Many of us tech geeks go through smartphones like they are
disposable. It’s hard to resist the urge to unbox, caress and turn a new
handset on for the first time; especially when we see
updated smartphones with awesome specs and features coming out every few
months!
Life is hard in the tech world, even more so for our wallets. This is
why it’s smarter to sell older and make up some of your cash, instead
of going through a complete upgrade. This will help you finance your
next acquisition and make another gadget enthusiast happy. After all, it
makes no sense to just hoard all these expensive phones, it’s better to
hand them over to someone who will give them better use.
Selling is a science, though. Remember a lot of people make a living
out of trading, and others become experts in the subject by studying it
for years. How can the regular Joe embark on this adventure? I have sold
plenty of phones and can say no bad experiences have crossed my path.
In fact, I have no horror stories to tell at all, whether it’s from
buying or selling pre-owned handsets. I have heard plenty of scary
tales, though, which is why we want to give you all the necessary tools
to make these transactions as smooth as possible.
The tips listed below will have you well armed for the used gadget
marketplace. And though this guide is focused mostly on phones, most
steps should apply to tablets, gadgets and even non-tech products. Let’s
dig right into the goods!
Be detailed and honest
There are two types of buyers: those who know what they are looking
for and those who are browsing to see what could convince them.
Regardless of which kind of customer you happen to run across, it will
always help to be as detailed as possible. Oh, and please don’t lie
about your product’s condition or capabilities. Be honest! These
person-to-person transactions require a lot of trust. If I ever notice a
seller lies about something, as small as it may be, chances are I won’t
continue dealing with him/her.
Is the smartphone very worn out? Maybe you have kept it in a case and
protected by a screen cover since day one. Make sure to tell people
your situation and let them know if there are any issues with the phone.
Look for any scratches and tell them what you have found. Believe it or
not, I find this gives you better chances, even if the phone is more
damaged than usual, as people already have an expectation of the
device’s condition the first time they see it – they can’t be
disappointed. If they find scratches or cracks you failed to mention,
they will just feel cheated.
I also like telling people what the phone is all about. It may take a
bit of work, but remember most buyers are not always turning to sites
like Android Authority, keeping up with all the latest news in tech.
They may have no idea what your phone can do for them, so give them a
little run-down of what you think are the coolest features. What makes
this phone stand out?
Furthermore, I find it cool when sellers actually bother to list the
general phone specs. In a way, you have to think of it like making a
mini review. Hey, you could probably even look up our own review of whatever handset you have and link them to it!
By the way, people also like knowing why you are selling your
smartphone. Are you upgrading? Are you looking for something newer?
Don’t like it anymore? Is it an issue related to the handset?
Time is money!
And we mean that in every sense of the word. Remember smartphones age
amazingly fast these days. Most flagship smartphones are considered old
in just a few months, so be quick about your sale. Don’t just purchase a
new phone and think: “well, I can just put the other one up for sale
later”. Put that baby online right away! The longer you wait, the
further your phone’s value will swirl down the drain.
Also, try to sell it before the newer generation version of your
smartphone is released. People love hearing that the phone they are
buying is the “latest flagship” from the manufacturer. I have a special
trick you can use. I keep an older smartphone around at all times, which
I use in between other handsets I buy and sell.
When announcements or strong rumors of a phone I want start showing
up, I go ahead and sell my older device, only to stick with my
replacement phone for a while. This ensures my older phone will sell
faster, easier and at a better price. Then I just wait until the newer
phone is actually released and upgrade to it.
Where to sell
Now you know the fundamentals of internet selling etiquette. It’s
time you go ahead and put that phone online for the world to see. It’s
time to figure out which platform you want to sell your beloved
smartphone through. Here are our favorites!
Gazelle
Gazelle is likely the safest route for selling your used smartphones,
but they will also probably offer the lowest rates. You can get
significantly more selling the phone yourself. The thing about Gazelle
is that it’s guaranteed money with no risk. You just tell them about
your phone, get an offer, ship it to them and wait for the magic to
happen. If all goes well, you will get your payment in the form of a
check, Amazon gift card or PayPal. Simple, right?
Go to your carrier!
Very often your own carrier will offer trade-in value for your old
handsets. Like Gazelle, though, these are not always the best deals.
They are mostly for people who value their time and efforts more than
money, but still want to get something for those older devices.
Swappa
I will tell you right now that Swappa is hands-down my favorite place
to sell smartphones. Guess what? You can usually get more money for
your technology when using this website. Why? Because Swappa is a proven
method for phone trading. These guys will verify every single listing
and make sure there’s nothing fishy going on. If the buyer
reports anything suspicious, the money will be returned straight to his
PayPal account.
