Do you have an old but functioning PC collecting dust in your closet? An iPhone 6 that you no longer use? You know it’s time to let them go, but getting rid of your old electronics can be tough. Throwing them away is irresponsible, and giving them away can be hard to swallow even if it’s been years since you shelled out cash for them.
Fortunately, there are several websites and retail stores out there that are more than happy to pay you for these once-treasured possessions.
Best Buy
Best Buy’s trade-in program asks you to fill out a questionnaire in order to estimate the value of an item.
To get a quote, you just have to pick the product category, manufacturer, model, and its condition. For example, a 16GB unlocked iPhone 6 in good condition would have a trade-in valued of $104.
The only problem with Best Buy is that if you accept the offer they’re giving you, that money will be locked into a Best Buy gift card—you’ll have no other option other than buying more electronics. (But aren’t we always ready to buy more electronics?) If you’re trying to pay rent with this money, this option probably isn’t your best bet.
Best Buy’s trade-in program is convenient: you can just drop off your old tech at any local store that accepts trade-ins, or you can ship the item with a prepaid label. The turnaround time for payment is usually around 10 business days.
Nextworth (or Target)
Nextworth gives you three payment options: check, PayPal, or Target gift card.
To get a quote with Nextworth takes a bit more time than with Best Buy, since the questionnaire is more thorough. Here, a 16GB unlocked iPhone 6 has a trade-in value of $90.
Nextworth works closely with Target, so you can just drop off your electronics at a local store to trade them in for a gift card. Or you can ship it to Nextworth and ask for a check instead.
If you decide to ship the device, it might take up to 10 business days after you ship for you to receive your payment. But hey, at least with Nextworth you get actual cash for your stuff.
Gazelle (or Walmart)
Gazelle is very similar to Nextworth, except it works with Walmart and seems to pays more. Gazelle also offers different methods of payment: You can either get a PayPal deposit, check, or an Amazon gift card.
Like all other sites, Gazelle asks you to provide a quick description of your device in order to get an estimate. For a 16GB unlocked iPhone 6, Gazelle offers about $120.
You can either ship your electronics to Gazelle, or drop it off at an ecoATM kiosk for immediate cash. All kiosks are located at Walmarts. If you ship it, you’ll receive your payment within seven business days.
Amazon
Out of all the sites listed here, Amazon might be the best—it offers you more for your gadgets, pays you in Amazon gift cards, and has the fastest payment turnaround time.
To get a quote on your device, you have to fill out a similar questionnaire to Best Buy’s. You’ll have to select the category, model, and condition to get an estimate trade-in value. You can get up to $125 for a 16GB unlocked iPhone 6.
If you choose to accept the offer, you’ll get paid in an Amazon gift card. Amazon first has to ensure your item is as you described, which makes sense. If it all checks out, Amazon will give you the highest value.
The turn around time for payment is about two business days after the online retailer receives your device, which is by far the fastest. Amazon will cover shipping.
Craigslist or Facebook
If you don’t like any of the options above, you can always sell your devices the old-fashioned way: on Craigslist. Sometimes what companies offer you for your gadgets just isn’t enough, so you might want to try selling your devices on your own. On Craigslist you can set your own price and monitor how much people are offering. Hey, you never know—you might get a better deal.
You can also sell items on Facebook’s new “For Sale” groups, which works very similar to Craigslist. You just have to upload a picture of your device, set a price to it, add your contact information, and wait for people to inquire.
[“Source-lifehacker”]
