If you’re considering upgrading your mobile phone any time soon then you shouldn’t just be contemplating whether you’re better off with an iPhone, a Blackberry or an HTC – you should also be considering what you should do with your old phone.
That’s because smart phones are now being sold for more than €500 in the second hand market. Indeed even old Nokia and Samsung models can be worth selling or recycling; or even donating to charity.
What are the options?
It is estimated that mobile phones in Ireland are replaced every 18 months – that’s 1.5million mobile phones every year. Most are left in the back of a drawer; even though they can be quite valuable. Indeed mobile phones can also be harmful to the environment as they contain small amounts of cadmium, lead and beryllium, which need to be disposed of in both a safe and efficient manner.
As such, mobile phone recycling is becoming increasingly popular. Phone companies all collect phones to recycle for charity – there are usually boxes where you can put your old phone in the phone stores. However, there are ways to use your old phone to make money for yourself.
One option is a cash-for-phone website. Using these websites you benefit from having a guaranteed buyer; with the Irish market particularly competitive – for example, fonebank.ie has been in operation for more than 20 years. Generally the process is that you fill out a form indicating the make and model of the phone you want to sell; pop it in a jiffy bag; and then you’ll receive a cheque in return. Just remember to choose these websites carefully: make sure they provide full contact details; know the price you can get; and make sure you post safely. The prices that some phones are being sold for is impressive. For example, you could get anything up to €125 for an Apple iPhone 3GS; €110 for a Samsung Galaxy S; and €20 for a Nokia E51.
Of course the other option is to sell directly online – at websites such as Donedeal.ie, eBay.ie and buyandsell.ie.
What about a new phone?
It’s worth seeing if a mobile phone retailer will offer you money off your new phone in exchange for your old phone. Or if you really want to save money then why not shop around for a new handset as your existing mobile phone contract is expiring – that way mobile phone companies may even offer you a free handset in an effort to tie you to a new deal. If you’re shopping around for mobile phones conventionally, however, make sure you do so online where the cheapest deals are available and check out the mobile phone voucher code section of Moneysaver.ie to see if there are any bargains to be grabbed.