Apple will unveil its latest iPhone today. The iPhone 6 is expected to be a complete redesign of the company’s iconic smartphone line, and if the people already lining up outside Apple stores is any indication, there’s a good chance you’ll want to ditch your current iPhone and upgrade.
Here how to get the most for your used iDevice and lower the strain on your bank account while making the switch to the newest iPhone.
GAZELLE
Gazelle is one of the most popular options for iPhone owners to get cash for their used smartphones, and for good reason. I just checked and found out that my 64GB iPhone 5S is worth $285, $335 if it’s unlocked. You can also score as much as $300 for a 16GB iPhone 5s in great condition, which should put a nice dent in the price tag of the iPhone 6 when you head to your carrier to pick one up. Gazelle ships you a pre-paid box to send your iPhone in and then sends you a check within days.
When to trade in: Right now. The best thing about Gazelle is that you can commit to your trade-in right now, but not actually send the phone in until after the new iPhone launches.
Alternatives similar to Gazelle, but offering a bit less than Gazelle when I checked: uSell, NextWorth. If you’re not sure how many GB your current iPhone is, here’s a way to find out.
AMAZON
The web’s largest retailer is also a fine choice if you’re looking to offload your used iPhone. You’ll get an Amazon gift card as payment, and if you’re a frequent Amazon shopper anyway you’ll be happy to hear that you can make up to $400 for a 16GB iPhone 5S and up to $385 for a 16GB iPhone 5s. Yes, that’s a ton of money for a year-old device.
When to trade in: Just before you pick up your iPhone 6. Your best bet with Amazon is to initiate your trade-in online a few days before you’ll be picking up your new smartphone. Since Amazon sends the box right away and expects your device to arrive in a fairly prompt manner, you’ll only have about a week-long window to get the most money. When Apple announces the iPhone 6 release date during its September 9th event, mark your calendar and remember to order your Amazon trade-in box a few days beforehand, and you’re golden!
Alternatives like Amazon – Best Buy Trade-In, Wal-Mart Gadgets-to-Gift-Cards
EBAY
If you’d rather take pricing and shipping matters into your own hands, you can always give eBay a try. With eBay you can create either a standard auction, a fixed-price listing, or an “Or Best Offer” deal. Keep in mind that shipping costs require some careful calculation, especially if you’re adding insurance for the pricey gadget you’re sending, and there’s always the chance that the buyer could hassle you if things don’t go exactly their way. It’s often more trouble to sell your device over eBay, but there’s also the chance that you’ll get a great payday out of it.
When to sell it: The sooner the better. eBay is a massive free marketplace and the price for iPhones drops with the announcement of each new one. You’ll still get plenty of cash out of it, especially if it’s in good condition, but time is of the essence. If you can deal with not having your phone for a day or two, it could pay off big time to sell your phone before the iPhone 6 actually launches.
Alternatives like eBay: Craigslist
SAFETY FIRST!
Before you part with your phone, it’s important to make sure you’re wiping it of all personal information. This will help prevent any nasty identify theft or scam scenarios from biting you down the road, so don’t skip it! Thankfully, Apple makes this pretty easy to do:
1. Head to the Settings menu
2. Tap “General” and then tap “Reset”
3. Select “Erase all content and settings”
What’s more, here is the safest way to backup iPhone to avoid photo leaks.
Your iPhone will now erase itself and prepare for a new owner, so give it one last kiss goodbye, buy it a Starbucks coffee for the trip, and send it off into the sunset. Don’t worry, your shiny new iPhone 6 is waiting, and boy won’t she be a beauty!
Source: freep.com
