Frequently Asked Questions

How does selling phones and electronic devices on uSell work?

You can sell safely on uSell in just 4 steps:

1. Get Offers

Tell us the make and model of your device and the condition that it is in. uSell searches its network of trusted, professional buyers and instantly returns offers for your device.

2. Choose a Buyer

You select the buyer that you would like to transact with. You can make your selection based on the price offered as well reviews from other uSell users that have recently transacted.

3. Ship for Free

Fill out our simple form. Our buyers need your information to send you your free shipping kit and to process your payment. Your information is kept secure and is never shared.

4. Get Paid

As soon as your device arrives at the buyer's facility, the buyer inspects it and confirms that it is consistent with your assessment. As long as everything checks out, your payment will be processed quickly in the method that you chose. uSell monitors every step of your transaction to ensure that you are 100% satisfied.

Why should I use uSell.com?

uSell is a marketplace that brings together offers from trusted, professional buyers of smartphones and electronics. uSell acts as your advocate to ensure that you are 100% satisfied with your transaction. uSell helps you:

1. Sell in Seconds

At uSell, we believe that time is money. We bring all of the most reputable buyers of used phones electronics onto one platform, so that you can find the best offers for your device in seconds.

2. Get more money

When buyers compete to buy your phone, you get the best offer. The service that we provide is free to our users, and the offers that we list are the highest industry.

3. Stay Safe and Secure

Our buyers are top rated professional organizations with strong track records of customer service and a history of positive user reviews. All of our buyers provide free shipping, rapid payment, and responsive customer service. Your information is kept secure and is never shared.

4. Do well by doing good

In addition to putting cash in your pockets, uSell helps you keep your unused mobile devices out of landfills. It is great to get that next generation device, but is even better to do so sustainably.

How do I find the model number of my device?

There are three easy ways to find the make and model of your device:

  1. Make and model is printed on the front/side
  2. Remove the battery and locate the model number
  3. Find the original box and/or locate the user manual

Who are the buyers on uSell?

The buyers on uSell.com are not individuals. They are companies that specialize in purchasing, refurbishing, and reselling cell phones and other electronic devices. The buyers that we list all have excellent marks from the leading business reporting agencies. Click "See Details" before you select an offer to get more information about that particular service.

How do I know that I will not be scammed when I send my valuable electronics to a buyer on uSell?

uSell is careful to only include buyers with good reputations. We ensure that all of the buyers we list have strong track records with consumers through their honesty in advertising, customer service, and their support of ethical business practices. When deciding on an offer, you can click the "See Details" link to see the accreditation of the buyer for yourself. You can feel sure that all the services we list are legitimate. Remember, it is great to get a high offer for your old gadgets, but it is much more important to actually get paid!

Why should I register?

When you create an account on uSell, you are eligible to earn bonus cash for referring your friends to uSell (See uSell Wallet). Creating an account also enables you to track your transaction when you sell devices to one of uSell's partners.

How can I register?

Simply go to uSell.com, and either click on the "Sign up" link located on the top right hand corner, or sign-up using your favorite social network log-in.

How do I log-in?

Go to uSell.com and click on the "Login" link on the top right hand corner. Simply enter the email address and password that you used to register.

How do I log-in via social network?

Go to uSell.com and click on the social network icon that you want to log-in with.

What happens to my phone or device after I send it to a buyer on uSell.com?

When you send a phone or other personal electronic item to a buyer on uSell.com, that buyer will wipe the data from your device, test it and then send you payment. While all of the services listed on uSell.com wipe data, your data is ultimately your responsibility. After you receive payment, the buyer will refurbish your gadget and sell it on the secondary market.

Selling your electronics and phones to one of our buyers is an excellent thing to do for both the world and your wallet. Reuse is always better than recycling from an environmental perspective. The devices that you send in will find a home either in the US or in an overseas market, and are thus kept out of landfills. If you send a device that does not have value to a buyer on uSell.com, it will simply be recycled.

Can I track the status of my transaction after I send in my device?

Yes. If you create an account on uSell, you will be able to track your devices through the Your Orders page on your account screen. You can create your account before or after you complete your transaction. Just make sure that you use the same email address when creating your account that you used to process your transaction. It may take up to 24 hours for your order details to be updated on the Stuff I've Sold page.

My device is damaged and/or has missing accessories. Can I still get money for it?

Yes. The buyers on uSell.com will often still pay good money for devices that are damaged and/or missing accessories. This is because they have the ability to repair your device, replace the accessories, and still make a profit. Even if your gadget is damaged, it is a good idea to enter it into uSell.com to see how much you can get. You may be surprised!

What if my phone or device still has data on it? Can I still send it in? What happens to my data?

Wiping your data is not a requirement, as all of the buyers on uSell.com wipe your data before refurbishing and reselling your device. Click "See Details" when an offer comes up to see a particular buyer's policy on wiping data. In most cases they do a good job of it, but we still urge you to wipe your own data. Check the terms and conditions of the service that you choose, but the ultimate responsibility for your data is always yours.

Do I have to pay for the price of shipping when I sell my device?

No. All of the buyers on uSell.com provide you with a prepaid shipping label to send in your device. Some will even send you a box.

How long is my offer valid?

Check the Terms and Conditions of the service that you select to see how long your offer is valid for. Most offers are valid for anywhere from 10 days to 30 days from the time you receive your quote. It is always in your best interest to send in your device as quickly as possible, as prices rarely go up.

