how to sell old electronics

Most people have a laptop, smartphone, fitness tracker, tablet, or camera lying around their house that they no longer use. If you don’t need it, it only takes a little time and you can get that old technology for cash.

As you can imagine, the more energy you put into your efforts, the more cash you will earn. Listing your items yourself on online marketplaces will give you the highest returns, but using a buyback service means you’ll do less work and get paid less.

Here are some options for selling your old gear and some tips to help you have the best experience.

Sell ​​your old technology to a buyout service

The easiest way to sell your device is to hand it over to a buyback service like Decluttr, Gazelle, or ItsWorthMore. These websites allow you to enter information about your old gear (make, model, condition) and provide you with an appraised value. If you like the price offered, print the free shipping label provided by the website, package and mail your item.

Please note that PCWorld just partnered with Decluttr to provide additional cashback to our readers. Use code PCWORLD10 at checkout to receive an additional 10 percent on your trade-in.

Regardless of whether you choose Decluttr or another service, the company will inspect the item and ensure it matches the item description through an initial evaluation process before making your payment. You will receive your funds via PayPal, direct deposit, check, or gift card within a few days on average. In some cases, the buying service may perform a detailed inspection and provide an updated valuation. If you don’t like the new amount, you can request a revised rating or request that the gadget be returned to you. Please note that some services will automatically charge you if you do not respond to a revised offer within a certain number of days.

The choice of buyback service depends on the type of device you want to sell. Each has a different focus. For example, Gazelle focuses only on cell phones and tablets, while Decluttr sells a diverse mix of items including smartphones, tablets, Apple products (including his trade-in MacBook), Kindles, and video game consoles. I’ll accept it. ItsWorthMore focuses most on laptops, smartphones, and some desktop computers.

If you can’t find a trade-in service that’s interesting for your particular old gear, you can instead try trade-in programs at major retailers like Best Buy and Amazon. However, it is not as rewarding as a buyback program. When we looked at his 2015 Macbook for sale, Best Buy offered $120, while Decluttr offered $200.

Neither amount feels very high, especially since we priced the base configuration in good condition with a working charger. To earn more money, or to find someone willing to take advantage of less popular or completely outdated technology, you should use online marketplaces instead.

sell old technology yourself

There are several types of online marketplaces, some are auction-based and others are fixed price. Some limit transactions to local, face-to-face transactions, while others focus on online sales. With so many options, you can choose the type of interaction and level of seller fees that you are most comfortable with.

You can also freely list what you have on hand. Buy-back services focus on a more limited number of device types and pay high prices for new technology in good condition, whereas online marketplaces typically sell damaged devices for repair or use as parts. You can connect with all kinds of buyers, including people looking for items you’ve purchased.

The major names in this space are eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Swappa, and OfferUp. Although their characteristics and policies overlap, each has advantages and disadvantages that differentiate it from its competitors.

For example, eBay supports a wide range of listing formats, but its very buyer-friendly dispute process can be cumbersome. And while Craigslist’s commission-free transactions mean pure profit, they also come with the risk of meeting potential buyers face-to-face. Some services (Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp) implicitly or explicitly verify a buyer’s identity. This means that people who reveal their identity are less likely to defraud or steal.

The amount you can earn through online marketplaces varies widely. Each website has a different pricing structure. There are typically no fees for on-site, in-person exchanges, but shipped devices can lose anywhere from just 2.9 percent to nearly 15 percent of the selling price. To maximize your profits, carefully research each company’s pricing structure to understand how much you can expect.

However, you will end up making more money on average than using a buying service. Looking at recent eBay listings, the same 2015 Macbook with offers of $120 (Best Buy trade-in) and $200 (Decluttr) averaged between $350 and $375.

Tips for selling old appliances

• Securely erase your technology before shipping. Most laptops, smartphones, tablets, and even smart home devices store personal information about you. Normal deletion will not properly erase that data.
• Please clean the item before taking photos. Removing grunge and polishing light scratches increases perceived value.
• Take photos of your products from different angles in well-lit locations. Take close-up photos of noticeable dents, scratches, and dents. Pay attention to the focus of the camera. Clear and crisp photos make your device more appealing.
• Compare prices before accepting an offer from a buying service or creating a listing on an online marketplace. When it comes to online marketplace pricing, we recommend starting with eBay’s advanced search, which allows you to view only sold items. Examining them will tell you which format is most effective (when deciding between auction or fixed price) and which price interests people.
• Explain the product honestly and in detail. When in doubt, provide more information than less and document the condition of the item with clear photos. That way, you may be able to deal with any disputes that may arise.
• Is your device too old to sell? Instead, you can consider repurposing it, such as turning your old laptop into a Chromebook. Old or broken technology can be recycled through programs like the one available at Best Buy to complete your decluttering journey.