When selling your mobile, you will often be asked by the mobile phone recycler whether your phone is working or not.
The price difference between a working and non-working phone can vary dramatically. For example, when selling the Nokia N95 8GB, one site offers £80 for a working phone and £29 for a non-working phone. Another site offers £91 for a working N95 8GB and £25 for a non-working one. The price difference not only varies from site to site but from phone to phone.
What classifies as a working phone also varies from site to site. Some recyclers require the battery and charger to be included and some don’t. As a general rule, the handset has to turn on and off and the screen has to work and there cannot be any signs of water damage. Normal cosmetic wear and tear is acceptable.
Non-working phones are classified as having a broken or bleeding LCD screen, blank display, not being able to power up, having a faulty touch screen or having a broken keypad or aerial. You should still receive some money if your mobile phone is in this condition.
In some cases you may not receive any money at all for your old phone, when it is classed as being ‘Beyond Economical Repair’. This means that it will not be able to be reused or recycled so it has no value. If your phone is water damaged, physically broken, has a broken battery terminal, has broken hinges, has a re-programmed IMEI number, or is barred by a network you will probably not receive any money for it.