eBay has launched a trade-in program for older phones that will allow users to get paid without the inconvenience of holding an auction themselves. This initiative is in anticipation of the flood of older smartphones, particularly iPhones, ditched by consumers eager to upgrade to the latest Apple smartphone.
As early as August, iPhone 6 and 6s models were reportedly selling every minute at eBay. This was the period when mere rumors of the iPhone 7 release began to emerge. There is no information provided for other brands such as Samsung, Motorola, ZTE and Nokia, among others, which are also accepted in the Quick Sale program.
"eBay has always been recognized as a top destination ... to sell your smartphone and make the most money," Laura Chambers, vice president of C2C at eBay, said in an official statement. "Our new Quick Sale service delivers a new standard of convenience and speed giving sellers a new way to tailor their online selling experience to their needs."
The website for the Quick Sale program went live Sept. 12. Here, a user can easily sell his or her device and is provided with the tools to determine the price. Once this process is completed, the user can then print a free shipping label. Shipped phones are then forwarded to the eBay Valet, which does the selling for the user. Phone owners should note that this separate eBay service is currently experiencing some delay in processing transactions due to high demand.
Aside from serving as a tool for trading smartphones, Quick Sale also provides essential information to consumers who are interested to participate. For example, there is a section that provides directions on how to reset phones to their factory settings before being shipped to eBay.
Other users could still opt to auction off their smartphones to get a higher price. eBay's valuation could be unacceptable for some. One should remember that Quick Sale offers differentiated pricing, and it's based on the consumer's answer to its questions. It also takes commission on sold devices.
There is also another alternative for consumers. They could explore other buyback programs such as the services being offered by uSell and Best Buy. Based on all the factors to be considered, however, eBay's offer is quite competitive and should be taken advantage of. This is underscored by the fact that now is considered the best time to dispose older phones, as the iPhone 7 will start shipping on Sept. 16.
Photo: Eduardo Woo | Flickr
