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The iPhone 4S hits stores in a little over a week and if you’re too lazy to sell your old handset on eBay, “re-commerce” sites can help you trade it in for instant cash.
iPhone 4S pre-orders begin this Friday, with the phones going on sale in Australia at 8am on October 14. the new smartphone is faster than its predecessor and has a better 8-megapixel camera and new software features such as the Siri personal assistant.
eBay is the obvious second-hand market for those looking to offload their old iPhone and other smartphone models ahead of the new launch. but there are several “re-commerce” sites that promise to make the trade-in process even more painless.
In Australia, Mazuma Mobile and ReGadget both specialise in buying second-hand technology products.
Aid Rawlins, managing director of Mazuma in Australia, said those selling iPhone 4 units could expect to receive between $200 to $400. Payment is processed within 48 hours.
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“We’re not concerned about its cosmetic condition, it doesn’t need the box, doesn’t need a charger, doesn’t need headphones, doesn’t need any accessories whatsoever,” said Rawlins.
“We make it a very simple, straightforward process for people to sell their old phone.”
Rawlins said the phones Mazuma bought were refurbished, with all data erased, and then sold on to the developing world and also to insurance companies who need refurbished replacement phones.
“A mobile phone can last 12 years before it comes to its true end of life,” he said.
Rawlins said Mazuma had been operating in Britain for almost six years and had handed out over $160 million for used phones. In Australia it has operated for about a year and paid out around $5 million.
Owen McCrink, general manager of ReGadget, said he was expecting more iPhone 3G and 3GS than iPhone 4 trade-ins. He said he believed many iPhone 4 owners were hoping Apple would launch the iPhone 5 today and would hold off their upgrades until it arrives.
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McCrink said that 16GB and 32GB iPhone 4 units would fetch customers about $340 and $400, respectively. iPhone 3GS 32GB models were selling for around $195-222 but the price could drop if there is a rush of trade-ins.
“Our price changes depending on what’s included – we value the accessories and boxes and that more so than the other competitors such as Mazuma,” said McCrink.
“We try to refurbish ourselves and re-sell ourselves. It’s a different model. We resell direct to consumer through markets such as eBay, Craigslist and also we have some partners in Chile and some other countries around the world where we sell our phones directly.”
Long-term Apple fanatic and editor of MacTheMag, Matthew Powell, said trade-in services were particularly attractive to those who wanted to ensure their old technology is kept in use for as long as possible and doesn’t end up in landfill.
“In my household we’ll be doing the shuffle – I get a 4S, my wife gets the iPhone 4 and probably my father inherits the iPhone 3GS. It’s one of those ‘circle of life’ things,” said Powell.
Telsyte analyst Foad Fadaghi said the trade-in sites were “opportunistic” around new product announcements and for the average consumer it was better to wait and see or go for the private sale approach.
Anthony Agius, founder of MacTalk.com.au, warned people to beware of being “low balled” on price.
“It’s like doing a trade-in for your car at a dealer vs. selling it privately. If you can’t be arsed selling it on eBay/forums/whatever, those sorts of sites are good,” he said.