How to Sell Broken Phones

Trade in phones with cracked screens and broken functions

One of the most important things to remember when you sell broken cell phones for cash is to provide accurate details about the phone's condition. This includes telling the recycling program that the phone is broken. The specific details you will need to provide depend on the recycler, but the following applies in most cases.

Before looking at who buys broken cell phones, you should check the following four things to analyze the condition of your device;

Does the phone have any water damage?
Does the phone switch on?
Do the microphone and speakers work?
Does the screen work?

Sell Broken Phones Sell Broken Electronics

GOOD CONDITION: Used Cell Phones with Minor Cosmetic Damage

Trade-in used cell phone conditions:

You can usually sell your phone if it has cosmetic damage, but the recycler may look to value it differently. You can still get paid for the device but you need to select the ‘broken’ option when finding your device on Bank My Cell to filter the right prices. Check the following to make sure the recycler will consider your phone as having minor cosmetic damage rather than being broken:

Display: there should only be very minor scuffs and scratches.
Frame: there should only be very minor scuffs and scratches.
Power: the phone should switch on.
Buttons: all the buttons should work.
Network: it should be able to make calls and connect to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.
Software: the software should function properly.
Hardware: it should charge, and the audio ports should work.

Does your phone fail one of the above tests but you want to sell it anyway? You may still be able to get money for it as there are places that buy broken cell phones. One thing you should remember is that a recycler can change the amount of money they will pay you after they’ve inspected the phone.

If you’re aware that the device you’re selling fails the above conditions then you should choose the next option

Sell Used Phones

BROKEN CONDITION: Damaged or Broken Cell Phones

Trade-in broken cell phone conditions:

Is your phone clearly broken? Do you know there is a problem before you even inspect or assess it? Are you wondering how to sell broken phones or sell cracked phones for money? Do you want to know where to sell broken phones for cash? The first step to sell a phone, screen cracked or otherwise, is to select the ‘broken’ option that accurately describe the problems your device has. Use the guide below:

Broken screen on phone: this includes cracked and scratched screens, i.e. you can usually trade in when your phone screen is cracked or if you have a broken phone screen.
Frame problems: where the case of the phone is damaged, i.e. a cracked phone
Power: if the phone doesn’t charge or struggles to switch on there is a power problem.
Broken buttons: where the buttons are missing or don’t work properly.
Network problems: if the phone can’t make a test call, connect to Wi-Fi, or use GPS and Bluetooth
Software issues: where the software, usually the operating system, prevents normal phone use.
Hardware problems: : including damaged speakers, microphones, headphone jacks, charging jacks, etc.

You can usually still sell your phone even when one or more of the above applies. The most popular issue is cracked or broken phone screens or devices with cosmetic damage to the frame – it’s worth noting that many buy back programs will reduce your quote if you try to send these devices in as ‘Good Condition’.

Remember that quotes are estimates until the phone is inspected. Sometimes you might get less than quoted after the recycler assesses the phone and finds an underlying problem you’re unaware of. A common example of this is water damage on the interior of the device – most have indicators you can’t see until you open up the device.

Sell Broken Phones

NOT ACCEPTED: Cell Phones You Can’t Sell To BuyBack Stores

These devices will not be accepted:

There are places to sell broken phones, although you will get less money. That said, there are some situations where it is not worth selling the phone or where the recycler will not accept it. This includes:

Carrier network bar: recyclers usually don’t take phones that have been barred by network carriers.
If the IMEI is blacklisted: the recycler will check the phone’s IMEI. If it has been reported stolen or lost, it will be blacklisted, and they won’t accept it.
Water damage: most recyclers will not accept water damaged phones.
Snapped phones: recyclers will not accept phones that are broken into pieces.
Fake phones: understandably, recyclers won’t accept replicas or rip-offs.

The above fall into two main categories: either the phone is uneconomical to repair, or it is illegal to sell it. If none of the above apply, you may be able to sell your phone as one that is broken or has cosmetic damage.

How to Sell Broken Phones

Trade in phones with cracked screens and broken functions

Selling 'Used' Cell Phones

GOOD CONDITION: Used Cell Phones with Minor Cosmetic Damage

BROKEN CONDITION: Damaged or Broken Cell Phones

NOT ACCEPTED: Cell Phones You Can’t Sell To BuyBack Stores

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