People will definitely pay more money for that peace of mind. I know I
would! But don’t be too trusting of everyone, regardless of how secure a
site is. Our very own Andrew Grush once had to deal with Swappa and
Paypal for months to get a refund for a phone that was never delivered
to him. In short: Swappa has your back, but resolving issues can
sometimes take time.
eBay
Is Swappa not working for you? eBay is where you go next. For
starters, eBay has one of the largest audiences in the world. Your
chances of selling anything are multiplied just by using this site,
which is known by the vast majority of connected users.
It also helps that eBay happens to have your back, as well. PayPal
and eBay will help you get your money back, shall anything go wrong.
This is why people tend to trust it.
The one downside is competition. You would literally be competing
with the whole world, so chances of you having to sell your phone for
less are higher. The benefit is that more people will see it and that
phone will likely be sold faster.
Craigslist
While a bit more dangerous and wild, Craigslist is one of the most
popular selling and trading networks around. It is almost all over the
world and promotes local deals. And because everything is done in
person, it is easy to check for yourself that everything is ok.
Just make sure there is nothing shady going on and that the buyer
seems legitimate. You know… don’t listen to the “King of Ethiopia” and
people trying to have you ship the phone to faraway lands. Those
scammers are trying to rip you off!
Otherwise, it’s a great place to find people who can buy your phone!
Some say there is nothing like a face-to-face deal, and Craigslist is
all about that. Not to mention the fact that it’s insanely popular.
Social networks, word of mouth, etc.
You would be surprised to see how many of your friends are probably
looking to get a phone just like the one you are selling. I always write
a Facebook post or tell friends and family about the gadget I am trying
to get rid of, just in case they may find value in it. I usually sell
it for cheaper to them, just because they get that special discount, but
at least I know I am dealing with someone I trust. Any social network
works, by the way. I have used Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
Meeting in person? It’s dangerous out there!
I have always said it – Craigslist and other similar selling points
are like the wild west of the internet. You better walk in with your
hand on your gun, because it’s a dog-eat-dog situation in there! You
don’t know what kind of buyers you may encounter, so here are some
things to watch out for.
For starters, I will never, ever invite someone to come to my house…
unless I am selling something that is obviously too big for me to carry
around. I always meet them at a very public location like a restaurant
or cafe. Better yet, sometimes I ask them to meet me at the carrier
store. This will give both the buyer and seller peace of mind. While
there, they can check the ESN and see if the phone has been blacklisted
or not. Plus, shady people won’t go to such an official place to try and
play some dirty games, right? It makes both parties more comfortable.
Remember to let the customer ask all the questions he/she wants. They
are buying a product that is likely worth hundreds of dollars! Of
course they want to know everything about it. Just be there for any
questions or concerns they may have. Try to be friendly and leave them
some kind of contact number “just in case any issue comes up”. Sometimes
I tell people I will help them claim the warranty and that kind of
stuff, if they ever need it. By the way, I have never had to do it, but
making yourself available helps people feel more secure about that
purchase.
How much do you want for your phone?
This is one of the most important parts in the process of selling
your phone. How much is that thing even worth? There’s a plethora of
factors that come into play, and sadly there is no direct answer to this
question. A lot of it is supply and demand, really! Swappa and eBay
will usually recommend a reasonable price, which is very helpful, but
that is not the case with other platforms like Craigslist.
My first step when trying to figure out a fair price is checking how
much the phone would cost new. I usually check out the carrier, Amazon
and other popular retailers that carry the same exact version. After
that, proceed to seeing how much it usually goes for used. You can check
Craigslist, eBay and other sites. Then simply compare your phone to
others and factor in your device’s current state.
Oh, and try to come up with a price you won’t accept less than.
Remember, you are likely going to find people who will try to bring the
price down. In fact, I encounter these buyers almost every single time.
Stick to your guns and don’t give in after a certain point. You don’t
want to be ripped off, either. Do go a bit lower in price if you feel
the customer deserves that, though.
Wrapping up
Just take your time, watch out for shady people, stay honest and
always think about the well-being of both your customer and yourself. If
you keep these things in mind, we can almost guarantee you’ll end up
having a positive experience. But there is a small chance things will
still go wrong, even with all these precautions. It’s the risk of
selling your used gadgets!
If you would rather go the safer route, you can always trade in your
phone to a carrier or go with something like Gazelle. What is your
favorite way to get some cash for your older devices? Do you go the
simpler way or hustle a bit to get more cash?
Regardless, we hope this will help you have a more pleasant
smartphone selling experience, and please hit the comments with all your
thoughts! Do you have any other tips for your fellow techies?
