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Gazelle Review

Is Gazelle Legit? An Honest Review From an Industry Expert: Compare Customer Feedback, Prices, Service Pros & Cons

By Ash Turner
As CEO of CompareMyMobile.com and BankMyCell.com since 2009, Ash has been a pivotal figure in the mobile tech industry. With a background in managing Brightstar’s PhoneRecycleBank, he boasts extensive experience with global carriers and MVNOs like T-Mobile and O2, and leading manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung.

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| Updated on May 25, 2024
Fact Checked By
Marlene Centeno
Marlene specializes in creating comprehensive guides for smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches from leading brands like Apple, Samsung, and Google, demonstrating a deep understanding of these technologies.

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Edited By
Kim Juanillo
Kim, an editor with a rich background in digital content management and developmental psychology, brings a unique blend of analytical and creative skills to BankMyCell. With her background in Psychology, Kim is adept at understanding complex concepts and transforming them into engaging, accessible content.

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Customer Rating

3.9

icon review 4

4,900+ customer reviews

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Prices Quoted

3.9

icon review 4

Ranked 26 out of 45 stores

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Services Rating

3.7

icon review 3.5

Ranked 23 out of 45 stores

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The Bottom Line

While Gazelle is a legitimate buyback company, our review of the company found that more than 30% of the comments customers left on Gazelle’s Trustpilot page were negative reviews. They have some good features for their buyback process, like a long-term price lock feature and free shipping. Still, they also often offer lower value than other stores when you’re selling your phone. If you want to find better offers for your device, we recommend that you visit BankMyCell to see how much multiple stores are offering for your gadget.

Ash Turner - BankMyCell CEO

Ash Turner

Buyback & Trade-in Market Expert Since 2009

Review Policy: How We Review Buyback/Trade-in Companies

Our team has specialized in the buyback/trade-in business since 2009. We ensure our reviews are 100% independent, drawing from a blend of consumer insights and our professional experience. We utilize pricing feeds for 500+ products, aggregate and analyze customer feedback, and employ a unique scoring system to offer accurate and precise comparisons based on service quality.

PROS:

User-friendly interface that makes it easier for you to sell.

You can have your initial quote valid for up to 30 days.

FREE shipping label and returns

CONS:

Offers lower prices than other stores.

Poor customer service and low customer rating.

Sometimes changes the final quote into a much lower value after checking the device.

Review Contents

Ash Turner

2-Minute Gazelle Review Overview

Expert Opinion: What to Expect Selling With Gazelle

Is selling on Gazelle legit? You might be exploring the idea of selling or trading in your used electronics with Gazelle. This Gazelle review by BankMyCell’s Senior Staff Writer and Tech Enthusiast Ash Turner and his team might help you decide.

We tested selling a phone with Gazelle to see its trade-in process, the used electronics they accept, payment options and timescales, prices they offer, and many more. We also compared it to other sites and gathered all the customer reviews of Gazelle to help you decide whether it is worth selling your devices here.

PROS: What We Liked!

30-day price lock feature: You can have the value of your device valid for up to 30 days. This is helpful if you don't have the means to take care of the shipment yet or want to explore more options.

Fast payment: You can get paid within a day after Gazelle checks your device via PayPal, check, or Amazon gift card.

Free shipping and returns: Gazelle offers free shipping USPS or FedEx labels for your shipment. They also give free returns if you want your device back if they changed the quote after checking it.

CONS: What We Disliked!

Lowball offers: You can lose up to 5% value for your total payout when you sell your device at Gazelle compared to other buyback stores.
Limited accepted devices: They only accept a very limited range of old electronics, such as iPhones and other cell phones, iPads, and Macbooks, and only if they are new, good, cracked, or faulty. They won't accept it if it is locked, blacklisted, or financed.
Poor customer service and rating: Around 30% of Gazelle's customers on Trustpilot encountered terrible customer service. Those who were buying or selling devices usually encountered transparency issues, such as receiving defective, locked, financed, or blacklisted devices or getting a lower final offer.

Confused? Don't Be, We've Got a Tool For That!

Find your device & compare buyback store quotes, ratings, and services in ONE place.

Gazelle Trade-in Program Review

1. Consumer Feedback Overview

Customer Opinion: Is Selling on Gazelle Legit?

