New Research Shows Consumers Stash Valuable Smartphones in Drawers, Rather Than Cash Them In

With more than half (57%) of Americans admitting to never having sold an old smartphone, eBay offers new ways to earn the most money on previous generation phones

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eBay Inc.

Oct 04, 2018, 08:00 ET

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- When it comes to the fall smartphone season, new research¹ finds more than half of Americans (56%) currently have unused smartphones in their home and nearly half (48%) have thrown away a smartphone. With previous generation devices, like the iPhone 8, worth over $450 dollars, eBay is making it easier than ever to earn the most money for phones this fall. Available now, eBay's new customized Selling Kit offers the most competitive pricing - helping consumers earn 50% more money for their device in just a few simple steps.

With previous generation devices, like the iPhone 8, worth over $450 dollars, eBay is making it easier than ever to earn the most money for phones this fall.

According to a new eBay survey, forty percent of Americans currently have two or more unwanted smartphones in their home, and a majority of Americans (61%) have never sold or traded in one they no longer had use for.

U.S. Consumer Smartphone Behavior: By the Numbers

eBay sells millions of phones in the U.S. annually with a smartphone sold every five seconds. As new phones hit the shelves and consumers upgrade to the newest device, eBay's Fall Smartphone survey shows how much money is routinely being left on the table:

"New" Isn't New Enough: More than half of Americans (54%) expect to upgrade to a new smartphone model less than a year after purchasing their current model.
Money Down the Drain: While the average list price of an iPhone 8 on eBay is between $451 - $548, nearly half (48%) of Americans have discarded a smartphone before, rather than attempting to sell it to recoup dollars spent.
Phone Hoarders Beware: 2 in 5 (40%) of Americans currently have two or more unused smartphones in their home, and a majority of Americans (61%) have never sold or traded in one they no longer had use for.

"As the top destination for consumers who want to earn the most money possible for their smartphones, eBay wants to break down barriers for consumers, who have unwanted devices, but never considered selling them," said Alyssa Steele, Vice President of Hard Goods, eBay. "Our research shows that the majority of Americans wouldn't keep $200 lying around their house, so we're delivering new ways for consumers to overcome selling pain points so they're not leaving devices they no longer need lying around either."

Collecting Cash, Not Dust

eBay's new Selling Kit offers consumers the most competitive pricing on their smartphones, along with a simplified selling experience for even the most novice of sellers to receive top dollar for their used devices. The kit is available to shoppers who purchase a new phone through top sellers Bidallies, Cellfeee, BuySpry, MyWit. Here's how to let your phone collect cash – not dust:

Download the eBay app (via the App Store or Google Play) to list your phone in 60 seconds by providing the make, model and condition.
Use eBay's simple tips to remove your personal data.
Ship it quickly and easily with a dedicated eBay shipping box or your personal packaging.

Sellers who are looking to get top dollar for their smartphone before upgrading to the latest device can make the MOST² money by selling on eBay:

You can get up to $199 on eBay for your iPhone 6s
You can get up to $306 on eBay for your Google Pixel
You can get up to $323 on eBay for your iPhone 7
You can get up to $544 on eBay for your Samsung s9
You can get up to $794 on eBay for your iPhone X

With selling made simple and safe, eBay is the go-to place to sell your tech and upgrade to the latest and greatest. To get started, visit https://www.ebay.com/s/phone to find out how much your current device is worth.

eBay By the Numbers

eBay has 175 million active buyers worldwide
80% of all merchandise sold on eBay is new, and our wide selection keeps growing
89% of items sold on eBay are Buy It Now – no bidding necessary
71% of items ship for free in US, UK and DE
414 million downloads of the eBay Inc. apps across the globe

About eBay

eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY) is a global commerce leader including the Marketplace, StubHub and Classifieds platforms. Collectively, we connect millions of buyers and sellers around the world, empowering people and creating opportunity through Connected Commerce. Founded in 1995 in San Jose, Calif., eBay is one of the world's largest and most vibrant marketplaces for discovering great value and unique selection. In 2017, eBay enabled $88.4 billion of gross merchandise volume. For more information about the company and its global portfolio of online brands, visit www.ebayinc.com.

¹The eBay Phones Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults, ages 18 and older, between September 20 and September 25, 2018, using an email invitation and an online survey. Quotas have been set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the U.S. adult population 18 and older.

² Based on comparison of Gazelle, AT&T and T-Mobile online sales.

SOURCE eBay Inc.