Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use uSell.com?
All of our buyers are industry leaders in purchasing, refurbishing, and reselling cell phones and other electronic devices. They also have strong track records with consumers through their honesty in advertising, customer service, and their support of ethical business practices. Selling your device through uSell.com means that you are protected by our 100% Max Cash Guarantee! If you find a better deal on another website within 24 hours of selling your device on uSell.com, our 100% Max Cash Guarantee means that we will pay you the difference!
What is the 100% Max Cash Guarantee?
The most cash for your cell phones and gadgets. Guaranteed.
uSell's Max Cash Guarantee ensures you'll get the most cash for your cell phones and electronics or we'll pay the difference. Plus, we include only the top buyers of cell phones and electronics in our search results, so you'll always get the best service and the highest cash payouts for your gadgets.
That's why we guarantee that if you find a higher offer from any competitor within 24 hours of selling your device on uSell.com, uSell will pay you the difference. So what do you have to lose? Search for your gadget now!
How does selling phones and electronic devices on uSell work?
uSell.com pulls in prices from electronics-buying companies. These companies specialize in purchasing, refurbishing, and reselling cell phones and other personal electronic devices. uSell.com does not actually purchase your device; instead, we find the top buyers and the highest prices for you. Once you select an offer, uSell.com sends you to the website of the buyer you selected to complete your transaction.
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 sell my phone or device?
Simply type the brand and model of your device into the search bar. Be as specific as possible (i.e. Apple iPhone 3G 8GB). Once you locate your product, you will be asked for some additional information, such as the condition of the product and what accessories you can send in. Enter this information and hit "Find matching offers".
Because we are obtaining prices in real time, the screen may take a moment to load, but you will soon see a number of cash offers for your device. Take advantage of the "See Details" link and user ratings to select the service that is best for you. Once you click on an offer, you will be redirected to the website of that buyer to complete your transaction.
The buyer will then provide a prepaid shipping label, and may even provide a box. All you have to do is send in your gadget and choose the method by which you would like to get paid (PayPal, check, etc.). Most offers are only valid for a limited period of time (typically between 10 and 30 days- see the Terms and Conditions of the service you select), so be sure to send in your device promptly to lock in the price.
In some instances, your product will not have any value. If this is the case, uSell.com will recommend options for you to recycle it responsibly.
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.
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!
Can I track the status of my transaction after I send in my device?
That depends on the service that you select. At a minimum, the customer service department of the buyer will communicate with you via email throughout the process. Many buyers allow you to check the status of the transaction on their website. Click "See Details" before you select an offer to see the level of tracking that a particular service provides you with.
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.
How do I find the model number of my device?
There are three easy ways to find the make and model of your device:
- Make and model is printed on the front/side
- Remove the battery and locate the model number
- Find the original box and/or locate the user manual
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" button and the website of the service that you select to find out what payment options are available for a particular service.
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. When you selected one of the services listed on our site, you were redirected to that website to complete your transaction. You should have received confirmation via email for the transaction. In order to check the status of your transaction, you should contact the customer service department of the service that you selected. 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 and then directing you to the buyer?s website.
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. Please visit the buyer's website for more details.
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. If you find a better deal on another website within 24 hours of selling your device on uSell.com, our 100% Max Cash Guarantee means that we will pay you the difference!
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.
