So, you’ve read about the new iPhone 4S and you want it. We understand. But what to do with your existing iPhone?
Assuming you’re not wanting to donate the device to an organization like the University of Peace or 123 Apps for Kids, perhaps the simplest thing to do is just to sell it. It is simple, and it’s possible you can get back enough money to pay for at least more than half of that iPhone 4S, without a contract. That’s like getting a new iPhone and a digital assistant for free!
But if you are going to test the open market waters, there are several different ways to go. Here are a few tips you might want to consider as you get ready to place your pre-order on Friday.
Wherever you plan to sell your old iPhone, when the times comes to slip it in the box and send it off to its new home you’ll want to make sure the device is wiped clean of your personal informaiton.
First, connect your old iPhone to iTunes. Backup everything. This is key. Then, hit the Restore button on your iPhone Summary page. You’ll be prompted again to create a backup (do it), and then Continue and restore your iPhone to its factory settings.
If you have an iPhone 2G, 3G, or 3GS, locate the SIM card tray in the top edge of the casing, between the headphone jack and power button. If you have an AT&T iPhone 4, locate the tray in the right edge of the casing. Gently insert Apple's SIM card removal tool or a straightened paperclip into the pin-sized hole in the SIM card tray. Once you release the catch in bottom of the hole, the SIM tray will eject from the phone body. Remove your card from the tray and reinsert the tray so it is secure and flush with the casing.
If you have a Verizon iPhone 4, there is no removable SIM card because the phone has a CMDA band, so you'll want to call Verizon Wireless to disassociate your number with that phone. They'll need you to retrieve your iPhone's MEID from the Settings > General > About menu. Let them know that you'll be selling your phone, but beware that Verizon may require additional time to process your request -- possibly up to your next billing cycle -- so be sure to get the official date of deactivation.
You basically have two flavors here: sell it directly to someone else or sell it to a company that will resell it. Either way, one rule to keep is to be honest in your descriptions of the device. Hoping they don't find the scratch or the crack is a bad strategy that will come back to haunt you.
If you sell it directly, you stand to get the most cash back for it. However, the process requires more work from you. You'll want to do everything you can to make your old iPhone look like it did when it was new. Clean up the glass and collect as much original packaging as you can. Then, take three to four photos of the device, as well as the packaging, and then pack it up.
Craigslist can get you the most money, but also requires the most care. You create a post (make sure you upload the photos you took) and then sit back and wait for the inquiries to come arrive in your inbox. Choose who you want to reply to, and arrange to meet in a safe, public place. Insist on cash only, and don't be afraid to negotiate.
eBay is a little easier, but will exact some fees. The interface is clean and payment is electronic, though you'll need a PayPal account. All you have to do is create your listing, upload your images, and decide if you want to set a reserve or minimum price, and let it rip. We suggest doing a 24 hour auction for best results.
The easiest way to sell your device is to use a company that specializes in buying used mobile devices. There are several listed below, and the process is similar in all of them: you describe your phone online, they give you a quote, you ship the phone to them, and then they inspect your phone. If the phone matches the description you sent them, then they'll give you the money. Of course, this convience comes at a premium and you will find it difficult to match the prices you could get on Craigslist or eBay, but it's definitely hassle-free.
Here are a few resale companies to consider, in alphabetical order:
- Gazelle
- Totem
Good luck and happy selling!
Adrian writes the weekly Law & Apple column for MacLife.com. You can follow him on Twitter, if you want to.
Josh_wic
March 06, 2013 at 5:18pm
Also check blazing electronics
They offer high prices on iphone buyback and other smartphones and ipads.
Example: ATT iphone 4s 16GB like new $270! (Price as of 3/6/2013)
Shelton
January 12, 2013 at 9:32pm
I agree with Your Thoughts and think rather selling on eBay or risking with Craigslist, one should consider websites like iGotOffercom where one can get instant quote and I ve tested they offer much better deal than eBay, Give it a try
Publishize
July 02, 2012 at 5:23am
ok honestly some of these sites are not paying a fair price for peoples old cell phones. For example, if you go to Gazelle.com, and see what the quote is for a iPhone 4 is, you will find that it is in or around the $100 dollar range. not bad, but actually a lot worse then if you go to (Device Flip) --> DeviceFlip.com and see what they will give. They will give you $180+ depending on your condition. Just because DeviceFlip.com is not listed on the top page of google, people don't take time to look around, and therefore get a sad price compared to what they could get for their iPhone, or iPhone 4. You can check here to see what i mean! -
Punchy
February 16, 2012 at 3:37pm
I had a very good experience selling my old phone to iPhonesIntoCash.com. Their service was both very easy and very quick. What more could I ask for?
CashitGadget.com
October 12, 2011 at 12:04am
You guys should check us out at CashitGadget.com, we give the best price for iPhone 4 in good condition. Just head over to CashitGadget.com
Mr. Happypants
October 05, 2011 at 6:32pm
The Ebay route looks interesting, if only because they appear to have "qualified" re-sellers paying a pre-set price based on the condition of the unit. The only thing that concerns me with the Ebay deal is if they determine it's in say "Fair" instead of "Good" condition, you'll lose a good deal of money. And I imagine have to pay return shipping to get the phone back also. That and prices they pay are likely to drop rapidly as the market gets flooded with people (like me) unloading their older model phones.
Boarder24
October 05, 2011 at 5:17pm
I might consider buying your iPhone 4 if you are interested let me know by replying to my comment.
mrdsl2217
October 07, 2011 at 7:18pm
I'm selling 2 iphone4 one is 16gb black in mint condish has apple care until july 2012 and comes with a red and black vapor 4 case with a brand new graphite back, and the other is a 32gb black mint condish it had zagg screen protectors on the front back and all around since day 1. i now have it in a life proof case (not included) but i have the old zagg protectors so you can just exchange them for a free new set. and it comes with apple care until july 2012 and a vapor 4 case blue and black plus both come in original box with charger and headset. the headset for the 32gb is unused. let me know jbenson923@yahoo.com
CashitGadget.com
October 12, 2011 at 12:01am
Mac Life forgot to mention CashitGadget.com. They give the highest price, and don't change on offers given! Check us out!
