it.
- Wipeout your data – You must wipe all your data from the old phone either by going into the backup/restore section of your phone settings or by doing it manually through a combination of button presses when the phone boots up. Don’t forget to backup all your data first before you erase the data on your phone.
Conclusion
You have lots of options if you’re thinking of selling your old phone. If you want to skip the hassle of shipping out the item, you can find pawn shops that buy phones, trade it in through programs offered by major companies such as Walmart and carriers such as Verizon, or you can find an EcoATM near you. You may also find websites such as SellCell, Backflip, uSell, OCBuyBack, Decluttr, Swappa, eBay, and Amazon where you can sell old, used, and even broken phones as well as other electronic devices. Just be sure to wipe out all your data from your old phone before you sell or trade it in.
Aidan has been writing about personal finance for over 6 years. Prior to this, he worked as a Corporate Finance Analyst where he specialized in Due Diligence, Company Valuations and more. He is a CFA charterholder.
