AUTHOR’S NOTE: As of November 11, 2022, Backflip is not accepting new cell phone/electronic sales. At the time, Backflip is only accepting clothing.
If you have an old cell phone or other device lying around, you may be able to sell it for cash online.
In this article, I’ll take a close look at Backflip, a website for selling used electronics. I’ve checked out a few different websites for selling and buying used phones in order to find out how Backflip compares.
Selling Your Phone at Backflip
Compared to other companies that buy used phones and electronics online, Backflip offers competitive cash returns on cell phones and other electronic devices. To sell your cell phone, you simply complete an online assessment of your specific device and its condition. Then, Backflip will make an instant cash offer. If you accept the offer, you can send your phone in for evaluation. Backflip will pay you via direct deposit, debit card deposit or Amazon gift card.
Backflip is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has a “B+” rating as of June 2022. The company’s Trustpilot page displays a 4.5 out of 5-star rating based on customer reviews. Customer representatives also actively respond to negative reviews on Trustpilot, so I found it to be a legitimate and trustworthy company.
If you’re thinking about selling your phone at Backflip, here are five things to know before sending it in:
- What Is Backflip?
- Is Backflip Safe?
- How To Sell Your Phone
- How Does Backflip Compare?
- Tips for Selling Your Phone
Below, you’ll find more detailed information about how to get started on Backflip, how to earn the most for your device and how this buyback company compares to other popular options.
What Is Backflip?
According to the company’s website, Backflip buys consumer electronics at higher-than-competitive prices with the fastest payment turnaround time: 24 hours. Backflip accepts smartphones, gaming devices, laptops, audio devices, tablets, wearable electronics and home tech.
You can go to Backflip’s website, select the type of device you’re interested in selling, provide a few details about its condition and you’ll be offered an instant quote based on your description. If you accept the quote, you’ll drop your device off at The UPS Store. Once the company receives and evaluates the item, you’ll receive payment within 24 hours, according to the website.
The company prides itself on offering free shipping with tracking links and no box or label required. It also prides itself on offering the fastest payment once your device is received. To learn more about Backflip, check out the company’s story online.
Is Backflip Safe?
Yes, Backflip is a safe and legitimate company. It was founded by two men, Mike Barile and Adam Foosaner, in San Francisco. They developed the website as a way to sell anything in a matter of minutes. You can learn more about the company’s history online.
Backflip also has very positive reviews online overall. There aren’t many customer reviews on Better Business Bureau, Backflip maintains an “B+” rating and has been accredited by BBB since May 2020.
On Trustpilot, there were more than 200 customer reviews as of June 2022. Those reviews left the company with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5-stars and an “excellent” ranking.
While there were only eleven negative reviews on Trustpilot, I took the time to read them. Some reviews reference “Whistle,” which has since merged with Backflip. While those eleven customers had different experiences and complaints, most of them were related to customer service and/or Backflip determining that a device was not in the condition its owner had described online. To avoid similar issues, be as honest and transparent as possible when describing the condition of your device before sending it to Backflip.
How To Sell Your Phone
Like many other buyback websites, Backflip offers instant quotes online for your phone or other technology. You can select the specific model, amount of storage space, carrier and condition to see how much Backflip is willing to pay you for it. If you accept the quote, you can take your device to the nearest UPS Store and drop it off to be shipped for free. Once your phone arrives and passes inspection, you’ll be paid via direct deposit, debit card deposit or Amazon gift card.
If you’re thinking about selling your phone to Backflip, read on to find out more about the process.
Get a Quote
The first step in selling your phone to Backflip is getting a quote online.
When you first visit Backflip’s website, you’ll notice there are a few different ways to begin. You can click “Start Selling” in the top-right corner, “Select My Device to Sell,” or scroll down to the “Popular to Sell” category and select a device.
Once you’ve selected the type of device you’re selling, you’ll be able to provide information about its model and condition. Be as honest as possible, and make sure all of the information you enter is correct. This is the best way to make sure Backflip honors the quote you get online.
After you’ve provided the details about your device, Backflip will determine your phone’s estimated value based on the device conditions you provide online. If you like the quote Backflip offers, you can accept it to proceed.
According to Backflip, the price they offer you is 100% guaranteed for correctly described items. Misdescribed items get revised offers.
Ship Your Phone
According to the website, once you’ve accepted the quote from Backflip, you’ll receive a QR code via text and email. To ship your phone or other electronic devices, simply take them to your local UPS Store and show the QR code. Backflip says The UPS Store will then properly pack the item(s) and give you tracking details for free.
The offer is guaranteed if you ship your device within two weeks (14 days). After that, the offer may change due to depreciation. The sale itself will ultimately expire in one month.