Are you considering selling your used phones to Gazelle for extra cash or upgrading to a new one? You should see if they are legit and trustworthy to protect your devices and prevent wasting time.

We are here to help you with that! We researched and gathered all the Gazelle buyback reviews from their consumers, giving you the advantages and disadvantages of selling your device to this store. It includes Gazelle’s payment methods, timescale, customer service, etc. All these will show you whether they are worthy of your used phone.

Customer Review Rating Distribution
gazelle trustpilot review breakdown
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%
Excellent-Average Ratings
0
%
Bad-Poor Ratings

PROS: What Customers Liked

Fast payment: Customers are satisfied that they can get paid in one to five days after Gazelle inspects their device.

Easy process: Customers say it is easier to sell their used phones or electronics at Gazelle compared to marketplaces like eBay.

User-friendly interface: With a good layout, Gazelle's website makes it easier for customers to trade their devices.

CONS: What Customers Disliked

Poor customer service: A significant percentage of Gazelle customers had a terrible experience with Gazelle customer service. You have to wait only hours for them not to resolve your issue.
Lower price: There are instances where Gazelle makes the final offer lowered to 80% less than the initial offer after inspecting the device. Around 3% of customers on Trustpilot are claiming the reasons provided to them are false issues.
Problems with transparency: Gazelle trade-in reviews show some of the customers' experiences with the store. Many of their buyers thought they were a scam as the devices they bought turned out to be defective, locked, financed, or blacklisted. These customers go through a tedious process of returns and refunds, which end up costing them more.

Find The Best rated Buyer For Your Device

Find your device & compare buyback store quotes, ratings, and services in ONE place.

2. Gazelle VS. Alternatives

Compare Trade-in Quotes, Ratings & Services

Selling your old phones and other gadgets can be difficult as there are many options out there you can choose from. To help you reach the best decision, we compared Gazelle to other alternatives in terms of the prices they offer, customer reviews, and their features.

This Company

gazelle logo
icon review 4

3.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot

  • 59% of customers rated Gazelle 5 stars.
  • Less competitive with price quotes.
  • Broken & damaged devices not accepted.
  • 30 day price lock-in, one of the longest options available.
  • You can get cash via three payment options – Check, PayPal, and Amazon Gift Card.

Best Rated

sell locked logo
icon review 5

5 out of 5 on Trustpilot

  • 99% of the customers rated the store 5 stars.
  • Fast payment – get paid within three days after the device is delivered.
  • Hassle-free and a great experience when trading in phones.
  • Excellent customer service.
  • Limited products accepted.

Best Quotes

bankmycell logo
icon review 4.5

4.4 out of 5 on Trustpilot

  • Provides the highest up-front quotes.
  • Ranked #1 for services offered:
  • Pay by Direct Deposit, PayPal, Check, and many more.
  • Shipping label and returns for FREE.
  • A 30-day price lock feature.
  • Wide range of devices accepted.

3. How Does Gazelle Trade-in Work?

FAQs: Payment, Shipping, Conditions, and More

How Selling With Gazelle Works

GET YOUR INITIAL OFFER

  1. Go to the Gazelle website and select Sell Smart (Trade-in for Cash).
  2. Scroll down until you see Sell Your Device in Minutes.
  3. Choose the device you want to sell and the model you own.
  4. Select your carrier – AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Factory Unlocked, and Other Carrier.
  5. Choose the storage capacity of your device. The price varies depending on this feature as well.
  6. Tell Gazelle the device’s condition to give you a fair price by answering the questions on the page.
  7. After that, you will see how much Gazelle can pay you for your device. Expect that it will change after the store go through the inspection of your device.
  8. Enter your email to proceed.
gazelle trade-in quote

RECEIVE PAYMENT

  1. Choose your payment option – Amazon Gift Card, PayPal, or Check.
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions.
gazelle payment options

SHIP THE DEVICE

  1. Fill out the shipping address form. Gazelle will use it for your complimentary shipping label.
  2. Select Continue.
  3. Check your address to verify if it is correct. You can click Edit if you have any changes to the information you provided.
  4. Select Confirm when done.
  5. Select a shipping method – a box and prepaid shipping label or a prepaid USPS shipping label.
  6. Click Continue.
  7. Recheck your information, such as contact email and payment and shipping details.
  8. Click the box after reading the terms and conditions and privacy policy.
  9. Select Complete. An email will be sent to you with your trade-in details.
gazelle shipping checkout

Service FAQs: Payment, Shipping, & Device Conditions

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

PayPal

Direct Deposit

Check or eCheck

Gift Card

Store Credit

Charity

Venmo

Zelle

SHIPPING OPTIONS:

FREE Shipping Label

Shipping Kit Delivery

Courier Collection

FREE Returns

DEVICE CONDITION:

New/Boxed

Mint/Flawless

Good/Used

Broken/Faulty

Cracked/Damaged

Blacklisted

Financed

Locked

Seller Options: What can you sell on Gazelle?

