There are a number of trade-in sites that have sprung up in recent years catering to people who want to quickly offload their new iPhone or Android in the most hassle free way.
The best known, however, is probably the US-based Gazelle. Gazelle allows you to quickly and easily get a firm price for the smartphone you want to get rid of. If you like Gazelle’s price you ship them your iPhone, they’ll check it out, then they’ll either cut you a check, pay you via PayPal or via Amazon gift cards.
Gazelle says they’ve bought millions of devices since they launched and to date have paid out over $200 million to sellers. Buying and selling each work a little differently on Gazelle, but the process for either is relatively straight forwards. Here’s how it works:
Selling On Gazelle
- Go to https://www.gazelle.com/trade-in
- Select the type of device you want to sell.
- Select if the phone is unlocked or tied to a carrier.
- Select the capacity of the device.
- Select the condition.
- Gazelle gives you the price they’ll pay. If you agree. You ship the the device for free. Once they inspect it, they’ll pay you right away.
To give you an example of how much Gazelle pays, they’ll give you $330 for a “good” (that is, normal wear and tear) Apple iPhone 7 Plus 128GB (Unlocked). You’ll get $150 for a “good” Samsung Galaxy S7 SM-G930F 32GB (Unlocked).
Buying On Gazelle
- Go to https://buy.gazelle.com
- Select the type of device you want to buy.
- Select the carrier you use.
- Select the make and storage size of the device you want to buy. That’s it. You get the price for the certified smartphone that’s undergone a 30-point inspection.
To give you an example of how much Gazelle sells certified phones for, an Apple iPhone 7 Plus 128GB (Unlocked) will cost you $679.
A Samsung Galaxy S7 SM-G930F 32GB (Unlocked) will cost you $388.
Gazelle’s Tips On Buying Used Smartphones
The company has wrote this handy blog post detailing three things to keep in mind when buying a used device. The whole post is worth a read, but their main tips are below:
1) Where is it coming from?
Step one in the used buying process is to know who you’re dealing with. Before you open your wallet, be sure your cash is in good hands. We all know that the Internet is rife with scammers. Research the seller on Better Business Bureau and Yelp and see what their customers are saying. A presentable website and social media channels also go a long way toward peace of mind.
2) Does it work?
There’s nothing worse than wasting money a gadget that slowly turns into an expensive paperweight. On the provider’s site, check out how they inspect and process used or refurbished devices, especially what “used'” means to them (it varies widely from business to business.) And always, always choose a retailer that provides a worry-free guarantee. Gazelle offers a 30-day risk-free guarantee on all purchases as well as a 30+ point inspection to ensure quality.
3) How does it look?
Looks do matter. Get a device you’re proud of – cosmetic quality is just as important as functionality! There’s no need to sacrifice appearance for a low-cost smartphone. So get out there and start exploring! If you recently lost or broke your smartphone, check out Gazelle’s new certified pre-owned store at buy.gazelle.com.
Gazelle has TONS of awesome deals on ALL iPhone models, Macs, iPads and Samsung Galaxy phones, including the Galaxy S range and the Galaxy Note series. Make sure you check them out if you're in the market for a cheap flagship phone!
