Interested in finding out if you could make money by selling your old mobile phone? Read on to discover our top tips for cashing in your dated handset and making money from your old mobile!
Is it just us, or are mobile phones getting less robust than ever before? We’re pretty sure that in the early days of mobiles, you could drop your handset down the loo, reverse the car over it, give it to the dog to play with and it would have barely a scratch on it. Oh yes, and the charge lasted about a week, as well.
Now, mobile phones are so delicate that letting it fall from your pocket as you get into the car will probably render it unusable. That means that if you’re anything like us, you’ll have two or three old handsets stashed in a drawer somewhere. They may be obsolete or running slowly, or perhaps some kind person just gave you a better one. Depending on the age and condition of those handsets, it could be worth selling them, as it’s possible to make money be selling your old mobile phone. You could also ask friends and family to empty out their own stashes as well.
Find a price for your old mobile phone
To find out roughly how much your old phone(s) is worth, take a look at a comparison website such as Compare and Recycle. This will check out current selling prices on that particular make and model on a range of popular websites such as Music Magpie and Mobile Cash Mate, and list them for you. Remember, though, you won’t always get the quoted price as it depends on the condition of the phone.
Alternatively, you can try and sell the phone directly on sites such as eBay or Preloved – just search for the make and model for an idea of how much to list it for. If you’re selling your phone privately, then still having all the accessories (such as a mains charger or in-car charger) could make it more desirable.
If you’re selling your mobile phone through a website such as the ones listed above, there’s normally no need to supply the charger. The most desirable phones (and therefore the most valuable) are fairly recent, high specification smart phones in good condition and in full working order. If your phone doesn’t meet these criteria, it could still be worth selling if only to reclaim your drawer space, but you’re unlikely to get much for it.
Some of the big phone companies such as O2 also have their own recycling schemes. If you’re getting rid of your old handset because you want to get another, it’s also worth checking to see if your contract provider will let you trade in the old one as part of your new deal.
How does selling your mobile phone work?
If you’re selling your mobile phone through a recycling website, once you’ve been offered and accepted the price then you’ll normally be sent a pre-paid envelope to send the phone back in. Once the phone’s arrived and been checked, you’ll get your payment. If the handset is in substantially poorer condition than anticipated, you’ll often be offered a lower amount which you can accept or refuse.
If you’re sending an expensive phone, such as a newish iPhone, in a pre-paid envelope, it’s worth paying extra to send it recorded delivery as otherwise you’ll have no comeback if it fails to arrive.
What else to think about when selling your old mobile phone
However you decide to sell your old phone, remember to remove all your personal data before you send it off. Delete any contacts or photos stored on the phone itself and remove and destroy the SIM card. If there’s a PIN number set, remove this as well by going into the phone setting options and selecting ‘restore factory settings’.
Remember that in addition to getting some much-needed dosh when you sell your old handset, you’ll also be helping the environment – so that’s good news for everyone.
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