Courtesy of Nextworth
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One of the greenest things to do with your old electronics is extend their lifetime. You can get creative with finding new life for them, or you can get some cash. Maybe you're done with your old phone or PDA, but if it still works well then it might be just what someone else is hunting for. Give your old gadgets a longer life and make some money while you're at it through buyback programs.
A buyback program purchases your electronics from you and either refurbishes and resells them or, if they've been loved just a little too much, recycles them for you. While there are sites like Craigslist and eBay where you could sell gear on your own, buyback programs make it super easy for you to get your cash without a headache.
TechForward
TechForward is an innovative company whose buyback plans help to green up the consumer electronics industry by ensuring consumers of new electronics that they're going to get something back for their gadgets down the road.
While there are a growing number of buyback programs available, TechForward does something unique. They guarantee a certain price that someone will get for their gadget when they're ready to upgrade to something new. So the guesswork on what you might get for your gadget when you're done with it is gone—you know exactly what it will be worth to you upon resell.
When you buy, say, a laptop, you can go to TechForward's website for a guaranteed buy back. Based on the device model and when you plan on selling it back, TechForward lets you know what amount you'll get for it. TechForward even provides the packaging to send in the device.
If you send in an item to TechForward that isn't refurbishable, they'll recycle it for you.
NextWorth
NextWorth focuses on Apple items. Recently they announced that they will take your well-loved iPhone and give you enough cash to cover the cost of a new 3G. How? Well, folks still want the first generation iPhone since the 3G is a work in progress, so the value of an iPhone remains high. Rather than dealing with selling your old iPhone yourself, you now have the option to still get some serious value out of it.
You just hop on the website, type in model and condition of the phone, and get an estimate for how much cash you'll get for it. Once youaccept the estimate, you get a box in the mail to send in the phone, and get a check in the mail within two weeks.
NextWorth takes Apple gadgets in most any condition, though your buy back value will drop the more thrashed it is. While, they'll refurbish it and resell it whenever possible, the gadget may be beyond its usable life. But like TechForward, if the device is beyond repair, they recycle it.
Gazell
Formerly called Second Rotation, Gazell works similarly to TechForward and NextWorth. They'll purchase your old gadgets and pay for shipping charges for sending your item in to them. While they don't provide a guaranteed price at the time of purchase the way TechForward does, you still get fair market value for your item and it works great for items you bought awhile ago. Also, they accept a wider range of items than NextWorth.
You just visit the site, enter info about the gadget including it's model and condition, and if you agree to the price they offer, you'll get a nice little check and can breathe a sigh of green relief.
Buy Used, Buy Green
Buying used electronics is an ideal way to reduce your carbon footprint while still staying up-to-date with your electronics. Each of the programs mentioned above are great places to shop for used gadgets if you're in the market.
Recycling Gadgets Is Green, Too
Of course, if you're not interested in the cash, or if your gear is used beyond an ability to make a profit but still functional, there are programs like Freecycle where you can give your gear away to someone who can use it.
Learn More About Recycling Old Gadgets:
Earn Rebates When You Recycle Electronics, Gadgets
myGreenElectronics: A New Resources for Greening Your Gadgets
Recycle Your Cell Phone for Fun, Profit
eBay Your Way to a Greener Earth
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