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Gazelle is shutting down mail trade-ins: here are some good alternatives
July 25, 2025
You’ll soon lose a key option forselling your used phone. AsThe Vergereports, Gazelle is shutting down its mail-based device trade-ins on August 24, 2025. You’ll have until January 31 to get a quote and send in your device. Gazelle will still process trades that are active after that point, but you’ll be out of luck if you wanted to sell a phone after that.
The company didn’t explain why it was shutting down the mail option, but the market has changed over the past several years. You may be more likely tolease your phoneinstead of buy it, whether through a carrier or the phone maker. Brands like Apple and Samsung frequently offer their own trade-ins. And if you do buy, you may hold on to your phone for longer as performance and features are increasingly “good enough.”
In-person trade-ins are still available through kiosks from Gazelle’s parent company ecoATM, althoughThe Vergecautions that you might not get as much money as you would through the mail.
Related:Refurbished phones: Where you can buy and sell them
Don’t worry if you were relying on a Gazelle trade in to help fund an upgrade to device like theGalaxy S21, though. There are a number of alternatives, and you might even prefer some of them.
Some trade-ins options come from direct Gazelle rivals likeSwappaandDecluttr. However, you can also trade in devices through online retailerslike Amazon. You can auction your phone through sites like eBay, too, if you don’t mind negotiating prices and arranging shipping. It’s also worth checking with your carrier or the manufacturer of your future device — they may offer a simple trade if you’re more interested in convenience than the best possible deal.
You might also want toforego a trade-in altogether, whether or not you go through Gazelle. you’re able to donate your phone to organizations like Hope Phones or Cell Phones for Soldiers to help connect people in need. You can give your phone to a friend or family member. And of course, you can repurpose your device for everything from a home theater remote to a server. Your phone isn’t obsolete just because you have no need for it — it could mean everything to the right person.
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