6 Things You Must Know About Your Used Tech
You can sell, trade in or donate your gently used castoffs.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Today
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more delivered daily. Smart money moves start here.
Sent five days a week
Kiplinger A Step Ahead
Get practical help to make better financial decisions in your everyday life, from spending to savings on top deals.
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Closing Bell
Get today's biggest financial and investing headlines delivered to your inbox every day the U.S. stock market is open.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Adviser Intel
Financial pros across the country share best practices and fresh tactics to preserve and grow your wealth.
Delivered weekly
Kiplinger Tax Tips
Trim your federal and state tax bills with practical tax-planning and tax-cutting strategies.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Retirement Tips
Your twice-a-week guide to planning and enjoying a financially secure and richly rewarding retirement
Sent bimonthly.
Kiplinger Adviser Angle
Insights for advisers, wealth managers and other financial professionals.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Investing Weekly
Your twice-a-week roundup of promising stocks, funds, companies and industries you should consider, ones you should avoid, and why.
Sent weekly for six weeks
Kiplinger Invest for Retirement
Your step-by-step six-part series on how to invest for retirement, from devising a successful strategy to exactly which investments to choose.
1. Act fast. You’ll do best if you sell your older model before a new version is launched. “The moment the announcement goes out, everyone wants to upgrade,” says Scott Steinberg, head of consulting firm TechSavvy Global. In general, Apple products hold their value best; on the flip side, don’t expect much demand for a desktop PC.
2. Trade in your tablet. Online trade-in services—such as Gazelle, NextWorth, Amazon Trade-In, uSell and BuyBackWorld—and programs offered by retailers such as Best Buy, GameStop and Target offer convenient ways to get money for your gadgets. But some accept a broader range of devices than others, and price estimates vary widely. For example, searching for a Verizon 32-gigabyte iPhone 5s in good condition on 10 trade-in sites pulled up offers between $120 and $199. Note: A big payout isn’t everything. Amazon Trade-In offered the most, but you’re restricted to an Amazon gift card—not much use if you rarely shop online. Think creatively: Trade-in sites probably won’t be interested in your ancient Rio MP3 player, says technology writer Louis Ramirez. But a tech enthusiast on eBay might pounce.
3. Know the drill. To get an instant quote, log on to the Web site and search for your device, then tick off the boxes that best describe its condition. After shipping your device free (or bringing it into the affiliated retailer), you’ll receive a final offer. Depending on the program, you may be paid in cash, through PayPal, or by check, gift card, store credit or prepaid debit card. Carriers may also buy back your old device, but payment is less flexible: You’ll typically receive credit you can use only with that carrier.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
4. Sell your cell yourself? Selling electronic devices privately or through an online marketplace, such as Amazon or eBay, means you can price them however you want, but it’s up to you to manage your listing. Beginners may find the Glyde.com site easy to navigate.
5. You might give back. Some trade-in programs, such as Gazelle or AT&T, will let you donate your proceeds to charity. For devices broken beyond repair, recycle them through the manufacturer if it offers a mail-in or drop-off program (such as Dell’s Reconnect) or a retailer such as Best Buy or Staples. For more information, go to www.epa.gov or www.electronicstakeback.com.
6. Secure your data. Whether you sell, dispose or donate, start by backing up all your data. For phones, remove SIM and memory cards, turn off any device tracking, sign out of cloud services, e-mail and apps, and remove passwords. Use an app, such as Lookout, to wipe your data, and perform a factory reset. For full instructions, look in your owner’s manual or the Web site of your mobile provider or device manufacturer. Be aware, though, that it is very difficult to remove your data completely, says John Sileo, CEO of the Sileo Group. Deactivate service from your carrier, too. “Deauthorize” computers that use digital rights management software (such as iTunes) and wipe the hard drive clean using software that overwrites data, such as the free Active@ KillDisk.
-
Dow Adds 1,206 Points to Top 50,000: Stock Market TodayThe S&P 500 and Nasdaq also had strong finishes to a volatile week, with beaten-down tech stocks outperforming.
-
Ask the Tax Editor: Federal Income Tax DeductionsAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, Joy Taylor answers questions on federal income tax deductions
-
States With No-Fault Car Insurance Laws (and How No-Fault Car Insurance Works)A breakdown of the confusing rules around no-fault car insurance in every state where it exists.
-
9 Types of Insurance You Probably Don't NeedFinancial Planning If you're paying for these types of insurance, you may be wasting your money. Here's what you need to know.
-
When Tech is Too MuchOur Kiplinger Retirement Report editor, David Crook, sounds off on the everyday annoyances of technology.
-
I Let AI Read Privacy Policies for Me. Here's What I LearnedA reporter uses AI to review privacy policies, in an effort to better protect herself from fraud and scams.
-
Amazon Resale: Where Amazon Prime Returns Become Your Online BargainsFeature Amazon Resale products may have some imperfections, but that often leads to wildly discounted prices.
-
What Is AI? Artificial Intelligence 101Artificial intelligence has sparked huge excitement among investors and businesses, but what exactly does the term mean?
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2026Roth IRAs Roth IRAs allow you to save for retirement with after-tax dollars while you're working, and then withdraw those contributions and earnings tax-free when you retire. Here's a look at 2026 limits and income-based phaseouts.
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnbreal estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute VacationTravel It is possible to pull off a cheap last-minute vacation. Here are some tips to make it happen.
