YOU can now trade in used gadgets with Amazon for a voucher . . . but you might end up getting just half the true value of your tech.
The online retail giant will accept smartphones and games consoles after previously running the scheme for its own gear, including its Echo speakers, Ring security cameras and Kindles.
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The service is similar to those offered by CeX online and in-store, and web-only Music Magpie.
But these firms offer cash as well as vouchers, while a snapshot survey shows they often pay more too.
For example, a 32GB Nintendo Switch will get you a £65 voucher from Amazon.
But Music Magpie pays £135 cash and CeX £94 cash, or £133 in a voucher to spend there.
Of course, it is great Amazon is encouraging us to recycle gadgets we no longer use.
It is better to sell them on to someone who wants them, or take them apart properly so they do not end up as landfill.
But one of the world’s richest firms ought to pay a fair price.
How it works
- Pick what you are selling and answer six questions about the condition.
- Print a shipping label and send your device for free within 21 days.
- If the item meets Amazon’s inspection criteria, it will credit a voucher to your account. If they think it’s worth less than you expected, you can accept this amount or have the device returned for free.
Tips for trading in
COMPARE: Look at CeX and Music Magpie, but also check out sites like Sell My Mobile and Compare & Recycle that compare prices across several trade-in sites.
QUOTES VARY: If the condition is not as described, the firm will pay you less. It may pay more if it is better. You can choose to have them sent back if the price is lower.
VOUCHERS PAY MORE: You can get more if you accept vouchers rather than cash. This is especially the case with CeX. Just make sure you can use the voucher for something you need.
Trees aren’t just fir Xmas
TO go green this Christmas we should steer clear of plastic trees . . . and real ones too, according to warnings from consumer watchdogs.
Eco-friendlier options include growing your own, having a fake one made from more sustainable materials than plastic and hiring a real fir. That is according to Which? magazine.
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Each has advantages and disadvantages. People who already own plastic trees, for instance, have the benefit of not having to buy a new one every year.
But a plastic tree must last at least 12 years to offset its carbon footprint.
Growing your own tree is cheap. But it can take from six to ten years for one to grow to the right height – so you need to plan well ahead.
Renting is not necessarily cheaper than buying. It can cost around £60 to rent, along with a deposit that might be forfeited if the tree is not returned in the same condition, Which? said.
But the advantage is they get replanted for use next year.
Supermarkets typically sell real Nordman fir trees for £15 to £35.
The report added: “If you already own a fake Christmas tree, you’re best off keeping it for as long as possible.
“However, if you are getting a new one this year, consider potentially renting or growing your own – or go for a sustainable, non-plastic fake tree.
Real Christmas trees might not be much better for the environment either, Which? warned.
Up to six million firs a year go into landfill and many are transported hundreds of miles from as far away as Norway.
Which? said: “They’re typically not that great for the environment. But that doesn’t mean you can’t go for a more sustainable and eco-friendly option looking for a tree for the festive period.”
Traditionalists after the real thing should buy one with the “FSC” global certificate. This means it was grown in an eco-friendly forest where other plants and wildlife are protected.
Which? added: “In recent years, there has been an explosion in Christmas tree hire companies, while many plant nurseries and garden centres now offer a Christmas tree rental service.
“The idea is simple and in principle it sounds like an eco-friendly option. The tree is dug out and delivered to your home, then collected and returned to the soil after Christmas.
“If you are considering tree rental, we would recommend checking the distance the tree is travelling.
“Another option is to get an artificial tree made from sustainable materials, such as wood. There is a growing market for these new and unique tree sculptures, which in theory should last for decades.”
It could be you…
A RARE £1 coin featuring a minting error has sold on eBay for more than £150.
The huge uplift is because the coin is missing the usual silver-plated nickel panel in the middle of the design.
Instead, it resembles old-style pound coins that were all gold in colour.
They stopped being legal tender in 2018.
Seven bidders battled it out over ten days until the coin was sold on October 21 for £156.02.
Error coins are legal tender so long as the correct design remains in circulation.
That means you could easily come across one in your change.
Sellers can make big money on rare error coins.
You can get imperfect coins verified by the Royal Mint, which could help you put a value on yours if you come to sell.
But fakes are in circulation too.
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