What if the buyer receives my device and disagrees with my assessment of its condition?

Most of the buyers on uSell.com will check the condition of the device upon receipt to see if it matches your assessment. If they disagree they will give you a counter offer, which you will have a few days to respond to. If you disagree with their counter-assessment, you will typically have the opportunity to reject the offer. If this occurs, most buyers will send the device back to you at no charge. However, please check the "See Details" link and the Terms and Conditions of the provider that you choose to make sure that this is the case.

How long does it take me to get paid when I send my device to a buyer on uSell.com?

Payment is typically made within two weeks, but varies from buyer to buyer. Check the "See Details" link and the Terms and Conditions of the service that you select to see a particular buyer's typical payment time.

How will I be paid?

Most buyers provide multiple payment options. Usually, you can choose between a check and PayPal. Some buyers may pay in prepaid visa cards. Some buyers also provide an option for you to donate the proceeds from your sale to a charity of your choice. Check the "See Details" link on the offers page for more information.

I sent my gadget to uSell and have not received payment yet. Can you help me?

uSell.com is a comparison search engine that helps you find the highest price that buyers are willing to pay for your gadgets. uSell.com does not actually accept devices, so you would not have sent your device to us. You should have received a confirmation email from the partner you selected. You can check the status of your payment by creating an account on uSell.com. Under the "Your Orders" section, click on "Status" and then "View Order Status". If you are not having any luck doing this, click the support tab on this page and we will help resolve your issue.

Can I still sell my phone with uSell.com?

uSell.com will continue to help you turn used or unwanted electronics into cash, but in a new way: by instantly finding the highest cash offers from top rated buyers.

Will I still get paid if I sent my phone(s) to uSell?

Yes, you will still get paid by uSell.com if you sent your phone(s) to us and if your phone is appraised as the correct make and model, can power up, can make a call out, and has a damage free LCD screen. If you phone(s) has no cash value we will responsibly recycle your phone(s).

Why is the value of my item so low?

We pride ourselves on offering competitive pricing for unwanted electronic devices, but unfortunately, electronic devices depreciate just like cars and their re-sale value can sometimes be surprising. Market values vary by product desirability and supply and demand.

Why should I recycle my gadget?

According to the EPA: Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources. Recycling generates a host of financial, environmental, and social returns. Some of these benefits accrue locally as well as globally.

Benefits of Recycling

  • Recycling protects and expands U.S. manufacturing jobs and increases U.S. competitiveness.
  • Recycling reduces the need for land fills and incineration.
  • Recycling prevents pollution caused by the manufacturing of products from virgin materials.
  • Recycling saves energy.
  • Recycling decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.
  • Recycling conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals.
  • Recycling helps sustain the environment for future generations.

Why did the value of my device change?

Electronic devices depreciate just like cars. As soon as you drive off the lot you've already lost $5,000 dollars on the residual value. We've all been there, so don't feel bad! Your quote is valid for up to a certain period. Please visit the buyer's terms and conditions for more information regarding the time frame in which the quote is valid for.

Why do two similar model phones have different prices?

Market values vary between the type of radio (GSM versus CDMA), phone desirability (feature phone versus smart phone), and supply and demand.

While phones may have the same model name, they can have different model numbers. Manufacturers typically create multiple versions of a specific phone series because carriers operate on different frequencies and utilize different technology. Companies such as Verizon and Sprint utilize a technology called CDMA, while AT&T and T-Mobile utilize GSM technology.

A specific model phone designed to operate on a GSM network does not depreciate as quickly as CDMA phones because the technology offers the portability of allowing the user to transfer their service between carriers without having the phone programmed. Furthermore, GSM is the predominant cell phone technology used throughout the world.

How does the uSell Wallet work?

You earn $20.00 just for registering, but you can't withdraw your cash until you reach $50. To grow your uSell Wallet, simply refer your friends to sell their devices through uSell.com. You"ll receive $10.00 for each friend that is paid at least $10 for selling their device to one of our partners, so you just need 3 successful referrals before you can cash out!

Why doesn't the recent sale of my phone show up in "My uSell Wallet"?

Your recent sale or order won't show up in My uSell Wallet. The My Usell Wallet is a referral program. You are automatically awarded $20 for signing up, but you cannot withdraw your cash until you reach $50. You receive $10.00 for each friend that you refer that is paid at least $10 for selling their device to one of our partners, so you just need 3 successful referrals before you can cash out. To track your recent order, you should go to the "Your Orders" tab on your account page. However, your order will only show up if you used the same email address to place the order as you used to create your account.

How do I invite friends?

There are two easy ways to invite friends: 1) You can import your email contact list or 2) Send a "Quick Email". At the bottom of the myAccount homepage, you will see a section titled "Invite Friends by Email". Click on the method you would like to invite your friends and you"ll be ready to rock and roll!

How can I collect my referral cash?

uSell rewards you with $20.00 simply by registering, but you can only withdraw your cash once you reach $50. You earn an additional $10 for each friend that you refer that is paid at $10 or more for their device, so you only need to refer 3 friends before you can cash out.

How long does it take to get paid after I cash out my uSell wallet?

After you cash out, you"ll receive your payment within 3-5 business days if you prefer a check, or 1-2 business days for PayPal.