My girlfriend and I are desperate for a holiday this year and trying to find ways to raise some cash to put towards it. I have tried eBay with very little success.
We have sorted all the stuff in our garage ready for a car boot sale and seem to have quite a few old electrical items between us (including outdated phones, her old laptop and a couple of cameras).
Is there a better place to try to sell these rather than an ad in the classifieds? Via email OB
Alternatives: If you don't have success selling your old gadgets on eBay, you can try cashinyourgadgets.co.ukLinda McKay of This is Money replies: Research has found that in general we are a nation of hoarders who could be making a lot of money from unwanted gadgets gathering dust in cupboards and drawers.
Maybe that much needed holiday will be the driving force for you and others like you to finally sort out the garage, loft or bedroom cupboard and discover that hidden treasures could bring in cash.
Bet you have a ‘man draw’ too that is full of ‘possibilities’ or clutter depending on which way you look at it. I asked an entrepreneur who has turned this into a business for help.
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Ashley Payne, of cashinyourgadgets, replies: There are a number of alternatives to selling your old gadgets via auction websites which save you the hassle of chasing money from buyers and spending hours in Post Office queues as they’ll often pay for the postage themselves and guarantee payment within a certain time. You’re certainly not alone with your hoarding!
Gadgets are some of the most popular belongings gathering dust in cupboards and drawers as people hang on to them ‘just in case’. Nearly a quarter of Britons have an unused laptop in their homes, 22 per cent have at least two broken or old mobile phones and 8 per cent have four or more which is shocking when you think how much money you could be making.
Gadgets age in dog years when compared with clothes or furniture and unlike wine – they certainly do NOT get better with time. The best thing you can do when buying a new phone or laptop – to gain the most money – is cash in your old one straightaway.
It’s important to keep your gadget in the best possible condition to ensure you receive the highest payout when you come to sell it on. If possible keep it in a protective case from day one to avoid scratches or marks.
However, don’t dis-regard damaged or even broken laptops and other items, as you can even get paid to recycle faulty items. For example, at cashinyourgadgets.co.uk we offer money for your old laptops, mobile phones and digital cameras and many people are surprised at the price they can get for their old equipment – especially when you add it all together.
And don’t be put off by the age of your gadgets – just check it out on our website as you might still be able to make some cash on it, even if it’s a small amount.
Linda McKay adds: So some ideas for you to consider and instead of filling that car boot with items for the Recycling Centre you could recycle your own way.
A recent study by recycling giant WRAP showed the potential reuse value of unwanted products disposed of at recycling centres. It found that almost a quarter had a reuse value that together could be worth £200million in gross revenue each year.
This is Money adds: Those looking to upgrade phones and sell an old one on or sell gadgets will often end up facing a toss up between effort and return. Put more effort into selling it yourself and you keep more of the cash, get a service to do it for you and they will take a cut.
Selling on eBay means dealing with a large, trusted company with checks and balances in place to protect buyers and sellers, but you will have to pay its fees. Sell on a free listing site such as Gumtree and you will have no fees to pay, but need to make sure you protect yourself when it comes to handing over the goods and taking the money.
We looked at this previously from the point of view of selling an unwanted phone and highlighted how comparison websites such as mobilevaluer.com or sellmymobile.com will give you a list of the various amounts offered for your particular make.