If you do sell your phone to Backflip, you should prepare it for reselling first. You can do this by taking the following steps:
- Deactivate “Find My iPhone” on iOS devices and erasing all contents/settings.
- Remove the SIM card.
- Deactivate cellular service.
- Deactivate data service.
- Delete all data.
Backflip prides itself on the fact that shipping is free and includes tracking links. You also don’t have to worry about gathering shipping boxes, printing labels or packaging the device yourself. Instead, The UPS Store should do all of this for free.
Get Paid
Once Backflip receives your device, it will be inspected within 24 business hours, according to the website. Once your phone passes its inspection, Backflip will issue payment immediately.
If your phone does not pass its inspection (if it’s in worse condition than described or the device itself is a different model/storage size/network), you may receive an amended offer. Once you get an amended offer, you will have 14 days to accept or decline it. If you do decline it, Backflip says it will send your item back to you free of charge. If you don’t respond within 14 days, Backflip will automatically accept it and complete the sale.
Once Backflip has reviewed your device, you’ll receive an email from the company’s payment processor, Checkbook.io. There, you can securely enter your payment information and schedule your payment, according to the website. You can choose from ACH/direct deposit, debit card deposit or an Amazon gift card as your payment method.
How Does Backflip Compare?
The best way to decide where to sell your cell phone is by collecting quotes from a few different places and choosing the route that will be the most profitable.
I tried this by gathering quotes from eight different companies that buy used phones. I looked at offers for an iPhone X in average condition with 64GB of storage on the AT&T network. Here’s what I found:
| Company | Offer |
|---|---|
| Swappa | $265 |
| ItsWorthMore | $187 |
| Gazelle | $185 |
| BuyBackWorld | $160 |
| Decluttr | $142 |
| ecoATM | $140 |
Generally speaking, you’ll find some of the highest offers at Swappa followed by BuyBackWorld and NextWorth. MaxBack and Decluttr are also great places to gather quotes in addition to Backflip. Still, you’ll likely find better prices at Backflip for smartphones than you will at Gizmogul or ecoATM.
While you may be able to get a higher price by listing your phone on Swappa, there is no guarantee that your phone will sell there. However, with Backflip, you will get an instant quote online that’s guaranteed for 14 days as long as the condition of your phone matches your description of it. Plus, you can choose from three different payment methods.
If you like the quote you get online and you know your phone is in the right condition, I think Backflip could be a great way to sell your cell phone. In addition to a great price, Backflip also offers free shipping, free returns and fast payment once your phone passes inspection.
Tips for Selling Your Phone
If you’re thinking about selling your phone at Backflip, here are a few tips to keep in mind to get the most out of the sale:
- Compare the quote you get. Once you have a quote from Backflip, compare it to other offers online. Check out secondary markets like Swappa, BuyBackWorld, NextWorth, MaxBack and Decluttr to get an idea of how much your phone is going for. This is a great way to decide whether or not Backflip is worth your time. Plus, you’ll be prepared for an amended offer if you know how much you can get for your phone elsewhere.
- Be honest about your phone and its condition. If you do decide to sell your phone to Backflip, make sure all of the information that you enter is correct. If you accidentally select the wrong model or storage size, you may not get the amount of money you’re initially quoted. Be as honest as possible when describing the item’s condition. This is the best way to avoid getting an amended offer.
- Prepare your phone for sale. No matter where you decide to sell your phone, be sure to back up your data and then wipe the device, restoring it to factory settings. This will clear all of your personal information before the sale.
- Ship ASAP and check for updates regularly. Backflip recommends shipping your phone as soon as possible once you get a quote. Since the quote is guaranteed for just 14 days, it’s best to get the item in the mail quickly. Once you drop off your phone at the UPS Store, use the tracking link to check for updates regularly. You’ll get a notification once your phone arrives and is inspected. If it passes, your payment will be issued the same day. If it doesn’t, you may receive an amended offer. Remember, you’ll have only 14 days to decline an amended offer before Backflip accepts it on your behalf.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, Backflip is a great option for selling your cell phone or any other used technology the website accepts. Backflip offers competitive cash offers for used phones alongside Swappa, BuyBackWorld, MaxBack, NextWorth and Decluttr. Plus, you’ll get an instant online quote and free shipping/tracking from The UPS Store.
Before you sell your phone, be sure to get a few different quotes so that you know where you’ll earn the biggest profit. And no matter where you decide to sell your phone, be sure to back up and wipe the device before sending it in.
If you do sell your phone to Backflip, make sure you’re honest about its condition and check for updates regularly on your order.
Have you ever sold a phone on Backflip? Tell us about your experience in our Clark.com Community!
