“What should I do with my old cell phone?” It’s a question that’s asked often since when you’re ready for a new cell phone, you’ll likely want to get rid of the old one.
It takes up space, and it can even get confusing if you keep picking up your old phone by accident. If you’ve been wondering what you can do with your old cell phones, read on.
What to Do With Old Phones
The answer regarding what to do with old phones is similar to knowing what to do with old electronics in general. The first thing you’ll want to do is wipe any personal data from the phone. Whatever happens next, you don’t want that data out there where anyone who gets their hands on the phone can access it. There are several simple ways to wipe your data. The exception here is if you decide to keep this phone as a backup to your existing phone. You may want your data preserved to be able to go back to it. In this case, store the phone in a safe place for future use.
Once that’s done, if you’ve decided to get rid of your old phone, you have a few basic options:
1. Throw Your Old Phone Away (Not Recommended)
This is by far the least desirable option. Even if your phone isn’t functioning, there are useful parts inside that someone can take advantage of. It may even be possible to cheaply repair or refurbish the phone so it works as well as new. If it is functioning, throwing it away is just as wasteful as throwing away a brand new cell phone.
Regardless, your old phone can be much more useful doing just about anything other than ending up in a landfill.
2. Recycle Your Phone
Electronics are among the most recyclable products out there. Take your phone to a reputable electronics recycler and let them figure out what to do with it. It’ll be out of your hands, and you’ll be doing your part for the environment.
By the way, if you’re wondering what to do with all of your old cell phone chargers, you can recycle these, too. In fact, you can do just about anything to get rid of an old cell phone charger that you can do with an old cell phone, including giving it away to someone in need or selling it.
3. Repurpose Your Phone
Even if you’re not using it as a phone any more, your old phone can serve as an alarm clock or a music player, or it can be dedicated to one of the many other functions it served while it was your active phone. After all, for some, the ability to communicate is only a small part of what you use your phone for.
4. Donate Your Phone
You wouldn’t necessarily throw away old clothes that are still good, so why throw away that cell phone? If it’s working, there’s certainly someone out there who can use it. If you don’t have someone specific to give it to, there are plenty of donation centers that take electronics.
5. Sell Your Old Phone
If you need some extra cash, either for a new phone, some new phone accessories, or something else entirely, a great way to get it is by selling that old phone. There are a number of methods for selling your phone, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
For example, selling on Craigslist might get you a very good price for your old phone, but you risk running into thieves and scammers. Similarly, you can often get a good deal on eBay, but it often takes a lot of effort and time.
If you’re looking for a good deal and some quick cash for your old phone, an electronics reseller like The Whiz Cells is the answer. This method is super easy. Just visit our website now and tell us what type of phone you’re looking to sell with a brief description. There’s no need to wait for a buyer — you’ll get an offer quoted to you right away. The whole process takes minutes.
If you like the price, just ship it off. As soon as we verify receipt, we send payment your way — within 24 hours when you use your own packaging. This is definitely a great way to go if you’re planning to sell your old phone.