This is how you get money for your old cell phone
What to do if you want to sell the used iPhone quickly and easily? We explain to you how to prepare your smartphone for sale and what you should pay attention to if you want to sell it on the Internet.
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Sell iPhone: prepare your smartphone
If you want to part with your iPhone (or iPad), you have to make sure before you sell it that you are only selling the hardware and no data to the new user. That means: If you want to keep your data, photos, etc., you have to save them somewhere else. Only then should you use the device reset to factory settings. We explain to you how it works.
Simple and fast backup thanks to iCloud
The simplest case: One is not only an iPhone user, but also a Mac user, also uses iCloud and may even have bought storage. Anyone who has activated the corresponding iCloud services for notes, contacts, the calendar, reminders and (if there is enough memory) for photos in the iCloud settings on the iPhone already backs up contacts, media and more automatically.
You can also see what data is in the iCloud in the browser at icloud.com test. If all data, photos and documents are complete, you can reset the iPhone directly to the factory settings.
In a separate article, we will go into detail about iPhone backup:
Data transmission via cable or WLAN
A typical scenario: You use the free 5 GB storage space in the iCloud for notes, various app data and contacts, but there is not enough storage space for photos. If you don’t want to buy extra memory, you can all images and videos on Mac or PC transfer.
To the Back up data on Mac, you have to connect your iPhone to your Mac (operating system MacOS 10.15 or newer) via cable (or Wi-Fi sync) and select your iPhone in the Finder. Then do the following in the Finder: Generally → Back up all your iPhone data to this Mac → Encrypt local backup → Back up now
You can also back up your data without a Mac. Connect yours for this iPhone to your computer via cable or WLAN and then opens the app “iTunes” on your PC. Then click through as follows: iPhone → overview → Back up now → Encrypt local backup → to set a password
You will then find the backup on your PC under To edit → settings → Devices.
Unpair from iPhone: iCloud and AppleWatch
If you have successfully backed up your data, in whatever way, it is important to log out of your device and deactivate the anti-theft protection. If you don’t do this, the smartphone cannot be used even after a factory reset (which we will get to in the next step).
- Deactivation of theft protection: settings → account → Where is → Find my iPhone
- Deregister Apple ID: settings → account → De-register
- If you have one apple watch paired with the iPhone, you must also depair them before selling.
Reset to factory settings
Are all data backed up? reset the iPhone to factory settings – this is the only way that purchasing services (e.g. reBuy) or an eBay buyer can do something with it.
That’s how you do it: settings → Generally → Reset to default → Erase all content and settings
Once you’ve clicked through, all you have to do is your PIN and password for your Apple ID input. If you have any problems – don’t panic! In a separate article we will explain how you can use your iPhone without a code or Reset Apple ID can:
Money for the old iPhone: Which purchase service is the right one?
Rebuy, BackMarket and Co.
Purchasing services promise fast and uncomplicated processing when selling a used iPhone. The process is always the same: you enter the information on the website of the respective online retailer information about his device, estimate its condition in and explains whether the original accessories are available. It’s worth comparing how much you get for your smartphone from different retailers. Once you have decided on an offer, you usually only have to print out the shipping label and bring the packaged iPhone to the post office or have it picked up.
You can try these online retailers:
You can find more purchase services in our separate article:
After sending in the iPhone, you don’t just have to wait, you also have to hope: Because the original purchase price is not always the same For example, if the purchasing service rates the device worse than you do or discovers damage that you didn’t notice yourself. Then you get a new offer and decide: Do I want my iPhone back or do I have the new purchase price paid out to me?
Sometimes it can still be worth it try another service, even if they made a worse offer in the first evaluation. A bit of luck is part of it: sometimes your own assessment and the final purchase price differ. Quirks that don’t bother you are deal breakers in sales. It is best to find out in advance how reputable providers such as Rebuy and BackMarket are where you can sell your smartphone and decide individually which price feels appropriate for you
In our video you can see how Rebuy checks used technology:
Or do you prefer a private sale?
Last resort eBay eBay Classifieds? Well, almost: If you can’t get anything from the purchasing service because your own iPhone is perhaps in abundance on the market or has scratches that the retailer doesn’t want to ignore, maybe you can get something out of it this way. You have a little more effortcan but score with other things: If you have the original packaging, invoice and accessories together, you can make an impression and show that the device has been treated with care.
Anyone who has often sold something on eBay or eBay classifieds will not have any major problems when listing an iPhone: The item features are usually automatically and correctly assigned. You should make an effort with the photos. Sounds obvious, but is criminally disregarded by many private sellers, which my colleague Stefan also emphasizes:
Don’t underestimate the power of good photos
Suppose there are two technically identical second-hand cell phones to choose from: A Offer with neat photos, the other with poor recording or no picture at all. It should be obvious which ad has a better chance of selling here.
A good mobile ad needs a good photo: Device cleaned, screen switched on, accessories (OVP) placed next to it. This creates trust and justifies the price.
If you use eBay, the question remains: fixed price or auction? has been in recent years the Buy It Now option is becoming increasingly popular. Especially with items like iPhones, which are widely available, bidding battles should not happen anyway. Anyone who has a good overall package should therefore specify a realistic desired price and the Price proposal option activate. If several interested parties register, you not only have the choice between the prices, but also between the buyers.
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