I'm turning my old tech into Amazon gift cards and discounts before Prime Day - here's how

2 hours ago 6
Turn your aged  tech into Amazon acquisition  cards and discounts earlier  Black Friday - here's how
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source connected Google.


ZDNET cardinal takeaways

  • Trade aged tech for acquisition cards and get a discount connected caller devices.
  • Shipping is escaped with a prepaid UPS statement from Amazon.
  • Credit arrives wrong 10 concern days aft trade-in received.

Prime Day 2026 is little than a week away, and if you're readying to store arsenic overmuch arsenic I am, don't hide that Amazon offers a mode to prevention adjacent much portion recycling your aged tech.

Basically, it'll springiness you Amazon acquisition cards to spend. Normally, you'd person to bargain these, but if you commercialized successful old, dust-collecting electronics that you nary longer usage done Amazon's Trade-In Program, the institution volition reward you with acquisition paper recognition and adjacent discounts similar 20% disconnected a qualifying Amazon device. That's escaped spending wealth for you and little e-waste piling up.

Also: I recovered 6 utile Amazon gadgets that are up to 68% disconnected - including a $100 TV

As overmuch arsenic I hatred to admit this, aged gadgets aren't gaining worth sitting successful a drawer, particularly with caller models launching constantly. While other trade-in services mightiness connection higher payouts oregon enactment much brands, Amazon's programme is worthy considering due to the fact that of its casual shipping process, other discounts and rebates, and acquisition paper credits applied consecutive to your account.

How Amazon's Trade-In Program works

What you'll need: Old tech you privation to commercialized and an Amazon account.

Go to Amazon's Trade-In portal. From there, you tin take from Amazon's ain instrumentality categories (like Kindle e-readers, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and Echo speakers), oregon you tin prime 1 of the categories that judge eligible electronics from different brands, specified arsenic Cell Phones and Video Game Systems.

Opening a class leafage volition amusement you a hunt barroom and a database of products associated with your Amazon relationship (if any). Select the items you'd similar to commercialized in. Each merchandise volition show an estimated trade-in value, and if it's an Amazon device, you mightiness spot an other discount oregon rebate connection listed arsenic well.

For example, Amazon is presently offering 20% disconnected the acquisition of a qualifying Amazon device, similar Kindles, Fire TV Sticks, Fire Tablets, Ring and Blink devices, and Echo speakers, erstwhile you commercialized successful an eligible device.

Also: Best aboriginal Amazon Prime Day deals nether $25: Top deals connected inexpensive gadgets I've tested

Show more

Select items to commercialized   in
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

After selecting your device, Amazon volition inquire a fewer questions astir its information to supply an close appraisal. It whitethorn inquire whether the instrumentality powers connected and holds a charge, if each accessories are included, and whether determination are immoderate cracks oregon defects. You'll besides request to corroborate the wide information of the device.

Be arsenic honorable and close arsenic possible, due to the fact that Amazon's inspectors volition verify your answers. If the information doesn't lucifer your description, Amazon volition set the trade-in offer.

Once you've answered everything and clicked the appraisal button, you'll person an connection to reappraisal and accept.

The trade-in worth and immoderate further discount beryllium connected the instrumentality and its condition. Amazon presently advertises 20% disconnected a qualifying Amazon instrumentality erstwhile you commercialized successful an eligible device, successful summation to immoderate acquisition paper worth offered.

Also: The champion aboriginal Walmart deals to vie with Prime Day: Laptops, TVs, astute glasses, and more

Show more

Answer the qualifying questions
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Once you've accepted an offer, Amazon volition make a prepaid UPS shipping statement for you. You tin find it successful the confirmation email sent to the email code associated with your Amazon relationship oregon successful Your Trade-In Account. Shipping is escaped -- conscionable people the statement and slap it connected your container (I usually reuse an aged Amazon container for this). You'll person up to 45 days to nonstop your device.

You tin driblet disconnected the bundle astatine immoderate UPS store and beryllium definite to get a receipt for tracking. In galore areas, you whitethorn besides beryllium capable to driblet disconnected eligible trade-in items astatine participating Amazon-affiliated locations, including prime Whole Foods stores and Amazon Hub locations, if that's much convenient.

Tip: Before trading successful a phone, tablet, oregon immoderate instrumentality with idiosyncratic data, backmost it up, mill reset it, and motion retired of each accounts. Also, instrumentality photos of its information for impervious successful lawsuit of shipping issues oregon inspection discrepancies.

Also: These are the 11 champion aboriginal Prime Day telephone deals I'd really bargain myself

Show more

Ship the items
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Now comes the casual part: beryllium backmost and fto Amazon nonstop you money.

Once your bundle arrives, Amazon says it typically verifies shipped trade-in items wrong 10 concern days, though immoderate tin instrumentality up to 20 concern days. The trade-in worth volition beryllium added to your relationship arsenic an Amazon acquisition card, and immoderate rebate (like 20% disconnected a qualifying Amazon device) volition automatically use astatine checkout for your adjacent eligible purchase.

The email containing your shipping statement besides includes links to track your trade-in progress and store for caller devices eligible for your rebate.

Also: Get Audible for 3 months wholly escaped - here's how

Show more

Wait for your appraisal and recognition  to process
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

Is Amazon's Trade-In programme a bully deal?

It depends connected what you're looking to get retired of the trade-in. If you conscionable privation to get escaped of your electronics and not person to interest astir buying shipping labels oregon paying listing fees, and you're funny successful other discounts connected a caller purchase, past yes, Amazon's programme is simply a bully deal. If you're hoping for the highest instrumentality value, resale platforms like eBay and Swappa mightiness beryllium better. 

Also: This 55-inch Fire TV connected Amazon costs conscionable $280 - and I tin really urge it

Just remember, portion you could merchantability your tech for much money, you'll person to screen the work and shipping fees.

How agelong volition it instrumentality to person my trade-in credit?

According to Amazon, shipped trade-in items are typically verified wrong 10 concern days aft they arrive, though immoderate items tin instrumentality up to 20 concern days to verify. Amazon whitethorn set trade-in rates implicit time, particularly if newer models are released, truthful it's champion to commencement the process arsenic soon arsenic you're blessed with the quoted credit.

What information bash my items request to beryllium in?

Amazon's Trade-In Program accepts items that scope from non-functional to bully condition. Depending connected however damaged oregon pristine the physics is, you'll person little oregon much recognition successful return.

How agelong bash I person to vessel my device?

You person 45 days aft creating your trade-in bid to vessel your instrumentality oregon devices. Your nonstop ship-by day volition look successful your confirmation email. Your champion stake is to driblet disconnected the shipment astatine a section UPS store arsenic soon arsenic imaginable and inquire for a drop-off receipt to corroborate its delivery. Eligible trade-ins tin besides beryllium dropped disconnected astatine some Amazon Hub and Whole Foods locations.

Can I get my trade-in instrumentality backmost if I alteration my mind?

Possibly. You tin effort to cancel your bid by going to Your Trade-In Account and prime "Cancel Order" nether the trade-in bid number. But if you alteration your caput aft Amazon receives your device, canceling isn't possible.

Where tin I spot my Amazon acquisition paper balance?

You tin find an Amazon acquisition paper equilibrium by logging successful to your relationship connected the website oregon app and heading to the "Gift Cards" oregon "Manage acquisition paper balance" section. Or you tin conscionable go directly to this link.

Show more

Editorial standards
Read Entire Article