1. Naturally: Remove SIM card:
I remember 9 years ago when I wanted to sell a smartphone, it was one of the early touchscreen Samsung phones. Unfortunately, I sold the phone and forgot about the SIM card. After several attempts, I managed to retrieve it to avoid such a situation. One of the first steps you should take is to remove the card from your smartphone, as it contains all your contacts. You do not want your contacts to go with your card.
2. Uninstall and then remove the memory card:
After removing the SIM card, there is another card of no less importance, and for many, it’s even more important, which is the external SD memory card that usually holds documents, pictures, videos, and other app-specific files. Be careful not to sell your phone with a memory card, even if it has been formatted. Retrieving anything is possible nowadays, so it’s best to buy a new memory card or sell it without one. It all depends on the agreement between the seller and the buyer.
3. Erase all data:
The next thing to do is to erase personal data before public data. Luckily, there is a factory reset setting that deletes everything. This is done by going to the phone’s general settings and searching for the option. It’s important to note that on older phones from 3 to 4 years ago or less, performing a factory reset won’t erase just settings but also the factory reset recovery option. This can be accessed by turning off the phone and pressing the volume up, home, and power buttons simultaneously. You can then find the option for Wipe Data/Factory Reset, which can be used for a full device reset if there are issues with the device or if you have forgotten the unlock password. Using either method will delete the following data:
- Google account settings
- Data and application configurations
- Installed applications
- Music
- Photos
- Other user data
- Linked accounts (Facebook, Dropbox, Twitter, etc.)
4. Physical phone cleaning:
Another important internal aspect is cleaning the phone externally. While you may not be able to do much about scratches or general wear and tear on the screen, you can still sell the phone without fingerprint marks. Cleaning scratches can be done using toothpaste and a cotton pad, which can significantly improve the phone’s appearance. You can convince the buyer to purchase the phone by placing a protective cover that can polish and enhance the phone’s external appearance.
5. The last step: Original equipment:
There are three options here: sell the phone with its original accessories from charger to headphones and the box it came with, replace the accessories with other commercial ones, or sell the phone without any accessories. Each option has its impact on the buyer. If the original accessories are available, the chance of selling the phone at the offered price is very strong. If you replace the accessories with commercial ones, it is difficult to convince the buyer, and it may end with the phone being sold without any accessories at a lower price.
What to do with the old phone?
There are many different things that can be done with the old phone, such as giving it as a gift to a friend or family member, donating it to a charity, or for advanced users, turning the old phone into a development platform. Additionally, the average user can use the old phone for surveillance purposes instead of a camera, as there are dozens of apps that can connect multiple phones and turn them into a 24-hour surveillance camera.
Where to sell the old phone?
If you have decided to sell your phone, there are several options. If your phone is in good condition and still has the box, the best place to sell it indirectly is eBay. Apart from selling it online, there are also retail stores, electronics markets, classified ads, buy and sell groups on social networks, and a plethora of offers and services available that offer various options.
