Amazon is buying up old gadgets and giving them a second life. The online retailer is taking in used electronics, appliances, and other items and giving them to customers as new or refurbished products. The move comes as Amazon tries to compete with traditional retailers like Walmart and Target by offering a wider variety of products at lower prices. The company has also been investing in its own manufacturing facilities, which could help it keep prices low. Amazon has been buying up old gadgets for a while now, but the recent purchase of Ring Video Doorbells has drawn attention to the program. Ring said that Amazon had offered to buy all of its remaining stock of the doorbells. ..
Kindle E-Readers Tablets Streaming Media Players Echo, Bluetooth Speakers, and Headphones Home Security Devices Wireless Routers Phones (Apple, Google, Samsung, LG, and Motorola) Gaming (Consoles, Games, and Accessories)
Of course, the trade-in and payment process can be significantly impacted by factors such as shipping times. If time is of the essence for you, it might be best to consider finding a physical trade-in location to bring your device to.
For example, currently, a Nintendo Switch will cost you around $299.99. However, the trade-in value of a Nintendo Switch without defects and with the original accessories is $75. For newer tech, such as the Switch, you’re probably better off searching for another trade-in program or selling the gadgets yourself.
How to Trade In a Device
Once there, you’ll see various categories to choose from. You’ll want to select the category your device belongs to and start your search.
For this example, let’s trade in a Roku streaming stick. Select “Streaming Media Players” from the category options.
In the window that appears, we’ll search for “Roku streaming stick 4K” and hit “Enter.”
Next, we’ll find the device we want to trade in and place a checkmark in the box to the left of the device. Then, we’ll click “Continue.”
To accept, we’ll click “Submit your trade-in” to finish the process.
After submitting the trade, you’ll need to watch your email for your shipping label. Once received, place your item and its accessories (if applicable) into a box or envelope and add the shipping label. You can then ship your item by taking it to a UPS facility or drop-off location.
In some cases, you may be able to get more for your devices by checking out other trade-in programs such as:
Apple Trade-In: Apple’s trade-in program is specifically for Apple devices and offers credit toward future purchases as well as Apple gift cards for qualifying devices. Best Buy Trade-In: Best Buy’s trade-in program covers a wide range of devices, from iPhones to DSLR cameras. GameStop Trade-In: GameStop’s trade-in program isn’t just for games and consoles. Instead, GameStop also accepts various smartphones, tablets, and wearables.
Or, Sell Your Gadgets Yourself
If you’re looking to get top dollar for your gadgets, you could try selling them yourself via eBay or Facebook Marketplace. There are also various apps you can try for selling used stuff, such as Decluttr, which is great for tech products.
If you do decide to sell your items yourself, just be on the lookout for scams. And don’t forget to follow the steps below to protect your information.
Do These Things Before You Offload Your Devices
Before you trade in or sell your devices, there are some things you should do first. Otherwise, your critical data could fall into someone else’s hands.
RELATED: How to Prepare a Computer, Tablet, or Phone Before Selling It
With any device, make sure you back up your personal data so you don’t lose anything. After backup, you should then wipe your device clean and reset it back to its factory default state.
This process varies between devices and platforms. Be sure to look up the instructions for wiping and resetting the devices you plan to trade in.
RELATED: How to Factory Reset an iPhone or iPad
