Want an iPhone X? Tips for selling your old handset
With the latest iPhone line-up released yesterday, you might be thinking about upgrading your mobile phone.
The question is, what do you do with the old one? You could pass it on to someone who needs it or you could recycle it but it is definitely worth trying to sell it.
According to eBay, even old, broken and used phones are worth money. eBay is one option to consider if you want to sell your phone. How much you're likely to get will depend on the make and model and of course the condition.
"If history repeats itself, your precious iPhone will drop in value the moment Apple announces a newer model," says Alex Angove, from the communications comparison site WhistleOut.
If you want to figure out how much your phone is worth on eBay, you can enter your details at ebay.com.au/s/phone and you will be given an estimate based on similar items that recently sold or completed.
For example, at the time of writing eBay estimates I'd get $338 for my gold iPhone 6 which has 64GB, is in good used condition and has no accessories.
"To maximise your phone's selling potential, do your own search for other models of your type currently being sold and price your device accordingly," says Angove.
"Try your best to pack it up as you originally bought it, and if you still have the box, use it. If possible, include all the original accessories; if you don't have them, you'll probably need to lower your asking price."
You could also try sites such as Gumtree or use Facebook. Another option is to sell through a phone resale site. These include Boomerang Buyback, Cashaphone, Fonebank, Mazuma and Mobile Monster. You'll probably get less money using one of these sites than eBay but it's slightly less hassle as you won't need to list your phone and take photos etc.
"You select your phone model, answer some basic questions about the condition of your device and the website gives you a quote," explains Angove. "The company then sends you out a box to safely post your phone back. Once they have inspected your handset and ensured it's in the condition you described, you receive your money via cheque or direct bank transfer."
He adds that, essentially, these businesses work like pawn shops so you'll probably need to send them a photocopy of your ID before they can take your old phone.
You need to protect your private information before handing over your phone. You absolutely must strip your iPhone of its personal content, says Angove.
"Before wiping your phone's memory, make sure that you have all your content backed up either on iCloud, Google, or on your home PC or laptop."
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