eBay vs Mazuma, Fonebank and Bowzowi: should I recycle or sell my old mobile?

Got an old phone lying around? You might be able to get the most cash for it on eBay - but will you get a better deal than going through a recycling site like Mazuma or Fonebank?

When it’s time to trade in your old mobile, there's plenty of different ways to dispose of it. Don't just leave it languishing in a drawer because it could make you some serious money, especially if it is a popular smartphone. 

Some iPhone models can command hundreds of pounds in resale value, and the best way of maximising your profits is to sell through eBay. In theory you can’t go wrong. Set a reserve price for the minimum you will let it go for and let the bidding begin.

But, selling on eBay is not without its risks, and there has been an increase in the number of scams involving high value items like smartphones which might make you think twice.

Tips for selling your phone safely on eBay

Restore your phone to factory settings.

This will wipe all your personal data, which is clearly important for security reasons. If it’s an iPhone, sync it with iTunes first so as not to lose all your data completely!

Unlock your phone.

Unlocked phones will fetch the best price as it gives the purchaser the option to go with whichever carrier they like. You can unlock a smartphone ‘unofficially’ using a method known as jail-breaking (take a look at this PC World article to learn about the pros and cons).

However, it is perfectly legal to unlock a phone and can be done with minimal hassle and cost. Take an iPhone, locked into an O2 contract. When that contract has come to an end (and NOT before, unless you wish to pay a hefty contract breakage charge) you can simply ring O2 and ask for the phone to be unlocked. They do not charge, and the phone is usually unlocked in less than three days.  Other companies may charge for this, so check with your carrier.

Include original accessories.

Phones that come with their original wires and accessories will be most attractive, so include them with the purchase if you can.

Point out faults.

Even a scratched or cracked phone can fetch a fair price as long as it works - there is also a market for broken phones for spare parts. If you don’t disclose faults you will have an angry customer asking for a refund and leaving negative feedback.

Use the right postal method.

The most basic of all scams is for the buyer to claim that they never received the package, that it has been lost in the post. While it is possible that this could be true, whether it is or not you as the seller must refund the buyer in full, including postal costs.

There is no doubt that eBay favours the buyer when there is a dispute and if you refuse to refund in such a situation then eBay will issue a charge-back and take the money from your Paypal account anyway. eBay’s terms and conditions make it clear that the safe delivery of the package is the responsibility of the seller.

If a parcel goes missing the procedure is that you refund the buyer and then make a claim back through the Post Office. Depending on how you have mailed the phone, you will be entitled to different levels of compensation. Take a look at this Royal Mail table to work out the best way to send your parcel. Royal Mail also have a page dedicated to eBayer Users for extra help and advice.

Pack securely.

Go mental with the bubble wrap – you don’t want to be contacted to say it has broken in the post as yes, you guessed it, you will have to refund.

Specify ‘pick up only’.

Avoid ‘postal mishaps’ by stating that you won’t post the item and people must come to you to collect it. They can either pay cash on delivery or by Paypal in advance. This negates the chances of the phone getting ‘lost’ in the post. It also means that you are restricting your potential buyers to those in your immediate area, so you may not get quite such a good price.

Fees

Don’t forget to take into account eBay fees, Paypal fees and postage costs when calculating how much you will make. Depending on your phone type and model, it may not be worth the hassle and you might decide to use a recycling website instead.

Comparison with recycling websites

There are hundreds of mobile phone recycling websites who will offer you a wide variety of prices for your handset, so it is definitely worth shopping around. Try using a mobile phone comparison website like www.unlovedmobiles.co.uk to find the best deal for your handset.

But, how do they compare to the sorts of prices you could achieve on eBay?

The highest eBay prices were all achieved by unlocked, excellent condition phones with accessories.

More: Get the most cash from recycling your old mobile | Watch out for this eBay scam