Are you looking to get some extra cash in exchange for your smartphone? These helpful tips for preparing your phone for a trade-in will ensure your phone is ready for a new life.
Refurbished electronics are quickly becoming the primary way consumers purchase new products in the technology industry. It’s a fact: most Americans don’t have $1,000+ laying around to buy the latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy.
We offer a variety of options to help you get the latest tech for a price your wallet will agree with! Let’s explore some ways you can prepare your current phone for a trade-in.
Test Functionality
First, you want to make sure the phone is in working condition. Use your phone like you regularly would, but try to take notes as you perform specific tasks. For example, call a friend and listen to the sound quality—is it clear? Crackly? Keep track of specific changes you might notice on your phone to ensure you’re handing off a functional phone.
Take Extra Care
While you’re testing the phone, be extra careful with it; avoid dropping or mishandling the phone. Treat your phone like you’re giving it to someone as a gift—because you technically are!
Check Eligibility Online
If your phone seems to be working fine, look at the exterior and determine which grade it might be assigned. For example, below we list some common conditions a phone might be analyzed for.
Excellent
When a pre-owned device is in “excellent” condition, it essentially has little to no scratches or buffs, and the functionality of the phone is almost new!
If your phone is in excellent condition, you might get a higher selling price because of the demand this phone might receive once put on the floor.
Good
A phone that is in “good” condition is almost like the “excellent” except it contains light blemishes like dents, nicks, or scratches. However, the phone is still functional and be a great way to save money if you’re looking for an essential device.
Fair
The “fair” condition means the phone can have deeper scratches or a glass crack, but does not affect the phone’s functionality.
This condition typically gets a bad rap in the tech industry because people assume that “fair” means the phone isn’t usable. On the contrary, here at Wamatek, our certified technicians complete a rigorous inspection process to ensure the device is worthy of consumer purchase.
If you’re unsure if your phone is eligible, you may walk into a facility to have an employee check the eligibility of your phone, or you could hop online and check yourself.
Back Up Data
Like many people, you might have everything stored on your phone, which is fine! But before you trade it in, you want to make sure to back up your photos, contacts, info, and more.
You can back up your phone by using a laptop, cloud, Google backup, and more. If you’re unsure how to complete the process, ask a friend to help you or check out some tips online.
Sign Out of Apps
It’s time to sign out of all your apps! It’s best practice to check every app that’s installed on your phone to ensure you don’t miss anything. You might check Gmail, Facebook, Starbucks, Spotify, Grubhub, and essentially any app that might contain your information.
Turn Off Location Services
The next thing you want to do is turn off all location services to avoid any mishaps in the new user’s experience. If you have services like Find My iPhone, be sure to go into your settings and sign out of iCloud or delete the account. Once you get a new phone, you can resign in and turn it back on.
Perform a Factory Reset
While it might be tempting to delete all your data manually, it’s a safer option to perform a factory reset to wipe the phone and restore it to factory settings permanently. The process might be different depending on what kind of phone you have, so be sure to follow proper instructions.
This protects your information and ensures that your phone will be ready for the newest owner to call it their own.
Carefully Clean Phone
Before trading in your phone, try to clean it as best you can! You might clear off fingerprints, stains, and dirt. Be sure to carefully take off the case and screen protector before doing so to ensure you can clean in between the tiny spaces of the phone!
Let Your Contacts Know
If you’re unsure how long you’re going to be without a phone, be sure to let your important contacts know. For example, you might let your manager know that you won’t have a phone for a certain period of time so they can reach you via other forms of communication. Of course, you’ll want to do this before you wipe all the contacts from your phone!
Additionally, you can also post on social media and let your family and friends know they can reach you via Messenger so your loved ones are aware of your situation.
Determine the Next Steps
At Wamatek, we make the entire trade-in process easy from start to finish so you can trade in your phone and get a new phone in one swift motion.
You might take advantage of our certified pre-owned devices for your next phone, as they’re thoroughly inspected, analyzed, and certified!
All you have to do now is head over to our shop in Eden Prairie, MN, or visit our website and follow the simple steps we have provided. What kind of phone are you looking for? We carry many types of phones and other electronics you can choose from! We also have additional electronic accessories like smartwatches, wireless headphones, chargers, cases, and more.
If you’re looking for an easy way to get rid of your current phone and receive a high-quality device for a great price, these helpful tips for preparing your phone for a trade-in will help you get ready for your next technological chapter!
