Do you have an iPhone that you feel is approaching the end of its usable life? Is it not as fast as it used to be?
Maybe there’s nothing wrong with the model you have. You just feel like a more recent version is so enticing that the time has come to do a trade-in, so you can get some of those exciting new features.
Whatever your reason for wanting to sell your iPhone, you should know about the various stores and other entities that purchase them. Let’s dive right in with some of the more popular options. There are multiple kinds of stores that buy iPhones, but they are not all created equal.
The Best Buy iPhone Trade-In Program
The reality is that if you want to sell your iPhone to a brick-and-mortar location, your options are going to be a bit limited. That’s because online transactions now dominate so many niche markets, and iPhone sell-backs are no exception.
As far as brick-and-mortar stores go, Best Buy is probably one of your better options because there are still a decent number of them competing with online entities like Amazon. However, you’re not going to be able to get cash for your iPhone there. The Best Buy Trade-In program offers store credit.
You will have to speak to an employee, hand over your phone, and then they’ll assess its condition. They will then mark it as Good, Fair, Broken, Not Accepted, or Recycle.
How much store credit they’ll offer depends on many factors, including what model you have and its condition. This is a good option because you can immediately put that store credit toward a new iPhone at that Best Buy location if that’s what you had in mind. You can always use the credit for other merchandise, as well.
The Walmart iPhone Buyback Program
Walmart has an iPhone buyback program for iPhones that’s similar to the Best Buy one. There’s a Walmart exchange program website that you will have to visit first.
There, you can find your iPhone model and describe its condition. If you accept the quote, then you can ship the phone to Walmart. There are also some locations where you can go in and do the transaction in-person.
If the phone is judged to be in the condition that you said it was, then you’ll get a Walmart gift card in the amount to which you agreed. Again, you’re not getting cash, but you can use the credit to get yourself another phone or any of the wide variety of other merchandise that Walmart offers.
The GameStop In-Store Trade-In Program
Another option that you might want to look into is the GameStop iPhone Trade-In Program. There are few of these stores left. If there’s one close to you, though, it’s worth looking into as another brick-and-mortar entity where you can unload your used iPhone.
The method of selling an iPhone there is fairly straightforward. You take in your device, and an associate will look it over. They’ll give you a quote and you can either get cash or store credit.
Generally speaking, you’re looking at more store credit than cash. The newer the phone, and the better the condition it’s in, the more money you’ll get.
If you intend to exchange your older iPhone for a newer model, then you might want to get store credit and do the transaction right there at the GameStop.
Some Carrier Stores will also Buy Your Used iPhones
There’s also the option of taking your iPhone to a carrier store, like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, or T-Mobile (see how they compare here). Again, this method isn’t complicated.
You bring the phone to your carrier, and they’ll give you cash for it, or you can get credit toward the purchase of a new phone. These carriers are usually looking to retain you as a customer. They’ll probably push you toward getting a new phone from them as part of the deal.
If you aren’t a customer of that particular carrier, and you’re only trying to sell the phone, then the carrier still might buy it. However, it’s likely that you’re not going to get very much for it.
You Can Sell Your iPhone at a Pawn Shop
You can also sell your iPhone to a pawn shop. It should be a simple matter to locate one nearby and take the phone in to see how much they’ll give you for it. You can also try a few different shops to see if one gives you a better quote than the others.
If you go this route, then be aware that you’re probably not going to get a ton of money for the phone. Pawnshop owners will often try to low-ball you and see how much you’re willing to take for the device. They’re trying to increase their profit margin as much as possible.
If they sense that you are inexperienced or desperate, then they will certainly quote you a lower price. Don’t feel that you’re obligated to take it. You can always haggle with them to see if you can get a little bit more.
One of the better aspects of selling an iPhone this way is that you will get cash for the sale rather than store credit. Depending on what your priorities are and the situation in which you find yourself, this might turn out to be one of the most viable options.
Apple has an Online Store that Buys iPhones
Apple itself has a buyback program that you can use if you don’t mind sending the phone through the mail. Go to the Apple website, where it will ask you a series of questions about the iPhone you have for sale.
You’ll then send it through the mail. Within a few days, you’ll get Apple credit to be used for any of their products.
You can also take the phone directly to an Apple Store if that’s more convenient for you. You’ll get store credit there as well, but you won’t have to wait those intervening days while your phone ships and gets evaluated.
EcoATM Kiosks
There is also something that is called an EcoATM. This is a device that looks a little like a Redbox from which you’d borrow a DVD, if you haven’t completely switched over to streaming services yet.
It’s a self-service phone buyback program, and they also will accept certain other used electronics. They can be found in a wide variety of stores. If you’re interested in this as an option, go to their website or use their app and find the nearest location.
You have to do a little prep work before you can sell your used iPhone this way. First, you’ll wipe your phone clean through a factory reset.
You’ll choose your device type from the list. Next, you’ll let the machine examine it and assess its value.
That value will be based on which phone model you have and its overall condition. The kiosk quotes you a price, and if you accept it, then you can get cash from the machine on the spot and leave your phone there.
The prices that these kiosks give for phones seem to be comparable to what you might get from somewhere like a GameStop. One thing that’s undeniably nice about them is that you get cash-in-hand rather than store credit, and there’s also no pressure to buy a new device or sign up for a carrier plan.
If you’re feeling antisocial, you don’t need to have a conversation with another human being at all if you decide to use this method.
Sell Your iPhone Online to Buyback Boss
Buyback Boss is another one of the online entities that will buy your iPhone. There are a couple of compelling reasons why we’re a leader in this aspect of the phone sales niche.
The first is that you’ll get cash for your phone rather than store credit. The second is that we’ll match any competitor’s offer, so you’ll know you’re getting as much as possible for your used device. We’ll take phones in any condition, though obviously, the better maintained your phone is, the more money we’ll likely offer you for it.
It’s up to you whether you try and sell your iPhone in-person or through the mail and whether you’re okay with store credit or you need cash. You should remember, though, that the better care you take of your phone while it’s in your possession, the more trade-in value it’s going to eventually have.
Keep that in mind and get yourself a case for it. Try not to get it wet or drop food on it. It will last longer that way, and when the time comes to get rid of it, you won’t get a rock-bottom offer from whatever entity you decide to use.