Unlike other buyback stores, Gazelle only accepts the following gadget in mint, good, cracked, or faulty condition.

It is also worth noting that some specific devices will not appear in the catalog when you trade in. It means that Gazelle is not buying that device anymore.

Apple iPhones

Apple iPads

Cell Phones

Tablets

Apple MacBooks / Macs

Microsoft Surface

Payment Terms: How long does Gazelle take to pay?

  • 30 Day Price Lock Timescale: Your quote will be locked in for 30 days.
  • 2 Day Payment Timescale: Get paid within 2 days of device inspection when receiving payment via PayPal.

Payment Options: How getting paid works & do Gazelle pay cash?

Gazelle has three methods of paying you for your old phone or gadget. You will receive it after the store inspects your device. In this section, you will also find the answer to “How long does Gazelle take to pay?”.

  • Amazon Gift Card – this option is consumable at the Amazon store online through a gift code. The gift card will be sent to your email within two business days.
  • PayPal – you will receive your money in your PayPal account within two business days. Gazelle will use the email address you provided in the trade-in process.
  • Check – this option has the longest business days (3-10), as Gazelle will ship it via USPS first-class mail to your mailing address.

Shipping: How to send your phone/gadget back to Gazelle for trade-in

After completing the trade-in form, the next thing to do is to ship your cell phone, laptop, or device to Gazelle. Here’s how:

  1. Check out your shipping label in your email. It can be FedEx or USPS.
  2. For the USPS shipping label – take your device to the nearest Postal Facility or organize a pick-up with a Letter Carrier.
  3. For the FedEx shipping label – take your device to the nearest FedEx Office or Worldwide Service Center.

Working Quotes: How to get the most money selling phones to Gazelle?

Gazelle offers the most money to mint condition or flawless quality devices, which means the device is somewhat new. However, you can still get a decent value for working or good-condition devices.

Here’s how Gazelle classifies the working condition of devices for your reference:

Flawless or Mint Condition

  • The device works perfectly.
  • There are no scratches and dust under the glass.
  • There are no visible flaws.
  • It is still in its original packaging.
  • It appears to be brand new.

Good Condition

  • The device is in good working order with only minor cosmetic flaws, such as scratches.
  • There are no missing buttons or cracks on the device.
  • All ports, buttons, and functional parts are operational.
  • It boots up without any software issues.

Damaged Quotes: Can you sell Gazelle cracked, broken or faulty phones/gadgets?

Gazelle accepts damaged or faulty cell phones or other electronics for a fair price. You can use the extra cash for that instead of having it on your shelf getting dusted.

Your device’s condition must be some of the following for Gazelle to buy it:

  • Your device does not turn on.
  • It has been broken or cracked.
  • Missing buttons such as ringer, volume, power, or home for iPhones.
  • The hardware, such as the casing and ports, is cracked or broken.
  • Service cannot be activated.
  • It has software issues such as freezes or crashes regularly.

Review Conclusion

Due to the volume of issues customers seem to have with Gazelle, we recommend that you thoroughly check and accurately report and document your device’s condition to avoid problems when selling your used iPhones or other electronics to the store. It is one of the more well-known buyback stores, and they generally offer a straightforward process. But they only accept a limited range of devices, might offer lower prices than other buyback stores, and running into issues with the sale can become tedious with their customer service. Alternatively, you can check BankMyCell to check the best offers for a wider range of devices.

This Company

gazelle logo
icon review 4

3.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot

Best Rated

sell locked logo
icon review 5

5 out of 5 on Trustpilot

Best Quotes

bankmycell logo
icon review 4.5

4.4 out of 5 on Trustpilot

Confused? Don't Be, We've Got a Tool For That!

Find your device & compare buyback store quotes, ratings, and services in ONE place.