Top 7 Ways To Get Money for Your Old Tech

Because I love all things home technology, I’ve accumulated a lot of tech over the years. Over time, some of that tech becomes obsolete or replaced and the old tech just sits around the house. This happens with cell phones, routers, access points, switches, sensors, computers, and more. Lately, I’ve taken extra efforts to get rid of the old tech I no longer use. And you know what? You can make money doing it.

I recently purchased new access points (here’s my review of the TP-Link EAP 610) and got some tech for the holidays. I wanted to get rid of my old tech that has been replaced. Also, I have a few old cell phones that I have not disposed of, along with some really old routers, network switches, computers, and other electronics. I set out to find the best ways to turn these items into money without a ton of effort (read: worth it). Here are the top seven ways to get money for your old tech.

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1. SellCell

SellCell is now my go-to for selling old cell phones. They are an aggregator; They’ll show you what all the top used cell phone companies (e.g., Declutter and BuybackBoss) are paying online and then you can choose which service you want to use to easily offload your phone. Sometimes you’ll get a bonus if go through SellCell instead of directly through the used cell phone company.

Contrary to their name, they provide this service for more than cell phones. You can use them for tablets, wearables, gaming consoles, and more.

2. eBay

eBay is probably the online place you should sell your old items if you want to maximize your profit. However, it takes time to set up an eBay account, and time to properly set up a competitive listing. You also have to manage shipping and communication with potential buyers. If you are up for that, this is a great place to sell all of your electronics.

In the past, I’ve sold most of my old tech (networking equipment, cell phones, DVD players, etc.) on eBay. But some things, like really old tech or really heavy tech, just aren’t worth it for me.

3. Amazon Trade-In

Okay, technically this option doesn’t give you cash for your old tech. But, if you’re like me, Amazon credit is basically cash because of all of the things you buy there. The process is simple. You go to the Amazon Trade-In Store and search to see if the item you want to trade-in is eligible. Assuming they accept your item, you then answer some questions about its condition. Amazon quotes you a value and if you accept it you can print a label and ship it to them.

Assuming they accept the item, you’ll get an Amazon gift card for the agreed-upon amount. If they don’t accept it, they’ll send it back to you for free. In some locations, you can drop off the item instead of shipping it.

This works pretty well for a variety of electronics, but they need to be closer to new than they do at a place like eBay, and they are somewhat limited in the categories of old tech they’ll accept.

4. Best Buy Trade-In

Best Buy Trade-In work’s similarly to Amazon’s Trade-In store, except you end up with a Best Buy gift card. You answer a few questions about your item(s) and they quote you a price. Then they provide you with a shipping label if you accept the terms and if all goes well you end up with a Best Buy gift card.

You can skip the online portion if you live near a Best Buy that participates in the trade-in program. You can just take your items to those stores and see what you get. I still recommend you check online to see if it is an eligible item first. You might save yourself some time, and you’ll know what to expect.

5. Swappa

Swappa is a human-powered marketplace that cuts out the middle person. It’s a platform where buyers deal directly with sellers, but with a focus on tech. They provide you with pricing data so you can maximize your sale. Buyers pay a small fee, but sellers don’t, which makes it different than eBay. You’ll have to set up an account to use the platform.

6. Game Stop Trade-In

Did you know Game Stop has a trade-in program for more than games and gaming consoles? They accept cell phones, tablets, headphones, and more. Using the Game Stop website or app, you can find up-to-date trade-in values for your gear. But, you have to take the gear to a local shop to trade it in.

When you trade in items, you can get store credit or cash. You’ll get a higher payout if you choose store credit. If you happen to be a Power Up Pro Rewards member at Game Stop you’ll get a 10% bonus on your trade-ins.

7. Donate it

You can always donate your items if none of the options above work for you. Goodwill, Salvation Army, and local charities accept all kinds of different tech donations.

Sure, they don’t pay you for your electronics. But if you get a receipt you may be able to deduct them from your taxes, which is like money in your pocket. Talk to your accountant for details on whether or not this will work in your situation.

I’ve had good experiences donating old tech to Goodwill and local charities. I’ve also bought electronics from Goodwill, so I’m thankful for others who donate too!

Honorable mention

There are many more places to get paid for your old tech. Here are some additional options, in no particular order:

• Declutter
• Craigslist
• Facebook Marketplace
• Gazelle
• Apple Trade-in

Final thoughts

There’s no need to keep the old tech in your home that you are not using. There are plenty of places where you can get paid for it instead of it just taking up space in your home. If you aren’t interested in getting paid you could even give your tech to a family member. But be forewarned; you may end up being tech support for the gift!

If you are moving out of a smart home, selling your old electronics is only one of the tips you should consider for dealing with the electronics in your home. Here are some others.

Have you used any places in this list to offload your old tech? How was your experience? What other places do you recommend, or recommend against? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter.