Electronics: Trade In Trash for Cash and It’s Good for the Environment

Posted by lindseyshoe

How can we responsibly get rid of our old electronics and gadgets without harming the environment and still be able to afford all the new electronics we are hoping to purchase?

As the holidays approach many of us are looking at our used electronics and thinking of updating or upgrading for our own use, friends, and family. Maybe your wife would like a GPS system, your son a new MP3 player, and you would like a Blu-Ray Disc player for the home. But our desire for the latest and greatest in technology does not happen just at the holidays, but all throughout the year. So how can we responsibly get rid of our old electronics and gadgets without harming the environment and still be able to afford all the new electronics we are hoping to purchase?
Trade in electronics for cash?
In the past, we may have gone to eBay or Craiglist to post our electronics for sale. But with some of the recent “stranger danger” scares about Craiglist and the recent buyer/seller innovations at eBay many are looking for alternatives. Another option has been to donate our used electronics including computers and game systems to charitable organizations and then using the charitable contribution as a tax write off. This is a good way of getting rid of the electronics we no longer need, and is an environmentally friendly option as someone else may be able to use our old cell phone or laptop. But what if we could actually get paid, and be conscious of the environment; all from the comfort of our computer?
Try a Trash for Cash program. These are trade-in for pay out programs available from a variety of stores for your electronics.
Many will let you trade in all kinds of electronics for cash. What kinds of electronics?
Depending on where you take your old electronics, they’ll often take pretty much everything. including:
Computers
Notebook/Laptop computers
GPS systems
Digital cameras
Cell Phones
DVD Players
VCR’s
Televisions
MP3′s and iPod’s or versions of iPods
Camcorders
LCD Monitors
Games and Game Systems such as Playstation, Nintendo and Wii
Sounds good, right? Get rid of your old electronics and get some greenbacks in return?

Where Can You Sell Your Used Electronics for “Cash?”
There are several well-known companies that are providing a trade in for cash (or gift card) program. Among these are:
Sears.com
Sears.com offers on their website the ability to “sell” your previously purchased gadget and electronics, no matter how old they are or where you bought them. You simply open their website Sears Trade for Credit.com and go through their easy step by step process. You simply complete the survey with as much information as possible about your used gadgets including games systems, mp3 players, digital cameras, camcorders, GPS systems and smart phones. Be sure to include any accessories. Sears will then calculate a value, which you may decline or accept. If you accept, print the shipping label and information from the website and ship. You then receive a valuable gift card in the mail you can use toward your next purchase at Sears, good for any item, not just electronics.
Radioshack.com
Similar to the Sears program, you appraise your item and determine its value with their calculator tools. Next you ship the item using a prepaid shipping label and then your recieve your Radio Shack gift card toward future purchases in the mail.
Staples.com
Staples has joined the green revolution with it’s “Eco-Easy Tech Trade in Program,” available at Staples Greensight.com. On this site you can complete a “survey” on your computer, PDA, MP3, notebooks, digital cameras, camcorders, and other electronic equipment, have the value determined using their calculator tool, and using their pre-paid shipping label you simply ship and wait for your Staples Trade In Coupon to use like cash. Next, go shopping at Staples for new electronics or other items.
Gazelle.com
Gazelle is the “new kid on the block.” Similar to the other sites, you simply complete their easy to use survey form regarding the electronic and the accessories with the electronic. After completing the form, the amount to be paid to you is “offered.” On the bottom half of the screen you can also view current market value trends for the resale of your product so that you can make a informed decision on whether you want to sell the item or not. If you accept you either log in or create your account. You then choose if you would like payment via Check, Paypal or donation to a charity. Gazelle will send you a pre paid shipping label and box and you return the electronic to them.
Costco.com
Costco.com performs on the same premise as Sears and Staples. You access their site, choose electronics. Next choose trade-in. You complete your brief survey regarding the electronic you are trading in and offered an amount. An email confirmation is sent to you and upon confirmation the deal is done. Costco will send you a pre-paid UPS shipping label. You mail your used electronic to Costco with the label provided and in turn receive a
Costco Cash Card to be used on any purchase at Costco stores or on-line.
HP.com (Hewlett Packard)
This trade in program works a little different from the others. Although you follow all the steps above at the HP.com website, you don’t get cash, unless you spend cash. It is almost like a rebate on the purchase of other HP products. In order to get “cash” for this trash, you complete the survey, purchase a new product, mail the old product to HP with the pre-paid shipping label, provide proof of purchase and receive a check back for the value of your electronic trade in.
Toshiba.com and Gateway.com
At these two separate sites, the “Eztradein” really does make it “easy to be green.” In order to get cash for your used electronic you select a category and answer questions regarding the product and recieve an offer. Create your account, print your pre-paid shipping label and ship your items to the trade in warehouse. A check is sent to you. Now that’s an EASY button.
Office Depot, Sam’s Club and NEXCOM
These three companies all use the services of ecoNewonline.com. This site allows you to determine the value of and trade in: Laptops, Desktops, MP3 players, LCD monitors, LCD TVs, Game systems, Camcorders, Digital cameras and Smartphones/PDAs. For this trade in program you choose from these three stores. Next, you complete your product information. Ship using a pre-paid shipping label and receive a gift card for use at the store you chose in step one.
What happens to my used computers, cell phones, PDA’s, game systems and other electronics? Some will be broken down to have the parts used in refurbished items or sold for service and repairs. Others will be sold in whole. Those that can’t be used this way will be disposed of properly, so that they environment will not have to deal with the chemicals that are quite often a result of electronic trash. The good news is you may get a little cash back on that expensive purchase. The even better news is you have done something good for the environment. So, why not take a minute and see what cash you can get for your trash and start off your new year not only with a great new electronic gadget, but also with a clean, green, beginning.
Note: Please be sure to use all appropriate measures to clear your electronics of personal information, contacts, telephone numbers, music, and hard drives before recycling them. For tips on how to make sure your product is clean before you make the green visit “Going Green with Your Old Computer, Not Your Identity.”
All of these programs inspect the goods for accuracy before issuing their gift cards, coupons, certificates or payment.