Ok, we all know that those old phones of ours did cost us some serious money at the time we had bought them. Still, most of us simply stack up our old phones or dispose them off without thinking about the fact that they could still be worth a lot.
I am here to discuss with you the few ways you could still earn some extra cash while doing away with your old phone as long as it is still in working condition. Before you decide to give it away to your friend, a mobile recycling company or try selling it on your own on eBay, you must take a look at the following tips on how to make the most out of your old phone.
What is the real worth of your phone?
How much is the worth of your old phone would depend on what make and model it is and whether it is in a good working condition or not. The age of the handset would also matter a lot in deciding the price of any old phone. Nowadays, you could use plenty of online resources such as the websites that can compare your old phone’s make and model to get you a fair idea of how much should you sell it for.
How about fixing the damage before selling off your phone?
Sometimes, depending on the nature of damage, fixing your phone can get you more money than you thought. Most mobile phone recycling companies offer a much lower amount for an old non working phone as compared to a working one. At times, the difference can easily cover the cost of repairing the damage and at the same time get you some extra money in your pocket for your old phone.
What are some of the ‘must do’ things before selling your old phone?
This one is a no brainer and most of us know these already but I still wanted to touch upon a few of the things one must do before selling or giving away an old phone.
Back up all your data including contacts, messages, photos, music, videos and texts etc on to your new phone or computer.
Ensure that all your personal data (pretty much everything including contacts, messages, photos etc) is wiped off from your old phone.
Do a ‘factory reset’ to make sure that the phone has no reason to cause anything as serious as identity theft.
Last but not the least, take out your SIM card; you don’t want the new phone to not be able to make calls now.
What next?
Once you are done doing all of the above, it is time now to send your old phone to the mobile recycling company and simply wait for a payment. I recommend sending the phone through registered mail so as to ensure a safe delivery and to secure your payment.
Once the phone reached the recycling company, most of it would either get reused or refurbished and then sold off to the markets in developing nations.
What if you don’t want to sell your old phone?
Well, in that case I would suggest that you give it away to a friend or family member who needs it or donate it to a charity for helping out the less privileged ones. Last but not the least, you always have an option of using it as a standby phone. I have one for myself for emergencies and I have had reasons to use it on more than one occasion.