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Retailers offer store credit for used electronicsSep 06, 2010 (Sun Sentinel - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Making serious money from old electronics is as easy as visiting your favorite retailer -- in-person or online. And it just takes minutes to transform used iPods, cameras, cell phones, laptops, video games, even DVDs and Blu-ray discs, into gift cards or store credit. In some cases, you can earn hundreds of dollars for electronics gathering dust in a closet or garage. Target stores recently added its name to a long list of local and national electronics retailers making it easy for customers to trade in electronics and media for cash toward future purchases. Among the retailers that now offer such programs: BrandsMart USA, Best Buy, Costco, GameStop, Kmart, Office Depot (based in Boca Raton), Target, Radio Shack, Sam's Club, Sears, Staples and Wal-Mart. Check with your favorite retailer for similar programs. Target's Electronics Trade-In service was launched this month in Northern California stores and will be rolled out to about 850 Target stores nationwide by the end of the year. The service is expected to be available in South Florida Target stores by Spring 2011. "We welcome Target to the table," said Michael Perlman, CEO of South Florida-based BrandsMart USA, whose company has offered its customers a similar program for nearly a year. "The concept is no different than couponing," Perlman said. "It's good fiscal practice to watch your pennies. And every little bit helps, especially in this economy." He's being modest. Some items allow customers to cash in big. For instance, if you trade in a first-generation Apple iPhone at BrandsMart USA and you can earn as much as $115 toward a gift card -- or up to $591 for the latest iPhone 4 (32 GB model). Drop-off a Pure Digital Ultra 60 pocket camcorder at a Best Buy store and earn $22 in store credit. Send in a Wii gaming console -- with Wii Sports Resort game package -- to Amazon.com and earn $82 toward another Amazon.com purchase. Many of the retailers willing to help you unload old electronics for store credit work with third-party partners specializing in paying consumers to turn in electronics they no longer need. The reward for the consumer typically comes in a gift card, and the prices paid for items in good condition are significant. Many retailers allow consumers to drop off electronics at particular stores or fill out a form online and they will cover the cost of mailing them in -- or both. Some companies will even send you a box to send your item back in. How much they'll pay for stuff largely depends on the condition of what you have -- and whether you have working batteries, cables and accessories. Popular online trade-in or resale sites for used electronics include Amazon.com and Gazelle.com. The growing number of stores with such offers is good for both the environment because participating retailers recycle, refurbish and resell much of what comes in and for consumers since they essentially earn discounts toward future purchases. Here are details about some programs worth considering: Target Electronics Trade-In: Exchange new or used iPhones, iPods, cell phones, video game, GPS systems, DVDs and more for store credit. Trade in used electronics, DVDs and Blu-Ray discs by visiting Target.com now for a gift card); use the calculator to get an estimate of what your item is worth and ship by printing out a pre-paid label. Visitors at select stores will eventually be able to bring in qualifying items for instant credit. BrandsMart USA Trade-In: Get cash in three simple steps. Get an estimate on MP3 players, cell phones, games, cameras, camcorders computers, GPS systems and more based on condition and accessories, ship it with pre-paid label and wait for your gift card. Visit Brandsmartusa.com and look for the "Recycle your used electronics" tab. Amazon.com Green Earth Exchange: This one works like the others (estimate, ship, wait for gift card) and also covers a range of products, including HDTVs, car amplifiers, external hard drives, satellite radios and e-readers. Visit Amazon.com. Gazelle.com Trade-In: Along with Amazon, this is one of the more popular sites. And like all the retailers mentioned above, this site helps keep electronics out of landfills by re-using and re-selling what they take in or recycle it. This site also promises to remove all personal data from cell phones and other devices, a nice convenience. But it's also smart to remove personal information from any device, whether you resell or donate it. Donating and Dumping: While it is getting easier to make a buck from old electronics in working condition, you may want to donate your gadget or get rid of non-working junk. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection offers a Web map that lets users find out where to recycle old TVs. Visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/electronics/pages/televisions.htm.aEUR Most communities run programs that accept old monitors, copiers, keyboards and other electronics. In Broward County, residents can drop off items at collection centers in Pompano Beach, Sunrise and Hollywood. Call 954-577-4160. In Palm Beach County, residents can take advantage of similar sites in West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Royal Palm Beach, Delray Beach and Belle Glade. Call 866-792-4636. In Orange County, residents may drop off electronic waste at the Orange County Landfill. Call 407-836-6601. To donate, seek out charities such as the YMCA and Salvation Army, which refurbish and recycle cell phones. Visit http://www.Earth911.org or call 800-253-2687 for a list of organizations that collect computers and other electronics for good causes. Daniel Vasquez can be reached at [email protected], or 954-356-4219, or 561-243-6600, ext. 4219. To see more columns from Daniel Vasquez, go to sunsentinel.com/vasquez. Check out Daniel Vasquez's Consumer Talk blog for ways to spend your money wisely, use technology to make life easier and keep your family safe and healthy at SunSentinel.com/consumerblog. To see more of the Sun Sentinel or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sun-sentinel.com/. Copyright (c) 2010, Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544). |