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If you have an old cell phone lying around or youre ready for an upgrade but not eligible for a trade-in, consider selling it to a buyback program.

In this article, Ill take a close look at ecoATM, which I found to be a convenient option for selling your used electronics for instant cash back. Ive checked out a few different popular buyback programs for used phones to find out how ecoATM compares.

Selling Your Phone to ecoATM

If youre looking to sell an old phone, particularly one thats damaged or outdated, ecoATM may be the most convenient option for you. ecoATM kiosks are located in popular stores like Kroger and Walmart across 48 different states. Whether youve noticed the ecoATM kiosks or not, theres a good chance you have one nearby.

Compared to other companies that buy used phones, ecoATM offers the fastest payment method (instant cash) and accepts phones in any condition. Still, you probably wont get the highest offer from an ecoATM kiosk.

If youre thinking about selling your phone to ecoATM, here are five things to know before heading to the kiosk:

• What Is ecoATM?
• How Does ecoATM Work?
• Finding Your Nearest ecoATM
• How Does ecoATM Compare?
• Tips for Selling Your Phone at ecoATM

Below, youll find detailed information about how to sell your phone at ecoATM and my thoughts on when you should consider an alternative.

What Is ecoATM?

ecoATM is a safe, convenient and easy way to recycle or sell used devices for cash. According to ecoATMs website, the company is a leader in reducing electronic waste. If your cell phone cant be refurbished and reused, itll be recycled.

Automated ecoATM kiosks are located at a variety of retailers across the United States. These kiosks pay consumers on the spot for used smart devices. You can get an estimated quote online to see what your device is worth. You can also visit a nearby kiosk in person to get an immediate offer.

Unlike a lot of other companies that buy used cell phones, ecoATM accepts phones, MP3 players and tablets in any condition. The companys goal is to reduce electronic waste, so even if your phone is completely unusable and the offer you receive is low, the kiosk will accept and recycle it.

How Does ecoATM Work?

ecoATM works by offering instant cash for smart technology that can be reused or recycled. Before deciding whether or not you want to sell your phone at an ecoATM kiosk, you can get a quote online, have your phone evaluated in person and then accept or reject the offer you receive.

If youre considering selling or recycling your phone with ecoATM, heres what you need to know to get started:

Prepare Your Phone

If youre ready to sell your phone at an ecoATM kiosk, there are a few things you can do to prepare.

Before you leave the house, make sure you delete all of your personal information from the device and turn off the phones location services. Remember: If you have any pictures or data that you want to save, be sure to transfer them before wiping the device.

If youre selling an Apple phone, you can reset your phone by clicking on Settings, General, then Reset. From there, you can tap Erase all content and settings. If you have a password on your device, youll have to enter it before the phone resets.

Android devices need a factory reset to delete all personal information. While the process varies among Samsung, Google and other Android devices, the basic steps are the same. You can find detailed instructions on ecoATMs website.

Get a Quote

Once your phone is reset and ready to sell, its time to get a quote. You can price your device online to get a general estimate of how much youll be offered at the kiosk. Of course, the actual offer you receive may vary.

According to the website, ecoATM prices each phone based on the following factors:

• Model
• Specific condition
• Value in the secondary markets

ecoATM kiosks use a vision system, electrical diagnostics and artificial intelligence to determine the best price available. Of course, that means if your phone has water damage or a broken display, it will be worth less. This is also true for older, less popular devices.

When you visit the kiosk, youll place your device in the test station. Then, the ecoATM kiosk will examine your device and make an instant offer. Know that you can cancel the process and get your device back at any time. That means if you dont like the offer you get, you can turn it down.

Get Cash Back

If you do agree to the offer you receive, youll get cash on the spot.

After your phone has been accepted and youve been paid, your device will either be reused or recycled.

Finding Your Nearest ecoATM

You may walk by an ecoATM kiosk every time youre at the grocery store whether youve noticed it or not. Kiosks are located at Kroger, Walmart and other popular retailers throughout the country.

To find an ecoATM kiosk near you, use the online kiosk locator. On ecoATMs website, you can enter a city or ZIP code to search for a nearby kiosk. You can also browse by state.

Youll be able to see a map with nearby kiosks marked. Youll also see a list of where kiosks are located including each retailers name, address, store hours and a brief description of where the kiosk is located in the store. I saw descriptions like cart hallway, grocery vestibule, and front wall, at locations near me.

Once youve found a kiosk thats close by, make sure the store is open and then head that way.

Is ecoATM the Best Place To Sell Your Phone?

The best way to decide where to sell your cell phone is by collecting quotes from a few different places and choosing the one that will offer the most cash back.

I tried this by gathering quotes from seven different companies that buy used phones. I looked at offers for an iPhone X in average condition with 64GB of storage on an AT&T network. Heres what I found:

Offers on an iPhone X, 64GB

Generally speaking, you arent going to find the best prices at ecoATM. If youre selling a phone in relatively good condition and you have some time to wait for the right buyer, Swappa may be a better option for you. Also be sure to get quotes from BuyBackWorld, NextWorth, MaxBack and Decluttr before making your final decision.

Of course, you will find the fastest payment with ecoATM since you get instant cash back at the kiosk. And if your phone is heavily damaged or unusable, ecoATM is going to be a great option for recycling it with the added bonus of potentially getting a few bucks back. Many other buyback sites, like Swappa, wont accept cracked or damaged phones.

Tips for Selling Your Phone at ecoATM

If youre thinking about selling your phone at ecoATM, here are a few tips to keep in mind to get the most out of the sale:

• Get a quote online before heading to the kiosk. Before driving to a physical kiosk to get an offer for your device, check out the online quote first. You can visit ecoATMs website and click Price Your Device to get an idea of how much ecoATM may offer you. This is a great way to save time on an offer thats too low or to get an estimate that you can compare to other offers.
• Compare the quote to other buyback programs. Once you have an estimate from ecoATM, compare it to other offers online. Check out secondary markets like Swappa, BuyBackWorld, NextWorth, MaxBack and Decluttr to get an idea of how much your phone is worth. This is a great way to decide whether or not ecoATM is worth your time.
• Back up and wipe the phone youre selling. No matter where you decide to sell your phone, its important to save any pictures or data that you dont want to lose. Back your old phone up first and then restore it to factory settings. This will clear all of your personal information.
• Have a valid ID with you. Identification is required for security when you sell your phone at an ecoATM kiosk. According to the website, ecoATM accepts most government or state-issued identification cards except for military IDs, passports and enhanced drivers licenses.

Final Thoughts

While the offers are significantly lower on average, ecoATM is a super convenient option that gives you cash back on the spot. Plus, if you have a broken phone or old smart technology that cant be sold anywhere else, you can at least use ecoATM to recycle it and possibly get a little bit of cash back for your contribution.

If you dont need instant cash back and have a newer phone in working condition, youll likely get a much higher offer by creating a listing on Swappa. No matter where you decide to sell your phone, just be sure to save your data and then restore the device to factory settings. This is a step required by most buyback programs to help protect your privacy.

If you do decide to sell or recycle your phone with ecoATM, you can use the online locator to find a kiosk near you. You can also get a quote online or place your phone directly into a kiosk to getan offer. If you choose to accept it, youll get cash back on the spot. Of course, you can always reject the offer and get your phone back at any time.

Have you ever sold a phone to an ecoATM kiosk? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!

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