Smartphones are a big part of most of our lives – but the majority of us get a new smartphone every few years depending on our contracts and budgets. But what happens to your old phone?
Many of us end up putting them in a drawer to be forgotten about, even if they still work perfectly and we’ve just chosen to upgrade to something shiny and new.
Rather than leaving your old phone lost in a drawer gathering dust, why not sell your phone for cash?
We’ve put together a quick and easy guide of things you need to know before selling your phone.
Do your research
Before selling your phone, you need to know what to expect in terms of price. How much a phone is worth brand new is different from when it’s been used. The price you can expect for your phone also varies depending on how much wear and tear is visible, such as a scratched screen or scuffed edges.
Although it may be tempting to sell it on yourself via eBay or a similar site, it can be safer to go through a third party or to go directly to a phone exchange store. A benefit of a mobile trade-in store is that you can trade directly without any fees and walk away with cash immediately rather than having to wait!
You can also try out a few trade in programs and check with your local smartphone trade in store to see a range of different quotes to find out where can offer you the best value. To remove the hassle of selling and listing your phone yourself, at The Exchange we can look at your phone right away and give you a quote immediately!
Be Honest of Technical Issues
Even if your phone has some minor fault, be honest. We know that over time many smartphones end up with some issues – perhaps your screen has cracked or the battery life has depleted.
Whether you’re selling online or coming in store, make sure you’re honest about the state of your phone – otherwise you risk getting bad reviews or being banned from the site. Many people are still willing to buy pre-owned phones with some wear and tear for a lower price.
Similarly, a trade-in store will be happy to buy a phone with faults from you – even if it is badly damaged they may offer you a low quote so you won’t leave with nothing.
They’ll then repair your phone and sell it on – which is better both for the customer and the environment as you are effectively recycling your phone.
Ultimately, even if your phone is noticeably damaged, you’ll be able to walk away with something – there’s no downside!
Wipe your data before selling your phone
It’s vital that before you sell your phone, you wipe all your data. Our phones have lots of personal information about ourselves, from login details, contacts, text, photos and bank details.
Before handing it over to a local trade-in center or selling it online, make sure you backup your data by transferring all your files to your new phone, laptop or online account (such as Google or the Cloud), and then reset your phone to its factory settings.
Also make sure you remove your SIM card and SD card if you have one, so when it’s sold on it’s got no trace of your details.
Sell your phone and your accessories
Although you don’t absolutely require all the original accessories that came with your phone to sell it on, if you do still have them and they’re in good working condition you’re likely to get more for your phone.
If you still have the original box, headphones and charger and replace them like new, your quote will immediately go up – that’s why it’s always worth saving the box!
So what are you waiting for?
No matter what condition your phone is in, if you sell it you’ll be gaining some of your money back. Whether you choose to sell online or directly through a tech exchange or trade-in store, make sure to be safe and do your research before passing your phone on – you want to get the best deal!
At The Exchange in East Finchley, we’ve made it as simple as possible for you to sell your phone through us – either come to our East Finchley store or fill in our form online today to find out how much you could get for your mobile.