New technology, bigger, better, faster - what’s not to love? A downside to new technology is figuring out what to do with whatever it’s replacing. Sure, you have a shiny new laptop, but what do you do with the old one? How about your outdated phones?
We’ll share some great resources for safely getting rid of old technology and collecting some cash in the process.
Trade-in for Gift Cards:
- The Amazon Trade-In Program lets you trade in eligible items such as video games, Kindle E-readers, books, and more, for an Amazon.com Gift Card. You receive an immediate offer and free shipping for your trade-in.
- Best Buy Trade-In Program also provides a trade-in estimator for Smart Phones, Laptops, gaming hardware and more. You can then choose to trade in at a store or by mail for a Best Buy gift card.
Cash:
- Nextworth gives you three payment options: check, PayPal, or Target gift card. Their questionnaire takes more time but generally yields more cash than gift card trade-in options.
- Gazelle is very similar to Nextworth, except they seem to pay more. Gazelle also offers different methods of payment: You can either get a PayPal deposit, check, or an Amazon gift card.
- Sell Your Electronics on Ebay will get you the trending price for qualified electronics or you will get the difference in a coupon.
- Craigslist is a tried and true method of selling items in your local area. This method could produce the most money but will also require a longer investment in your time.
Recycling:
- The Environmental Protection Agency provides a great Map of Certified Electronics Recyclers in the United States, make sure to review the recycler criteria for the location you choose to find out what they can and cannot accept.
- Find a donation option that speaks to you, this list has 11 options
- Best Buy Recycling is the nation's largest retail recycler of used electronics and appliances. They are doing their part to responsibly reduce e-waste. They accept all kinds of used tech including ink cartridges and miscellaneous cords/cables.
