Buying A New Smartphone? What To Do With Your Old One?

Buying A New Smartphone

Since their inception, mobile phones have become an essential part of our daily lives. Mobile companies such as Samsung and Apple are continually updating their hardware with software giants Open Handset Alliance and Google creating firmware such as the Android Mobile operating system.

A recent study showed that over half of all mobile devices bought will be smartphones run by operating systems by mid-2013. This is wonderful for the companies but what about our old and outdated models? Many users are not aware of what options are available to them. Let’s look at three of them.

Using local classifieds or online free advertising or to sell gadgets

Regardless of where you live in the UK or even the world, your local newspaper will probably have a classifieds section where people list their goods for sale. There are also numerous websites which provide the exact same service.

Simply create an account and upload the information and images of the products. Now wait for potential buyers to purchase them from you.

A great bonus of this method is that it is generally free-of-charge. So even if you do not find any buyers, you would not have spent any money.

However, on the downside, you may come across people trying to bargain your price down or asking to view the products in person without actually buying them in the end. Unfortunately, this method invites a few chancers who suffer no legal or financial implications if they do not honor the agreement.

Using a mobile phone recycling company to sell your device

Of all the methods mentioned, the safest and least difficult is probably using a mobile phone recycling company. How this service works is that the company will quote you on your phone’s specific make and model based on the device’s condition.

If all is in order, you will then need to send the handset to the company after which you will be paid. The company in turn resells the fixed handset on to a developing nation at a reduced rate or else uses the precious parts and melts the rest.

The amount that you are paid for your device will differ greatly from company to company depending on the model, the age and the time period before the next model is released by that brand.

Using an auction site such as eBay

The first place that many people go to sell their unwanted goods is the website eBay. As one of the world’s most recognizable auction sites, millions of sales are processed daily. But bigger does not exactly mean better, as many people can attest to.

The website usually offers you the highest return on your product. But the site is also littered with scammers – particularly people who try and convince you to send the product before they have paid.

eBay holds numerous benefits such as the ability to create an entire auction listing, including pictures and reports on the item’s condition, amongst the others. You are also able to choose between “reserve auction” and “buy now” features.

The only con of using this method is the high fees involved. The website charges you a fee for enlisting as well as a fee for final valuation – this comes out to about 10% of the eventual sales price.

In addition, your sale could also require PayPal fees. To conclude, there are numerous ways of getting rid of unwanted mobile phones with each one presenting good and bad points. In the end, the easiest and cheapest way of recycling your handset would be through a recycling company that offers a good deal in a short space of time.

Coel Drysdale is the blog writer of a premier UK gadget and phone recycling business, comparemymobile.com. You can visit the comparemymobile.com website blog to follow him or for any questions related to this post or recycling get in touch with him directly – coel (at) comparemymobile (dot) com.

27 thoughts on “Buying A New Smartphone? What To Do With Your Old One?”

    • It is always a good idea to make use of unused phone. Some people decide to just throw it into the bin and allow it to go to the landfill which, over time, has a negative effect on the environment. So yes, this is the best way forward. Cheers, Coel

      Reply
  1. There is a local online site in our country where we can sell used and unused things free of charge. This is where I post my old phones and other gadgets. There are still a lot buying old phones especially those moms who have grade school kids who need phones just for phone calls.

    Reply
    • Giving your phone to your child or family is another really good idea. I think if there comes a time when I have an old phone lying about, I will definitely consider giving it to a family member … unless I can get a good amount of money from the old one to buy a new one, Haha. Thanks, Coel

      Reply
  2. The Best thing to do with your Old Phone is to gift it to your small Brother. He gets not only happy but also gets too excited.

    Reply
  3. I think it’s always a good idea to sell it to a recycling company. You get a decent amount for your phone but you do good in other ways as well. As mentioned they get recycled and send to developing countries so thousands more people can access information easily. Also you help to reduce electric item wastage.

    Reply
    • You have a very good point about reducing electrical waste, but not only that there are many poisonous substances in a mobile phone, like the battery. 600,000 litres of water could potentially be polluted by a SINGLE cadmium battery! It’s something people need to be aware of.

      Reply
  4. This is really helpful especially to techie like me! Technology grew so fast and we wanted to cope up with it, still, you can do a lot of things with each devices as long as it is working perfectly.

    Reply
  5. It could definitely be a secondary phone used as back up phone in case something happens with our primary phone. Thanks for all those ideas! Awesome!

    Reply
    • No problem Veronica, if it’s a smartphone you can use it on Wifi for all sorts of things like webcams, wireless mouse. Depends on the apps you download

      Reply
  6. You totally got me there! How did you know what I was needing to read? Just kidding! But seriously, I will keep those info in mind. Thanks a lot!!

    Reply
  7. The title of this post, explains my situation to the T. I am planning to buy a smart phone, and indeed lack any clue on what I should do with my current phone, as it is in good condition. I am going to make use of the advice given in the post in the form of advertisements in classifieds etc. Thanks for the share.

    Reply
    • Selling locally is always a great safe method providing you take cash in hand or use Paypal and log into the account from your browser to check payment has been received, many scams about, especially in email!

      Reply
  8. If you do not intend to use your old mobile phones, I think one of the best ways is to sell them. You can also give the old ones to your younger siblings or to a friend that is in need. Your tips are also very useful and you can also earn with your old mobiles.

    Reply
  9. Generous way of recycling there! At least it stays in the family, you could also try selling to friends by posting on your facebook

    Reply
  10. With so many smart phones with tempting features in the market its really difficult to stick to one phone for long . I always prefer selling the old ones rather than stocking them back home . Keeping an old one at home helps in dire situations when the smart phone stops working all of a sudden .

    Reply
  11. This is by far the best advice I’ve received on the subject of what to do with my old phone…Of all the methods you mention I find using a mobile phone recycling company as the best option.

    Reply
  12. Hi coel
    So far my old phones have never got past one of the rest of the family. I look after my phones but to say my two sisters are a menace and get through phones on a regular basis is an understatement. They drive me mad and if ever I upgrade they pounce on me like a pair of tigers to get hold of my old phone. Simply because they know it has been looked after.

    Some great ideas thanks lee

    Reply
  13. I think there are two options, the first one is pretty simple that is, if you are planning to buy a new Smartphone than give your old Smartphone to your friends or to your family members as a gift. If will improve the strength of your relation. The second one is very popular that is trying to sell your old phone, there are many ways and classified websites are one of the best ways.

    Reply
  14. Everyone want to use smartphone but the questions is what to do with old one- I’m want to sell the old one because I can got some extra money. Thanks for sharing your helpful thought!

    Reply

Leave a Comment