You probably have a "junk drawer." Most of us do. It’s that chaotic graveyard of tangled micro-USB cables, a cracked iPhone 6, and maybe a digital camera from 2009 that you’re convinced still has "vintage charm." Honestly, it’s mostly just clutter. But here is the thing: that pile of silicon and lithium is actually a small gold mine if you know who to talk to.
The market for used tech has exploded recently. It isn't just about hobbyists anymore. We are talking about a massive global ecosystem of refurbishers, precious metal recyclers, and collectors. If you’re wondering who buys old electronics, the answer depends entirely on whether you want a quick five bucks or the actual market value of your device.
The Big Players: Instant Buyback Sites
If you want the path of least resistance, buyback sites are your best friend. These companies operate on a "volume" model. They aren't looking to make a killing on your specific iPad; they’re looking to buy 10,000 iPads, fix them up, and sell them to insurance companies or schools.
Gazelle is the household name here. They’ve been around forever. You tell them the condition, they give you a quote, you ship it for free. It’s simple. But—and this is a big but—their offers are often lower than what you'd get elsewhere because you’re paying for the convenience.
Back Market and Decluttr are the heavy hitters right now. Back Market doesn't actually buy your phone directly; they are a marketplace for professional refurbishers. This is a crucial distinction. Because different refurbishers are competing for your device, you often see slightly higher prices here than on a standard buyback site. Decluttr is great because they buy everything from consoles to LEGOs, making them a "one-stop shop" for a weekend garage cleanout.
Why "Big Box" Trade-ins Are Kinda a Rip-off
We’ve all been there. You’re at Best Buy or the Apple Store, looking at the shiny new Titanium model, and the salesperson asks if you want to trade in your old one. It’s tempting. They take it right there. No shipping. No waiting.
But you're leaving money on the table.
Apple’s trade-in program is notorious for offering "Recycle for $0" on devices that are only four or five years old. To them, if they can't sell it as a premium refurbished product, it's just scrap. Best Buy is a bit better because they give you store credit, which is great if you need a new toaster, but sucks if you need rent money. These programs are designed for customer retention, not for giving you the best deal.
The Marketplace Jungle: eBay vs. Swappa
If you actually want the most money, you have to sell directly to another human. This is where Swappa shines. Unlike eBay, which is a free-for-all of scammers and "broken" descriptions, Swappa requires photos of the device with a unique code to prove you actually own it. They also check ESNs (Electronic Serial Numbers) to make sure the phone isn't stolen.
It's safer.
eBay is still the king for weird stuff. If you have an old Commodore 64 or a specialized piece of audio equipment from the 80s, Swappa won't help you. You need the global reach of eBay. Just be prepared for the "Final Value Fees." By the time eBay takes their cut and you pay for shipping, that $200 sale might feel more like $150.
Who Buys Old Electronics That Are Totally Broken?
So, your laptop won't turn on. The screen is shattered. It looks like it survived a war. Who wants that?
EcoATM is the most visible option. You’ve seen those green kiosks in malls. They are essentially automated pawn shops for phones. They have cameras that "inspect" your device and give you cash on the spot. Is the payout good? No. It’s usually terrible. But if the phone is trashed and you want $10 right now, it’s a valid exit strategy.
For the truly dead stuff, you’re looking at scrappers.
Circuit boards contain gold, silver, copper, and palladium. According to the Global E-waste Monitor, the world discarded 62 million tonnes of e-waste in 2022. There is a whole industry built around "urban mining." Companies like Sims Lifecycle Services or local scrap yards buy bulk electronics to grind them down and extract the precious metals. You won't get rich selling them one laptop, but if you have a literal ton of old desktop towers in a warehouse, they are the people to call.
The Retro Gaming Gold Rush
Gaming is a different beast. Do not, under any circumstances, take your old N64 or GameBoy to a generic electronics recycler.
The "retro" market is insane right now. Collectors are looking for specific motherboard revisions and "unmodded" consoles. Sites like DKOldies or eStarland specialize in this. Even local "mom and pop" game stores will often give you a better deal than GameStop ever would.
A "broken" GameBoy can often sell for $40 on eBay because hobbyists want the shell or the buttons for a custom build. People buy these to "mod" them with modern IPS screens. Your "junk" is someone else's Saturday afternoon project.
Privacy: The Step Everyone Skips
Before you hand your life over to a stranger or a kiosk, you have to wipe it. A factory reset isn't always enough.
On older Android phones, data can sometimes be recovered even after a reset. You should encrypt the phone first, then factory reset it. For iPhones, the built-in "Erase All Content and Settings" is generally sufficient because it destroys the encryption key, making the data unreadable.
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And for the love of everything, take out your SIM card and your microSD card. You’d be surprised how many people sell their phones with their entire photo library still tucked away in a tiny plastic slot.
Dealing With "Specialized" Tech
What about the weird stuff? Oscilloscopes? Old server racks? High-end DSLR cameras?
- MPB and KEH Camera are the titans of the photography world. They are far better than eBay for cameras because they actually grade the gear. If they say a lens is "Excellent," a buyer knows exactly what that means.
- ITAD (IT Asset Disposition) companies are who businesses call. If you are a business owner with 50 old laptops, look for R2-certified recyclers. The "R2" certification means they follow strict environmental and data security standards.
- Facebook Marketplace is the best for heavy stuff. If you’re selling an old 27-inch iMac or a heavy receiver, shipping will kill your profit. Selling locally for cash is the only way to go.
Final Actionable Steps
Stop letting your old tech rot in a drawer. Lithium batteries can swell and become a fire hazard if left uncharged for years.
- Inventory everything. Group it by "Working," "Broken," and "Ancient."
- Check the "floor" price. Go to Flipsy. It’s a search engine that aggregates offers from dozens of buyback sites. It gives you a baseline for what your device is worth.
- Choose your trade-off. If you want the most money, list it on Swappa. If you want zero stress, use Decluttr.
- Photograph like a pro. If you’re selling yourself, take photos in natural light. Show the scratches. Being honest about flaws prevents returns and bad reviews later.
- Clean it. A little isopropyl alcohol on a microfiber cloth can literally add $20 to the sale price. People pay more for things that don't look like they’ve been living in a dust bunny's house.
The market for used electronics is a $50 billion industry. There is a buyer for almost everything, from the latest iPhone to a 1995 ThinkPad. You just have to decide how much your time is worth versus the cash in your pocket.