Best Places To Sell Your Old iPhone

In this post, we’d like to share a few tips on getting your Apple iPhone ready for resale, as well as a few places to cash in your used iPhone.

Looking to sell your used iPhone for cash? Considering that Apple releases new gadgets so frequently, used devices lose their value faster. Take the iPhone 12 Pro Max, for example. We are only a few months away from the new iPhone 13 launch, so now is the right time to get a few extra dollars by selling earlier models. Yet the challenge is finding the right place to turn for the best deal. We’d like to help you with your search. Below you’ll find a few quick and easy tips on how to prepare your used iPhone for sale, as well as a compelling list of places to sell your old iPhone to.

Top Places To Sell An Old iPhone

When it comes to getting rid of an old iPhone, there are places that offer cash and others that offer store credit towards future purchases. We’d like to highlight a few known and trusted platforms where you can do either.

Ideal For Those Who Upgrade to a Newer iPhone: Apple Trade-in

This company offers a trade-in service for eligible Apple products, both online and in-store. If the device is accepted, you will get paid via a gift card that you can use in any Apple store. Here is the catch, though: the company only offers credit for devices that are in like-new condition. So, depending on the model, if your iPhone has dents or scratches, and/or is not fully functional, you are likely to be offered to recycle the device free of charge. To sell your old iPhone online, visit the site and check if your iPhone model is eligible for a trade-in. Then answer a few questions about its condition and accept the offer. The whole turnaround is about two to three weeks. At the end, if all goes well, you will receive an e-gift card via email. If you choose to sell your used iPhone in-store, an Apple clerk will inspect it on the spot and offer you instant credit for your next purchase with Apple.

Trade-in for a Store Gift Card at Best Buy

The well-known nationwide retailer Best Buy has their own online and in-store trade-in program. You can trade in several types of electronic products, ranging from digital cameras, gaming consoles, and smartphones to household electronics like vacuums, battery backups, and more. To sell your old iPhone at Best Buy, you will need to identify your model, provide accurate specs, and answer a few questions about the phone’s overall condition. If you accept the offer, Best Buy will send you a free shipping label to send the goods. The whole process from placing an order online to receiving the Best Buy gift card credit is about 10-12 business days.

Trusted Online Service: Gadget Salvation

Gadget Salvation is an online reseller company that helps customers to sell their used iPhones and other gadgets for cash. Since 2008, the business has worked out a quick and convenient process of selling old iPhones in a hassle-free way. And it is virtually free: from online valuation to inspections and shipping fees, all is included, at no cost to users. So, to sell an old iPhone with us, all you need to do is to answer a few questions about your iPhone model, its cosmetic and functional condition, and we will share an estimate right then and there. If you like what you see, ship your iPhone using our prepaid UPS label. Once the package arrives to us, allow up to 48 business hours for inspections, and receive the money via a payment method of your choosing: PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or a paper check. We are proud to say that over the past 13 years, many customers have had positive selling experiences with us, which they share online.

Credit Towards New Device: Amazon

By now, it is safe to say that Amazon is embedded in our lives. The used electronics trade-in field is no exception. The online retailer has its own trade-in service and accepts cell phones, laptops, Kindle tablets, gaming consoles, and many other gadgets. You will receive an electronic Amazon gift card if you choose to trade in your device. Like the other buy-back services, they have a standard questionnaire to guide you through the process of selling your old iPhone. You’ll need to provide information about your iPhone’s model and condition to get a quote. Once Amazon inspects and verifies it, the seller gets an e-gift card. The turnaround time can take two to three weeks. This is a great option for those who shop at Amazon frequently.

Other Options

Apart from the options mentioned above, you can always sell your iPhone yourself via various classifieds and marketplaces. This option has its own benefits. For one, you get to decide how much you want to charge for your iPhone. But it also requires the most time and effort. Depending on where you’re selling the phone, you’d have to create a listing, arrange for meetups with potential buyers, negotiate, and, if you are not selling locally, pay all associated shipping costs. There is also a risk of being scammed by the buyer and of dealing with returns. However, if everything goes well, you may be able to get a few more dollars for your iPhone than you would by selling it to a company.

eBay

This one is tough. On one hand, eBay must be the oldest third-party platform; everyone has at least heard of it. The advantage of using eBay is that it helps you to connect with potential customers and streamlines the selling process. However, it is also notoriously unsafe. Because of its policies, eBay has, over the years, become a haven for many online scammers. And as a seller, you get very little protection from eBay. On top of that, eBay charges you a percentage of the sale price, which, depending on whether you are a first-time seller or have an established account, averages about 10%. And 10% can be a lot, if you are selling an expensive, newer iPhone model.

Craigslist

This website is available in many different places around the globe. Indeed, you can publish your “Sell old iPhone” ad in the corresponding category, add photos and descriptions, and make your post live. The good thing about Craigslist is that it has been around for a long time. And with it, you will be able to reach a large audience. But, of course, there is a catch. As a seller, you are not protected at all. It is up to you to weed out questionable inquiries. And when it comes to payments, you must be extra vigilant.

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook’s marketplace is relatively new, but it allows users to sell their items in the area without creating an additional account. Pretty convenient. And because you are doing it yourself, again, you must create a listing, provide an honest description of the item you are selling, set your price, and arrange face-to-face meetings with interested parties. Again, not the safest option, especially during the pandemic. We recommend meeting the potential buyer in a public area, such as outside a busy cafe. If you choose to be paid electronically, make sure the payment has gone through before you hand over the iPhone.

iPhone Trade-in Value

Perhaps you are wondering what is the average trade-in value of a used iPhone? It is important to remember that all electronic gadgets depreciate fast, now faster than ever before. Yet some brands generally hold their resale value better over time. And that is the case with Apple iPhones. Of course, the resale value of the phone depends on its condition, year, make, and model. We can give you a few examples of how much you can sell old iPhone for online:

• A fully functional, unlocked Apple iPhone 11 128GB will get you up to $317.
• A factory-unlocked pre-owned Apple iPhone 12 256GB in good condition yields an offer of up to $459.
• A brand new Apple iPhone SE2 256GB gets you $206*.

Quick Tips on Preparing Your iPhone for Sale

As soon as you make a decision to upgrade your iPhone, it’s time to act. Especially if the new iPhone release is weeks away. In order to get the best possible offer, we suggest following these easy tips:

• Back up your data, apps, and other files.
• Turn off Find My Phone
• Unpair any connected devices, like Apple Watch or AirPods
• Sign out of all your accounts (email accounts, iMessage, social media accounts, and most importantly, iCloud)
• Remove the SIM card.
• Erase your iPhone

That’s it. Your phone is now ready for the new owner.

Bottom Line

Ready to sell your pre-owned iPhone? Essentially, how to do it is your choice only. All options we listed above have their perks and drawbacks. It also depends on your agenda. If you want to upgrade to a newer iPhone model, Apple Trade-in is the way to go. But if you want to make money by selling your iPhone, you should stick with a cash buy-back company or try selling it yourself on platforms like Craigslist or Facebook. In either case, we hope this post helps you make an informed decision. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out!

*Priced on 04/30/2021. Subject to change.