Major mobile phone companies have heavily promoted their trade-in program in recent years, encouraging users to give up their old phones in exchange for a discount on a new model. Over a third of phone customers now utilize this kind of program, but it’s left many people wondering why these companies even want their old phones. I’ll explain it right now.

Apple is a great example of how mobile manufacturers are aggressively emphasizing buying their old phones back. It is not a coincidence that in 2013, Apple began offering discounts with trade-ins, when they actually underwent their first quarterly profit degradation in a decade. They promoted aggresively in 2017 (trade-in program) at the time of iPhone X launch.

It solved the company’s two problems: Slowing down iPhone sales due to market saturation, and users were waiting for more to upgrade because iPhone’s price rising every year.

For users, the benefits of exchanging old phones are quite obvious. These Trade-in programs allowed many users to upgrade by lowering down the price of the device. But what do companies do with all those old phones?

Well, if it is in good working condition, they refurbish the device and resell it in emerging markets like India, Latin America, and Africa. That way, the company can directly compete in the used smartphone market while also selling a device twice that only had to be manufactured once.

But if the phone is in too poor condition to sell, companies recycle it. Technology today is innovating so fast and built in such a way that it actually promotes disposability. I believe we’re actually at a very interesting tipping point.

As people become more aware, companies have to become more sensitive to this issue. Apple has actually created a robot called Daisy specifically for this purpose which is able to disassemble 200 iPhones an hour while recovering recyclable materials that would otherwise be left in landfills.

Why You Should Sell Your Old Mobiles – Genius Reasons to Sell Old Phones

The trade-in or exchange programs benefit the customer by making their new device more affordable, benefit companies by boosting sales of newer models, plus sales of older refurbished models, and benefit the environment by allowing devices to be used up to their full potential before being recycled. There are several reasons why someone might choose to sell their old mobile phone:

• Upgrading to a Newer Model

With the rapid advancements in mobile technology, upgrading to a newer phone can give you access to better features and improved performance. One of the most common reasons people sell their old mobile phones is to upgrade to a newer model with better features or improved performance. A lot of people keep on changing their phones regularly with those shopkeepers who take the older phone and give them a new phone.

Or else you might get it from your friend or online as well, so there are a lot of ways to get a better deal. By selling old mobile online in Bangalore, you can get a fair price for your old device and upgrade to a newer model. 

• Generating Cash

Some people want just to change their old phones and some actually sell them for their needs. Selling an old mobile phone can be a way to generate some extra cash, once I sold my phone just to buy a bike.

Even if the phone is not worth a lot, selling it can be a good way to put a little extra money in your pocket. And this deal is worth it for those who buy expensive phones and for those who want to buy cheap phones. 

• Environmental Concerns

Many people choose to sell their old mobile phones because they want to reduce their environmental impact. Have you ever thought about the carbon footprint of your smartphone or some other surprising materials that could bring revolution to your electronics?

Around 80% of the greenhouse gas emissions that come from a smartphone occur before it even reaches your hands. On average, Indians swap out their phone every two years. Every year, on average about 1.4 billion phones are produced and sold out.

By selling your old mobile phone, you can help reduce electronic waste and actually contribute to environmental conversations.

You should not throw any phone or electronic device away in a garbage bin because everything inside it is going to create some kind of waste and it’s going to be a toxic waste if we’re sending it to a place that is recycling it, we still don’t get everything out of it but make some impact in saving the environment.

There are also such organizations dedicated to mapping out where you can drop your electronic devices off. Major companies like Apple are starting to figure out a better recycling process. They have a robot that can take apart an iPhone 6 in just 11 seconds. That’s roughly 1.2 million iPhones per year.

This approach is heavily required in order to achieve the makers’ goal of a closed-loop supply chain, where all new products would be manufactured without mining new materials from the Earth. The little screws and other similar components can be used again.

Raw materials like silver found in the phone’s circuits can be used in solar panels and the tungsten that makes your phone buzz can be reused in tools. When you sell your old mobile, it can be recycled or reused, reducing the amount of electronic waste that otherwise ends up in landfills.

• Broken Screens or No Longer Battery Backups

What’s the most toxic thing in a phone? I’d say the battery for sure. One of the biggest reasons why we replace our phones is because our batteries just stop holding a charge. If you remove it wrong, it will explode, so you have to keep the battery carefully.

So what do you do with your cell phone boneyard? Now most of us just hoard them because it isn’t just as simple as your typical curbside pickup. Dying batteries and declining backup is other important reason to sell your old phones. Lithium-ion batteries have an average life of 3 years.

Nowadays phones are completely sealed, and you can’t change the batteries. In that case, you will be left with no option than sell your old mobile which is not giving enough power backup to facilitate your needs all day. Also because of broken screens people who buy expensive phones end up in losses when they have to sell them.

Our phones are futuristic-looking devices. They almost seem like sci-fi. So it’s threatening to open them up and look inside. But fixing your phone isn’t impossible. When you sell your old phones, these can be repaired and resold, saving you a ton of money along with reducing waste. 

• Clearing Clutter

Selling your old mobile phone can help you declutter your home and free up some space. For this, you can check online marketplaces like eBay, Craigslist, or Gazelle to get an idea of how much your phone is worth.

You can also use online tools like Decluttr, Swappa, or BuyBackWorld to get an instant quote. Phones with older batteries are vulnerable to explosions and can be very dangerous if kept in drawers. Instead of letting it collect dust in a drawer or cabinet, you can put it to good use by selling it online. 

• No Longer Needed

If you no longer need your phone, there are several things you can do. Many electronics stores offer recycling programs for phones and other devices. You can also check with your local government to find out if there are any recycling programs available in your area.

Also if your phone is in good condition, you can donate it to a charity or organization that provides phones to those in need. If you have multiple mobile phones, you may choose to sell an older one that you no longer need or use. Even if your phone has become old-fashioned or laggy, it can still be useful as a backup device.

• Security

Selling your old mobile phone can help you protect your personal information. Many people store sensitive information on their phones, including banking details, social media logins, and personal photos. Selling your phone can help you ensure that your data is wiped clean before it falls into the wrong hands. Be sure to erase all personal data from the phone before selling it.

Here you have all the major reasons that you might consider while selling your old mobile phones. Once you’ve listed your phone for sale, be responsive to any inquiries you receive from potential buyers. Answer any questions they may have and be upfront about the phone’s condition. Get a better deal to gather all the accessories that came with the phone, such as the charger, earphones, and original box, if possible.