Sell old iPhones, iPads, iPods and early smartphones
Our focus is older and collectible devices: early iPhones and iPads, iPods, flip phones, and unusual early smartphones. Before any device changes hands it has to be erased and signed out. This page covers how to do that and what we look at.
Short answer: Send front and back photos of the device and any box and charger, the model name from Settings or the back, and whether it powers on to (858) 247-2017 or use the form below. Erase it and sign out of your accounts first. We say whether it looks like a fit and make one offer after we look at it. Recent phones are usually better handled through a carrier or trade in program.
How do I erase an iPhone or iPad before I sell it?
Apple publishes steps for this, and every buyer including us will ask you to follow them. A device that is still tied to your account cannot be used by anyone else.
- Back up your data if you want to keep it
- Sign out of iCloud and turn off Find My, which also removes Activation Lock
- Sign out of the App Store and Messages if your device asks
- Choose Erase All Content and Settings in Settings, under General
- Remove the SIM card, and remove any case or screen cover
- If the device will not power on or you forgot the passcode, tell us instead of guessing
Activation Lock means the device is still linked to an Apple account. A locked device is not a fit, and a buyer who accepts one has bought something they cannot use.
Which devices are a fit?
Early iPhones
Original iPhone, iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4, 4S, and 5 series, especially with box and accessories. Sealed and boxed units are looked at one at a time.
iPads and iPods
Original iPad and early iPads, iPod Classic, iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle, and iPod Touch. Box and accessories matter.
Flip phones and early smartphones
Motorola Razr, Nokia, BlackBerry, Sidekick, early Android phones, and Palm devices. Unusual designs and limited editions are of interest.
Game and music devices
Early handhelds and music players from phone makers. Send a photo and the model.
Recent iPhones and Android phones are best sold through a carrier or manufacturer trade in program. We say so honestly when that is your best route.
What condition details matter?
- Whether the device powers on and holds a charge
- Screen cracks, deep scratches, burn in, and dead pixels
- A swollen or bulging battery, which is a safety issue. Do not ship it
- Original box, charger, cable, and manuals
- Cosmetic wear, dents, and missing buttons
- Whether the device was repaired with a non original screen or battery
How do I find the model of my device?
- On iPhone and iPad, open Settings, then General, then About, to see the model name and number
- The model number also appears on the back of many iPhones and iPads in small print
- On older phones, the model is often printed under the battery or on a label on the back
- iPods have the model and capacity engraved on the back
A safe way to send a device
- Erase and sign out first, and tell us when it is done
- Do not ship a device with a swollen battery
- For mail-in, wrap the device in padding, use a sturdy box, and keep the charger with it
- Take photos of the front, back, and serial number before you send it
What we look at
- Early iPhones, iPads, and iPods, especially boxed
- Collectible flip phones and early smartphones
- Sealed and boxed devices
- Collections of several old devices together
What is usually not a fit
- Devices locked to an account or showing Activation Lock
- Devices with swollen batteries
- Recent phones better suited to a trade in program
- Devices reported lost or stolen
Careful notes on selling an old phone
- Never sell a device that is locked, reported lost, or stolen.
- Do not ship a phone or iPad with a bulging battery.
- Do not give anyone your Apple ID password or a verification code.
What photos should I send?
Good photos get a faster and more honest answer. Natural light and a plain background are enough.
- Front and back of each device
- The model name and number, from Settings or the back
- The box, charger, and any accessories
- Any cracks, dents, or signs of repair
- The screen on and showing the home screen if it works
How an offer works
We make one offer for the whole lot after we see the items. You are free to say no.
Step 1
You send what you have
Photos and a few details are enough: what it is, roughly how many, and what condition. A form, a text, or a call all work.
Step 2
We tell you if it is a fit
We reply with whether we buy it and whether we can come to you or you should mail it in. If it is not a fit, we say so.
Step 3
We look at the items, then make one offer
We do not quote a price from photos. Once we have seen the items, you get one offer for the lot, and we can explain what drove it.
Step 4
You decide
Say yes and we complete the sale. Say no and you owe nothing.
What moves an offer
- Which exact items, titles, or models are in the lot
- Condition and completeness, such as boxes, manuals, and all the parts
- Whether it works, if it is a device or a console
- What similar items are selling for right now
Who you are dealing with
DeKlutterNow is a small business based in Oceanside, California. You can ask questions before you send anything: text (858) 247-2017 or email hello@deklutternow.com.
Get an offer
Send your old device for a review
The more you tell us, the faster we can say whether it is a fit and what happens next. We do not quote a price from a form. Final offers come after we look at the items. You can also text photos to (858) 247-2017.
What to send
- • One photo of everything together, then close ups of the best pieces
- • Titles, brands, model numbers, or marks like 14K or 925 when you can read them
- • Boxes, manuals, papers, or graded labels if you have them
- • Anything that is broken, missing, or not working, so we can price it honestly
- • Your city and zip so we know if we can come to you
What we do not buy
- • Phones locked to an account or Activation Lock
- • Devices with swollen or bulging batteries
- • Recent phones, which are better sold through a trade in program
- • Reported lost or stolen devices
Not sure? Send it anyway and we will tell you. See the full list.
Questions sellers ask
- Do you buy old iPhones?
- Yes, older and collectible ones. Send photos of the front, back, and any box, plus the model name.
- How do I remove Activation Lock?
- Sign out of iCloud and turn off Find My in Settings, then erase the device. If you forgot your account, use Apple's account recovery before selling.
- Do you buy iPods?
- Yes. iPod Classic, Nano, Shuffle, and Touch units are a fit. Photograph the front, back, and any box.
- Do you buy cracked or broken phones?
- Sometimes, for collectible models. Tell us exactly what is wrong. Recent models with cracked screens are better sold elsewhere.
- Do you buy current iPhones?
- Our focus is older and collectible devices. For recent iPhones, a carrier or Apple trade in program is usually a better route.
- What if the battery is swollen?
- Do not charge or ship it. Tell us the model and we will say what to do next.
- Does the box matter?
- Yes, especially for early iPhones and iPods. Keep the box, charger, and manuals with the matching device.
- Can I mail in an old phone?
- Yes, if the battery is normal and the device is erased. We use prepaid mail-in outside Southern California.
Keep reading
- Sell old phones for cash in Southern California
- Sell video games and consoles
- Prepaid mail-in
- What we buy
Questions before you send anything? Text DeKlutterNow at (858) 247-2017.