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Mitch Lipka | Consumer Alert

Tread carefully when selling old electronics

Whenever the next latest and greatest iPhone or Android comes out, a lot of people find themselves with old phones (that aren’t really all that old) that might have some value.

But one problem consumers have in selling them involves websites that give big price quotes but then the payouts are but a fraction of the initial offer. Sleazy? Sure. Does it happen? All the time.

Consider finding a local store or ask whether the retailer selling you the new phone participates in a buy-back program. Some big retailers do. It won’t be the best possible price, but it’s a lot safer than sending off your phone and losing control of the transaction with a shady website.

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But if you’re still intent on selling your device online in an attempt to get the best price, tread very carefully. Remember that some quotes are not realistic and the market is very fluid.

Do some homework. To get started, just pop the name of a site you’re considering into a search engine with the word “complaints.” What comes back can be very telling.

Check the Better Business Bureau database. It will give you an idea of how many complaints a business generates and how it responds to those complaints. Keep in mind that bigger companies are likely to have more complaints; how they resolve them is more valuable information.

Check out well established sites like Gazelle.com and NextWorth.com. They have solid track records and they’re both Massachusetts-based, which gives you more recourse if there’s a problem.

So, don’t just jump at the first big number you’re offered. Think before you sell, and you could end up with fair offer and a few extra bucks.


Mitch Lipka has been helping consumers out of jams for the past two decades. He lives in Worcester and can be reached at consumernews@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @mitchlipka.

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