By now there's little doubt that a sixth-generation iPhone is just around the corner, so this is a great time to weigh your options for selling an older model and putting that cash toward Apple's latest and greatest -- and here are three of the best methods for doing just that.
It's that time of year again -- the rumors and leaks all point to Apple debuting a new iPhone this fall alongside iOS 6, and a number of reliable sources claim the company will unveil its latest hardware at a September 12 media event, with the handset available for sale as early as Friday, September 21.
For owners of a current iPhone, that doesn't allow much time to cash in on an older model through the likes of eBay or Craigslist, and who wants to mess with that anyway? After all, there are plenty of places willing to take your gently-used iPhone in trade for cold, hard cash -- including the three best options outlined below.
Unless you're still rockin' an original 2007 iPhone, your handset is likely to be worth something to someone, and the folks at Glyde.com make it easy to get started, including the ability to set a reminder so you'll know when it's time to actually sell.
Simply head to the Glyde website and search for your specific device, then click on the carrier, capacity and color options followed by the Next button.
Now you'll answer a few simple questions about the condition of your iPhone. Does it work? Are there scratches? Any engraving or other personalization? Are you included the power adapter and cable? These will all determine what your handset will be worth, so answer honestly.
Next you'll see the current market price of your model based on the answers you've chosen. Glyde will take a transaction fee from your sale as well as deduct a flat mailing cost, so the small number below will determine what you can actually hope to receive.
If you're looking to move an iPhone for quick cash, look for the small ribbon -- this denotes the option to do a "Speed Sale," where you'll get a little bit less cash in return for moving the device quickly.
Current resale values on Glyde.com range from $115 for an 8GB iPhone 3GS all the way up to $460 for a 64GB iPhone 4S, and those prices are a tad better than competitors -- but that's certainly going to change between now and whenever Apple debuts the latest model.
Selling your existing iPhone for quick cash is great, but what if you don't want to be without your device for days or even weeks? Thankfully, the folks at Gazelle.com are one step ahead of you.
Gazelle allows sellers to lock in a good price for their iPhone now, while getting the chance to hang onto it until October 1 -- which should be plenty of time to port your content over to the new model, assuming the rumors of a September 21 release are true.
Gazelle will even buy a broken iPhone and is one of the few places who will take an original 2007 model -- though don't expect to get much for one of those. (Our old 8GB iPhone fetched a mere $9 offer, so we'll be hanging onto it for now, thanks anyway.)
If you're looking for an easy way to trade in your device, Gazelle is one of the most seller-friendly around, with free shipping, no listing hassles, a free data wipe, fast payment and a 30-day offer guarantee.
If you're a frequent Amazon.com shopper, you might find it more advantageous to trade your iPhone in for a shiny new (electronic) gift card, ready to spend on anything the e-tailer offers on its virtual shelves.
Amazon's Trade-In Store includes categories for textbooks, video games, movies and TV, music and yes, electronics -- and that includes Apple's iPhone. Shipping is free and Amazon provides a label and packing slip -- all you have to do is box it up and take it to the post office or a nearby UPS Store.
A current-generation 64GB black iPhone 4S on AT&T is currently fetching upwards of $500 on Amazon, although you'll have to part with your handset now rather than whenever Apple introduces the new model. However, this is hands-down the potentially best method for unloading your old handset for its maximum value.
If history is any indication, you'll want to move quickly, regardless of how you plan to unload your old iPhone -- its value is certain to decrease over the next couple of weeks, and once Apple announces the latest model, your options (and cash value) will plummet accordingly.
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RobbieD
September 06, 2012 at 12:17pm
Will AT&T Unlock these phones to use a Pre Paid on their network or other Networks such as TMobile?
