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Gadgets Verizon Unveils Wireless Trade-in Program
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - September 30, 2010 9:52 AM
Print 14 comment(s) - last by Scott586.. on Oct 3 at 1:21 AM

Verizon Wireless Trade-In Program  (Source: Verizon)
Payment is offered as a Verizon gift card

For users looking to get rid of an older smartphone or other mobile phone, Verizon has a new program that might be interesting for those that don't want to go the eBay or Craigslist route. The program is called the Verizon Wireless Trade-in Program. 

You can trade in any wireless device for credit towards a Verizon wireless purchase in the form of a gift card. The company doesn't offer much money for your device though, so users of the service will take a serious hit. For instance, a working iPhone 3GS with a cracked screen will get you a scant $12.60 while the same device with a screen that is undamaged will get the user $36.

If you're not satisfied with your iPhone 4 on AT&T's network, Verizon will give you $212 for the 16GB device in fully functional condition. Interestingly, the more expensive 32GB iPhone 4 is also worth the same $212 in Verizon money. Blackberry fans get even less; a working Storm 2 is only worth $44 to Verizon. People wanting to get rid of their smartphone would be better off selling the device to an individual in most cases.

If the small amount of money that Verizon offers is interesting to the user a pre-paid box will be sent to the customers address and once the device is verified for condition the payment will be mailed back as a gift card. Users of the trade-in program can also opt to donate the device to charity.

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Is this a joke?
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 9/30/2010 10:02:29 AM , Rating: 4
quote:
For instance, a working iPhone 3GS with a cracked screen will get you a scant $12.60 while the same device with a screen that is undamaged will get the user $36.

Do they think we're idiots? Seriously?

A 32GB iPhone 3GS black will net you $300+ in good condition on eBay. If it's jailbroken/unlocked, you'll fetch $400 or more.

http://tinyurl.com/27omd7m (eBay Completed Listings)

Even a cracked screen 3GS is going to be worth over $200. Even for someone who is absolutely CLUELESS about selling something on eBay would be better off getting a friend to list it for them.




RE: Is this a joke?
By nafhan on 9/30/2010 10:10:41 AM , Rating: 2
Well, people do car trade ins, too, even though they can generally could get a lot more than $300 over what the dealer would give them if they sold to a private party. It's about convenience not intelligence.


RE: Is this a joke?
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 9/30/2010 10:17:24 AM , Rating: 2
Yes, but when you're trading in a car, we're talking $10,000 trade-in versus maybe $13,000 private party.

$36 vs $300+ isn't even in the same ballpark.


RE: Is this a joke?
By mcnabney on 9/30/2010 11:17:14 AM , Rating: 2
I don't think that Verizon is trying to score some cheap iPhones off of the pending flood of customers jumping-ship from AT&T.

I think it is more likely to be used by feature-phone customers who don't know what to do with an old phone after they upgrade to a newer one. Now they can get $10-30 for their old phone - money that they can only use to buy stuff from Verizon or pay their service bill. Otherwise the old device gets tossed into a drawer and thrown in the trash in 3-5 years. This program is great for those customers.


RE: Is this a joke?
By wempa on 9/30/2010 12:45:19 PM , Rating: 3
So, it's better to forgo $3000 than $264 ? That makes absolutely no sense. Even though the percentage is much higher, the total value is much more important.


RE: Is this a joke?
By nafhan on 9/30/2010 2:31:32 PM , Rating: 2
So, you're saying the fact that people regularly throw away thousands of dollars would be an argument against the likelihood of them throwing away $300? Not sure I agree.


RE: Is this a joke?
By cknobman on 9/30/2010 10:57:14 AM , Rating: 2
Well smart consumers do a quick check and print on sites like Kelly Blue Book that lists the value of your vehicle as a trade in and resell to private party.

Then you pull it out last minute at the dealership after all other terms have been negotiated and they are either forced to give you fair market value or let you walk.

Ive yet to find a dealership let me walk. They have tried bluffing me but when they see Ill gladly walk they always give in. :)

Easy and convenient!!!


What An Insult
By btc909 on 9/30/2010 10:40:07 AM , Rating: 2
My LG Dare VX9700 is worth $4 according to Verizon & the phone looks perfect, everything works. I can sell this phone for $95-100 easily on eBay.




RE: What An Insult
By Jeffk464 on 9/30/2010 11:00:42 AM , Rating: 2
Huh, never thought about doing that. I always wait until I'm eligible for a new phone. The problem is my Dinc is going to be well under contract when the LTE smartphones come out.


Better then nothing
By Anubis on 9/30/2010 11:38:11 AM , Rating: 2
I'm most likely not alone on this but Ive simply done VZs new every 2 program for like a decade and i still have every single old phone sitting in a box or drawer someplace, they all worked fine when i stopped using them and the thought of selling them on ebay/CL never once crossed my mind. Maybe ill send them into VZ and get a fat check for 20$




RE: Better then nothing
By cjohnson2136 on 10/1/2010 10:34:41 AM , Rating: 2
I would agree there are people like thi like my parents. I typically donate my cell phone to charity but always keep at least one old phone for back up. I don't know if I would buy a phone off eBay cause my issue is I do not know the condition of the phone and if you get screwed there is nothing you can do. So I can see where some people probably older generation folks would use this service


By StraightPipe on 9/30/2010 12:26:27 PM , Rating: 2
That way when your new phone breaks you wont have a fall back and you'll be forced to pay extortionist prices for an unsubsidized phone.




By kmmatney on 9/30/2010 12:45:51 PM , Rating: 2
yep - I keep my old phone around for this purpose. Also, my old phone doesn't havea camera to I sometimes need it for going into businesses that don't allow camera (just pop my SIM card out of my 3GS and into my old Samsung flip phone).

When we changed phones at work a few years back, our secretary tossed our old phones in the trash. They were Nokia phones - I pulled them all out and sold them on Ebay for $300.


HTC Eris
By Scott586 on 10/3/2010 1:21:46 AM , Rating: 2
They're offering me $136 for my HTC Droid Eris. Not bad considering I paid $200 at Christmas. Too bad I'm not eligible for a new phone for another 15 months. That surely would help take some of the sting out of a $500 early upgrade though.




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