How to Sell a Used Smartphone Online

Smartphones have become essential in our lives. Unfortunately, they don’t last forever. Or you may decide to upgrade to a newer model at some point. Whatever the case, you probably wonder what to do with your older phone. Should you try to sell it? Can you trade it in? Or just dispose of it and move on? And if so, how?

That’s where Gadget Salvation comes in. We provide an easy, environmentally friendly way to sell pre-owned smartphones. 

At Gadget Salvation, we’ve streamlined the process of selling your smartphone. It’s as easy as 1-2-3, and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

1. Place an order. First, look up your make and model in our online buyback database. Then, tell us what kind of phone you are selling and provide details about its overall working and cosmetic condition. This will help us estimate its resale buyback offer in real-time. Finally, fill out the checkout form and receive a prepaid shipping label. 
2. Ship. Carefully package your phone to prevent damage in transit. Tape our prepaid postage onto the box and drop it off at the closest UPS hub.
3. Get paid. Once your cellphone arrives, we will examine it to confirm the offer (which should not take longer than two workdays) and send you the payment. That’s it!

Gadget Salvation does the research for you by monitoring resale smartphone markets daily and guaranteeing a fair pricing model. Here, you can sell your smartphone with confidence.

Why Sell Online?

Plenty of options exist for reselling electronics, but not without certain caveats.

For one, buyers are picky. So, if your smartphone is dated or damaged, it may not sell. Or if it does sell and breaks immediately, you will have to deal with a return process, which is a hassle.

Creating a listing also takes time. Once it is live, prepare to address the many inquiries, including low-ball offers, at all hours of the day. Sometimes for weeks (or even months) on end. 

Gadget Salvation can save you the headache. With us, you can sell your phone in as quickly as two business days.* We highly value our customers’ trust and have proudly offered our buyback services to the community since 2008.

Focus on Sustainability

Environmental concerns are a common issue associated with used gadgets. Many people do not dispose of their dated tech correctly. As a result, old phones often end up in landfills and emit toxins that can harm the environment. 

At Gadget Salvation, we aim to offer a sustainable way to get rid of a pre-owned smartphone. We find new homes for your gizmos or recycle them, curbing overproduction and minimizing e-waste.

How Do I Know It’s Time to Sell My Smartphone? 

• You’re not getting the latest system updates. With time, smartphones may stop supporting the latest software updates, so you cannot use the new features.
• The phone can’t handle your favorite games and frequently used apps anymore. Certain games and apps may only run on the newer models that have the power to handle ever-changing features. 
• The battery dies quickly. Unfortunately, older phone batteries will drain more rapidly. And if your smartphone is already out of warranty, a replacement service may not always be the most cost-effective option.
• The camera image quality is lacking. Manufacturers keep improving the resolution. In fact, you may have noticed that smartphone cameras are about the only thing that gets revamped every single year. Besides, your camera also depends on software updates. If your IG photos cannot compete with your friend’s latest posts, it may be time for an upgrade. 
• You keep running out of storage space. And if you have an iPhone, an SD card is no use. Today’s apps are space-consuming and require the storage capacity of a newer phone. 
• Slow speeds. Smartphones inevitably slow down with time and can’t handle your apps efficiently. As a result, even basic functions become a struggle. 
• Lack of features. New cell phones offer advanced features that may only be accessible through an upgrade. While not necessary, some features, like facial recognition, are nice to have. On the other hand, some are only supported in iOS or Android, forcing you to switch brands. 

How to Prepare a Used Smartphone for Resale? 

Before shipping your phone, please be sure to complete the following steps:

• Back up your data. There are multiple cloud-related sources you can use to back up data, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud, and more. Backing up data should be your first step in preparing your smartphone for sale.
• Unpair the phone from connected devices. Maintaining a connection with other gadgets can put your information at risk.
• Sign out of apps, accounts, and services. Not only does it prevent unauthorized access, but if you reset a cell while still logged in to your iCloud, Gmail, Samsung, or any other account, it will still be linked to those accounts and become inaccessible (thus, not sellable).
• Delete passwords. Remove all passwords prior to initiating a reset.
• Include original accessories. Gadget Salvation requests that you include your wall charger (if available) and data cable when you sell your smartphone. 
• Remove the SIM card and external storage devices. Please note that if you forget your SIM inside the phone, it cannot be returned. We recycle all forgotten SIM cards as part of the testing process.
• Finally, you can perform a factory reset via the Settings menu. Click on Settings-General Management-Reset—Factory Data Reset (the options may vary slightly depending on the make and model). The reset will restore your smartphone to its original out-of-box state.

How Does Shipping Work?

We will email you a prepaid shipping label once you checkout online. However, you must safely package your smartphone and return it to a local UPS store.

The package is automatically insured for up to $100, but we cannot be responsible for damage caused by poor packaging. If the phone arrives damaged, your original offer may be reduced.

What About Buying Pre-Owned Smartphones?

Yes, at Gadget Salvation you can do both. All our pre-owned inventory is thoroughly inspected and tested to verify functionality. Our listings show pictures of the actual product, so you know what you are getting. Why buy a used phone? For one, it is much, much cheaper than a new one. You can upgrade to a newer model at a fraction of the cost, paying as little as 22-40% of retail. 

Most importantly, choosing pre-owned tech is a sustainable way to shop. When you buy a used smartphone through Gadget Salvation, you are helping the environment. You are reducing the need to manufacture new phones (and packaging--yes, we reuse EVERYTHING!), a process that emits greenhouse gases and consumes rare natural resources.

Where Should I Sell My Smartphone?

There are many reputable reseller sites out there, but if you are looking for a hassle-free, environmentally-friendly option with fair pricing, give Gadget Salvation a try. We guarantee you will be satisfied with your experience. Contact us when you’re ready to sell smartphones and other pre-loved gadgets for cash the easy way!

*Waries based on the seller’s location.