• Seven major retailers offer trade-in programs that pay with cash, gift cards or store credit for eligible electronics.
• Trade-in values, payment methods and processing times vary widely, making it worthwhile to compare offers.
• Before trading in electronics, back up files and wipe personal data.

1. Costco

What you can trade in: Cellphones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, desktop computers and media players

How you’re paid: Digital gift card

Where: Visit Costco’s website and search for your device. You’ll get an instant quote based on the condition and market value. Print the prepaid shipping label or request a box with prepaid shipping supplies and packing instructions. Once Costco receives and inspects the device, it will issue you a Costco Digital Shop Card. Costco says the prepaid box or shipping materials, shipment to the inspection facility and delivery of the gift card generally take three to five business days each.

2. GameStop

What you can trade in: Video games, video game consoles, controllers, cellphones, tablets, wearables, MacBooks, Apple TV devices and other electronics

How you’re paid: Cash or trade credit, which can be used toward GameStop purchases and may qualify for promotional bonuses.

Where: Participating GameStop stores

Visit GameStop’s trade-in website to look up the estimated value of an eligible product before bringing it to a participating store. Customers may receive cash or trade credit toward purchases at GameStop. With the latter, customers may receive an additional promotional bonus for certain eligible purchases. These offers are separate from cash trades and are subject to specific terms.

3. Amazon

What you can trade in: E-readers, smart speakers, cellphones, media players, home security devices, tablets, wireless routers and video game consoles

How you’re paid: Gift card and additional discounts or rebates toward new Amazon devices

Where: Online and participating drop-off locations.  Visit Amazon’s trade-in website, search for your device, answer a few questions about its condition and get your offer. You’ll have 45 days to ship your item for free or take it to a participating trade-in drop-off location. Amazon will determine the item’s final trade-in value within 20 business days after verifying the device’s condition.

Some qualifying trade-ins include a limited-time discount or rebate toward eligible Amazon devices, though the offer depends on the item returned and doesn’t apply to cellphones, video game consoles, accessories and games.

4. Best Buy

What you can trade in: Cellphones, headphones, tablets, e-readers, wearables, computers, computing accessories, gaming equipment, networking devices, smart-home products, cameras and certain health and wellness devices

How you’re paid: Best Buy gift card, credit back on a purchase or credit back on installment billing

Where: In-store or online. At Best Buy’s trade-in website, you can search for your gadget through several categories and get a price based on how you answer a handful of questions. Best Buy says product eligibility can change, so use its estimator to confirm that the specific item is actively accepted.

The electronics retailer does not accept certain trade-ins, such as devices that have suffered water damage or products that have been recalled. You have the option to either bring the device to a participating Best Buy store or mail it within 14 days.

5. Target

What you can trade in: Cellphones, tablets, wearables, MP3 players, video games, video game consoles, smart speakers and hearables

How you’re paid: E-gift card

Where: Online. Target’s electronics trade-in program is available online and provides Target e-gift cards for eligible devices. Search for your device, answer questions about its condition and Target will quote you a price. The trade-in offer is valid for 30 days. If you accept, Target will email you a prepaid shipping label and instructions for mailing your device. You must provide your own packing materials. Once the device is inspected, Target will issue you an e-gift card within seven business days.

Caveat: Target says the processing facility’s assessment is final. If the device’s evaluated condition differs from the condition reported when you requested the quote, the device cannot be returned to you.

6. Staples

What you can trade in: Working desktop computers, laptops, cellphones, smartwatches and tablets

How you’re paid: E-gift card

Where: Online

Staples lets you trade in eligible working devices through its online Tech Trade program. First, select your device, answer a few questions and receive a quote, which is valid for 30 days. Staples provides a free shipping label. An e-gift card will be issued within three weeks after the equipment is received and its final value is determined.

7. Sam’s Club

What you can trade in: Smartphones only

How you’re paid: Sam’s Club e-gift card

Where: Participating Sam’s Club locations.  The warehouse retailer’s trade-in program lets customers look up an eligible phone’s estimated value online, but the trade-in itself must be completed in person at a participating location. The program’s appraisal tool asks customers to identify the phone’s carrier, but the program’s information does not explain whether or how that selection affects the offer. 

Payouts vary by device, and Sam’s Club issues the e-gift card within 30 days of when you accept the offer. To qualify, the phone has to power on and have an intact screen with no cracks or missing parts. It can’t be carrier locked, all passwords must be removed, and Find My iPhone needs to be turned off. Customers then have seven days from the in-store appraisal to ship the device.

Three steps to take before you trade in

Shop around. Trade-in offers can vary among retailers, so take a few minutes to get quotes online from several programs to find the best offer. Also, check the program’s return terms before shipping. Target, for example, says mailed devices cannot be returned if its processing facility’s evaluation differs from the original.

Back up your files. Don’t forget to back up media from the laptop, phone or tablet you’re trading in. This includes contacts, documents, important emails, notes, photos, videos and web bookmarks. You can save the files on an external hard drive or in an online cloud service. For phones, the Federal Trade Commission recommends removing SIM and SD cards, as well as unlinking accounts connected to the device.

Wipe your data clean. Before trading in a device, scrub all of your data to protect your personal information, such as bank account numbers, financial data and password lists. On a phone, restore or reset the device to erase contacts, messages, photos, videos and browsing information after backing up what you need.

When a device isn't eligible for trade-in, don’t put lithium-ion batteries or devices containing them in household garbage or recycle bins. Instead, take it to an appropriate battery or electronics recycling location, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends.