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The iPhone 6s is COMING. Here’s How To Sell Your iPhone 6
Want to make some cash on your old iPhone 6 so you can buy the new iPhone 6s? Here’s how.
It’s fast approaching that time of year again where thousands of people will be rushing to sell their old iPhones so they can make some cash back to buy the new iPhone 6s, set to be unveiled in the first half of September. As usual, the new iPhone is set to have a host of new hardware and features–and some tempting ad campaign to get you to buy it even though your current iPhone probably does the job just fine.
Thankfully there’s a number of ways you can get rid of your iPhone now so you have the cash to splash on the latest and greatest from Cupertino. Below we look at the four best options for you.
Trade-in Sites
There are a number of trade-in sites that have sprung up in recent years catering to people who want to quickly offload their new iPhone in the most hassle-free way. The two best known trade in sites are Gazelle and NextWorth. However, each site operates a bit differently.
Far and away, Gazelle will give you the better price for your iPhone. For a 64GB unlocked iPhone 6 in “flawless” condition Gazelle is offering $425USD (about £270). Now, as you’ll see from the options below, that’s a lot less than you’ll get from selling it on your own–but the value of trade-in sites lie in their no-hassle experience: you get a price and you sell your phone–done deal. If you like Gazelle’s price you ship them your iPhone, they’ll check it out, then they’ll either cut you a check, pay you via PayPal or via Amazon gift cards.
Over at NextWorth for the same 64GB unlocked iPhone 6 in “flawless” condition you’ll be offered about $345USD (about £219). Based on that you may think you should always use Gazelle. Yet NextWorth’s USP is that it locks in that offering price for 30 days. That means you have 30 days to send them your iPhone, which is plenty of time to buy the new one and then send in your old phone so you aren’t without an iPhone in the interim.
Amazon
If convenience isn’t that important to you, you can get a lot more selling your device through Amazon’s Seller Central. You’ll need to create a free seller account, but then you just list your iPhone for sale and confirm its condition. You set the price you want the buyer to pay. When someone buys your iPhone Amazon will send you an email. You’ll then need to package the phone yourself and take it to the post office to post it.
The main advantage of Amazon is that you can set the price. Amazon will end up taking about 10% in fees, but you still get a much better deal for your iPhone than you’d get trading it in. However there are some drawbacks: first, Amazon holds your funds for 14 days to make sure you actually deliver the iPhone to the buyer. This means if you need the cash quickly, Amazon isn’t the place to sell. Second, Amazon’s seller policies state that the seller is responsible for being able to prove the device was actually delivered to the buyer. For that reason it’s always good to pay extra for signed and tracked delivery–if you don’t–and the buyer says he didn’t receive the phone–Amazon will side with the buyer and you’ll be out your iPhone and the cash.
eBay
eBay is the oldie but goldie. Everyone knows how eBay works: people can bid for your iPhone or you can set a Buy It Now price. These two methods virtually ensure you’ll get a better price for your iPhone on eBay than at a trade-in site, but there are some drawbacks too.
On eBay you’ll need to take pictures of your phone and upload them yourself and create a compelling description. You’ll also be competing with hundreds if not thousands of other sellers. And just as with Amazon you must package and unsure the iPhone is delivered safely. But there’s one other drawback: when eBay and PayPal fees are taken into account you’ll end up losing almost 15% of your selling price in fees.
Gumtree
For those that don’t want to use a middleman site, Gumtree is the way to go. On Gumtree you just create a classified ad. Unlike trade-in sites and Amazon or eBay, Gumtree doesn’t help with the financial transaction at all. You’ll place your ad, someone will respond. Hopefully that someone is honest and not a serial killer who will show up in your agreed meeting place and shimmy you in the throat with broken rebar.
I half-jest, but there are some very unscrupulous buyers and sellers on Gumtree, so it’s always best to proceed with a sale with caution. Most people won’t have problems, but just remember to agree to meet in a very public, well lit place and only accept cash.
Michael Grothaus
15:21, 21 Aug 2015