Remember when mobile devices were thought of as something younger people use? Well, there has been a shift in the last decade. Now, those in the 55 to 64 age bracket are smartphone-savvy too. Just 9% in this age group used a smartphone in 2012 and that figure rose considerably, reaching 87% by 2020.
These results make sense. We all live our lives on our smartphones. Everything we could possibly need is right at our fingertips as long as we have a good internet connection and the battery doesn’t need charging.
And when things start to slow down, we simply trade in that iPhone 8 or that old Android for a new model. But what’s the process when it comes to trading them in? Read on to find out.
How to trade in your phone
So, you’ve had your mobile for a while. You might have had the battery replaced or invested in a different screen to save having to swap it out for a newer model.
Now, the time’s come to take the plunge and get that upgrade. Before you start browsing for your new smartphone, you’ll need to think about what you’re going to do with your old one.
Trading it in is one of the most eco-friendly options. This is because the phone is likely to have plenty of useful parts that can be turned into a refurbished model. If not, it will be recycled and the parts will be used to make a brand new phone.
To trade it in, there are some steps you need to take. These are:
- Get a quote – find your model on the buyer’s site, input the details about your device, and you’ll be given a quote. If the amount suits you, you can go ahead and make the sale, following the steps the buyer gives.
- Reset the phone – Back up everything you want to save, such as photos, notes, and videos. Once you’ve checked that everything is saved off your phone, you’ll need to return it to factory settings.
- Send it off and receive your money – The buyer will send you everything you need to post the phone to them, including a box to put it in and shipping labels. When you’re ready, you can send the phone to the buyer. Be sure to get proof of postage so that you have the information to hand should the phone not reach the buyer.
Once the buyer receives the phone and has checked it matches what you told them, they’ll send you your money.
What happens next
Now that your old mobile is with the buyer, they’ll make sure your data is completely wiped from it. They’ll then run some tests to assess if there’s any damage and note areas that will need replacing as part of the refurbishment process.
If the device can’t be restored, the parts that work will be saved and used to restore other phones – and the phone’s life cycle will start again!
