[donovan]

So apparently, you can send in your old electronics and have it evaluated , so to speak by this Gazelle company. After there "evaluation" they will pay you via a few types of ways.

Thoughts?

Gazelle dot com

[Bimmer84]

There are other sites like this too... I think even ebay is starting to do this now...

http://instantsale.ebay.com/?utm_sou...antSaleGeneral

www.nextworth.com

[Q4P]

This seems to be the choice for a lot of people that can't sell their iphones. Be wary though; their evaluation system may at times be skewed.

[3lusive]

I've used eBay's electronic buyback program to sell my iPhone 3G 8gb just last year (April 2011) and sold for $102. They tried saying that my phone wasn't in great condition - I had it in a silicone case and screen protector since day 1 - but I was able to get the full price we had agreed on.

[Pcemkr]

They won't pay you unless the phone is in mint condition. I mailed in an old LG Chocolate once and they retracted their offer because it had a light scratch on the side.

[bolinp78]

Some of the companies doing this are in it for the bait and switch. You send them your iphone, telling them exactly what the conditions are based on a check box list that they have you fill out. They get the phone and claim that there are other issues that you did not disclose, they offer you much less than they originally did. Now they have your phone and make it difficult for you to get it back if you do not like their new offer.

Also, oftentimes they will change their offer to $0 once they get it and tell you that they'll recycle it for you "for free". Yea, and even if they actually recycle it, they get paid. Be very wary.

[Pcemkr]

Originally Posted by bolinp78

Also, oftentimes they will change their offer to $0 once they get it and tell you that they'll recycle it for you "for free". Yea, and even if they actually recycle it, they get paid. Be very wary.

That's what Gazelle told me. I said just give it back to me and they returned it.

[bolinp78]

Originally Posted by Pcemkr

That's what Gazelle told me. I said just give it back to me and they returned it.

They made it a pain in the ass to get mine back, but I fought it out of principle.

I think I used www.cashforlaptops.com or some site like that (they also buy iPhones and other electronics).

[bolinp78]

I went back and dug up some old emails from early 2010.

They had originally offered me $35 based on the condition that I stated. Once they received it in the mail, they emailed back stating that there were several other issues with the phone (all of which were bullshit) and that they couldn't pay me anything for it, but they would recycle it.

This was their response to me after I rejected their bait and switch and demanded that they send my phone back to me:

"I can offer $20.00 for your phone. I know its not quite what you are looking for but please let me know if this will be a suitable offer for your phone. Or I can prepare your phone for return Nichole Customer Service www.CashforLaptops.com www.CashforiPhones.com www.CashforBerries.com www.CashforSmartPhones.com Go Green and EARN Green! Recycle your Laptops, Iphones, Blackberries and Smart Phones with us today! Refer a Friend!! Please login into your account and click the referrals link to learn all about this exciting program!"

I then sent the following to them in return:

I am not interested in your bait and switch tactics. I would rather destroy my phone myself than let you have it. I consider myself to be a smart person, and you aren't fooling me.

Your business practices are deceptive and you know it. After receiving your revised quote of $0.00, I went on the BBB website and saw that you had a grade "C". I now know why.

This entire portion of your business is built on a deceit. You give someone a quote for their item, based on what they stipulate it's condition is. You receive the item; Now the negotiating leverage is in your hands because you have the item. You tell them that there are more things wrong with it than they told you, so you lower the price. More often than not, gullible and/or lazy people probably concede and let you have their item for a reduced price.

The truth of the matter is, your customers are entering into a hard-ball negotiation with you when they send in your item, because your quote doesn't mean shit.

You told me that one of the reasons that my phone had a reduced value was "pitting on the case". Where was this option when I was checking boxes to describe my phone to you when I was receiving a quote? That's right, it wasn't there. It's part of the bait and switch. You also specified that my volume control was malfunctioning. That's a crock of shit, I used the phone and it's volume control for 6 months before I decided enough was enough with it's slow speed and went with a 3G. The volume control did not malfunction once.

There are PLENTY of people just like me on the internet that make the same claims; There's something in the water.

So my answer to you is not only No, but hell No, and if I don't get my phone back promptly and in the exact condition it was in before I sent it (I took pictures before sending it in), I will not only report your company to the BBB, but to the Nevada Attorney General's Office.

PS - And don't forget to send my charge cable.

Fun stuff.

[cipher5]

I use Amazon trade in for various things, works well for me.

[smellfish]

Originally Posted by cipher5

I use Amazon trade in for various things, works well for me.

Just used this to trade books for more books. Good experience.

[Nifty]

Gazelle is offering me $19 dollars for my Droid Incredible. I know 2 years is an eternity when it relates to cellphones, but damn, thats tough to swallow.

[ideliver]

Be a baller and give it to random underprivileged kid on the street. At least you know he'll have fun with it.