Pretty much everybody has a cell phone nowadays, making it easy to not think twice about the value of an old phone you might have lying around. You’ll get more value for fun if it’s newer. Phones that are only a year or two old typically get the most resale value on the market. Scratches, water damage, or cracked screens can impact the price, but even a cell phone with those conditions can retain some value.
There are a few different ways you can go when you want to sell your old cell phone, and each way has its pros and cons. The route that will get you the most money will be selling a phone through eBay or Craigslist. This lets you sell directly to the buyer and get the full amount that you ask. When you’re preparing your listing, make sure to take clear pictures of your phone so people can see exactly what they’re bidding on. It can also increase the value to have the box, papers, and all the cables it came with. Phones and electronics can often be sold easily, which is why we included this on our Side Hustle Master List.
Concept | |
category | Financial |
Takeaways | Can use a kiosk for immediate cash if preferred instead of online- offers may be lower than selling online |
complexity lowhigh  | Capital Required lowhigh |
skill required lowhigh | time required lowhigh |
return potential lowhigh |
 | learn more |
Phones for gift cards
The drawback with Craigslist or eBay is that it can take some time to find a buyer, and even when you think you have one, it’s possible that they can change their mind. Another option is to trade your phone in for a gift card. Target, Apple, and Best Buy do this, and Gazelle does it online and via kiosks. Since you’re selling to another business, you typically won’t get the same amount that you would if you have sold it online to a person. But the advantage of doing it this way is you can get your gift card that same day. Target and Gazelle even offer cash for your electronics that you trade in. And it’s not limited to cell phones at all. Some other electronics that could have value are gaming systems, laptops, and tablets. Check below for more information.