Used Cell Phones

Your Guide to Used Cell Phones

At Gazelle, we're all about used cell phones. We want to buy your old and used cell phones, and we do everything in our power to make it the easiest and fastest process for you. Just find your used phone, answer a few questions, and get your offer. If you like it, we'll send you a box and pay for the shipping to send us the phone. Once we get the cell phone, you get paid.

But what happens next, what do we do with your used cell phone? Some of them we recycle responsibly. In most cases, however, we find a new home for your old cell phone, thereby extending its life. At Gazelle, we believe reuse is the highest form of recycling. Did you know that hundreds of millions of used cell phones are thrown away each year? That's a lot of arsenic, lead, and other toxic material causing damage to our environment. And worldwide cell phone sales are projected to top 1 billion in 2009.

If we can extend the life of a used cell phone, not only does it keep the phone out of a landfill, but it also may prevent the creation of a new phone. According to CarbonRally.com, each phone that finds a new home results in over 90lbs of CO2 saved.

So you know you can sell your old cell phone to Gazelle. But what if you are interested in buying a used cell phone? There are many places you can shop, eBay and Amazon for starters. You can find great deals on used cell phones in great condition. But there are a few important things you need to consider:

Battery Life

• As you might expect, some used cell phones will come with used batteries. Make sure you ask about the battery life or insist on a new battery.

Data Erasure

• Make sure the used cell phone you purchase has been erased and restored to factory settings. If it has not been erased, check out ReCellular's handy guide.

Network Technology

• There are 2 main network technologies: GSM and CDMA. Some used cell phones may only work on one type of network. Check out the differences here.
• AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM technology, while Verizon and Sprint use CDMA technology. You'll want to make sure the phone you buy matches up to the carrier you use.

Locked vs. Unlocked

• Locked phones are tied to the carrier, and can only be used if you have service from that carrier. But if you are able to buy an unlocked used cell phone, you can use it with any service that uses the network technology tied to the phone. If you buy an unlocked iPhone, for example, you can use it with AT&T or T-Mobile.
• You may be able to unlock a phone on your own using tips such as these.

Warranty Coverage

• If you're worried about a used cell phone breaking down, you'll want to look for a warranty along with your purchase. There are many affordable warranties on used and refurbished cell phones.

Used cell phones are not for everyone. But if you don't always need the latest and greatest, and you want to save a little money, they could be right for you. With just a little research and preparation, you'll be ready to make a smart choice for you and the environment. Sell your old cell phone now!