BuyBackWorld: 5 Things To Know Before Selling Your Phone

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If you have an old cell phone just lying around, you may be able to sell it for cash online. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of reseller websites willing to buy your phone.

In this article, I’ll take a close look at BuyBackWorld: a popular website for selling used electronics. I’ve checked out a few other websites for selling and buying used phones in order to find out how BuyBackWorld compares. 

Selling Your Phone at BuyBackWorld

Compared to other companies that buy used phones and electronics, BuyBackWorld may offer one of the highest cash returns. Still, according to customer feedback online, communication is key when selling to BuyBackWorld. If your phone is in worse condition than you say, BuyBackWorld will make a lower counteroffer. If you don’t respond within a certain timeframe, the company will assume you’re accepting the offer which could be significantly lower than what you were hoping to get.

Still, while BuyBackWorld has its fair share of negative reviews, it is recognized as a safe and trustworthy company. The company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and maintains a 4.1/5 rating on Trustpilot.

If you’re thinking about selling your phone at BuyBackWorld, here are five things to know before sending it in: 

  1. What Is BuyBackWorld?
  2. Is BuyBackWorld Safe?
  3. How To Sell Your Phone
  4. How Does BuyBackWorld Compare?
  5. Tips for Selling Your Phone

Below, you’ll find more detailed information about how to sell your phone on BuyBackWorld, how to earn the most for your device and how this buyback company compares to other popular options. 

1. What Is BuyBackWorld?

BuyBackWorld.com homepage
Screenshot from BuyBackWorld

According to the company’s website, BuyBackWorld is a website that pays people for household goods. They currently accept cell phones as well as tablets, laptops, computers, gaming consoles, cameras, smartwatches and more

If you sell your phone (or other technology), you’ll be offered an instant quote based on your description of the device. If you accept the quote, you’ll send your phone to BuyBackWorld. Once the company evaluates your device, you’ll get paid via PayPal, Venmo or check. 

The company prides itself on offering instant quotes, free shipping and free returns. In addition to selling used technology and household items, you can also buy certified pre-owned devices and discounted gift cards at BuyBackWorld

To learn more about BuyBackWorld, check out the company’s “About Us” page online. 

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2. Is BuyBackWorld Safe?

In short: Yes, BuyBackWorld is safe. The cash quote platform launched in 2009 and has greatly expanded its customer base since then. You can check out a full timeline of BuyBackWorld’s backstory online. 

The company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and maintains an A+ grade. On Trustpilot, customer reviews give BuyBackWorld 4.1 out of 5 stars, which earns the company a “Great” ranking. Still, if you’ve been researching BuyBackWorld, you’ve probably come across several negative reviews on both websites. I spent some time reading these reviews to determine the main issues. I found that most negative reviews mentioned getting less money than initially quoted. Of course, this can happen if your item is in worse condition than you described online. 

According to BuyBackWorld’s service terms, you have five days to reject a revised offer. If you don’t respond within those five days, BuyBackWorld will assume you accept the offer and will automatically process the sale. Once you accept an offer, it is final. That means you will be paid the accepted quoted price and you will not be able to get your phone back. For this reason, it’s important to keep an open line of communication with BuyBackWorld about the status of your item once you send it in. 

3. How To Sell Your Phone

BuyBackWorld will offer an instant quote online for your phone or other devices. You can select the specific model, storage space, carrier and condition to see how much BuyBackWorld is willing to pay you for it. If you like the quote, you can ship it for free to be inspected. Once your phone passes the inspection, you’ll get paid within two business days.

If you’re thinking about selling your phone to BuyBackWorld, here’s what you can expect throughout the process:

Get a Quote

The first step in selling your phone to BuyBackWorld is getting a quote online. 

When you first visit the website, you’ll notice that there are a few different ways to start. There are buttons along the top of the page for selling iPhones, other cell phones or gift cards. Alternatively, you can click the “Sell by Category” tab to choose from more device categories or type the name of the item into the search bar. Finally, you can also click the large “Sell Smarter” button to begin the process

No matter which method you choose, you’ll be asked to select a few details about the model and storage size of your device and the carrier it’s connected to. You can also enter your phone’s serial number to find the specific model. As you’re doing this, be sure to make sure all of the information is correct.

BuyBackWorld offer on a Samsung Galaxy
Screenshot from BuyBackWorld

Once you’ve landed on the phone you’re trying to sell, you can indicate the phone’s quality. It’s important to be extremely honest when choosing between new, excellent, average and poor conditions. If you aren’t sure which condition your phone is in, you can email [email protected] for help in order to avoid getting a revised offer later.

Once you’ve selected the device’s condition, you’ll see an instant cash quote on the right side of the screen. Click “Get Paid” to enter your email address and preferred payment method.

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Ship Your Phone

After you’ve entered your preferred payment method, you’ll be able to choose a shipping method. You can request a free shipping kit or print your own shipping label. BuyBackWorld offers free shipping for every sale

If you request a free shipping kit, BuyBackWorld says you should receive it within a week. The kit includes shipping instructions and packing slip, a prepaid shipping label, a return padded envelope or box and bubble wrap protection packs. Once you receive the shipping kit, simply pack up your items and mail them to BuyBackWorld. 

Alternatively, you can print your own free shipping label. With this method, BuyBackWorld will email you a free prepaid shipping label and packing slip. You’ll print these out, place your items and the packing slip into a box or padded envelope, add the shipping label and drop off the package at your nearest post office or blue mailbox. 

Keep in mind that your online quote from BuyBackWorld is valid for only 30 days. Because of this, it’s important to ship your phone as soon as possible. 

Check for Updates

After you’ve shipped your device to BuyBackWorld, the next step is to wait for updates. Still, it’s important to check your email so that you’ll know if there are any problems with the shipment or the condition of your phone

According to the company website, it should take 3-4 business days for your phone to arrive once you’ve shipped it. As soon as it arrives, a team member scans it into the system and sends you an email to let you know it’s there. Within one business day, it’ll be sent to the receiving department.

Over the next two business days, your phone will be inspected; during that time, you should get another email confirming your phone’s condition. If your phone fails the inspection, you’ll receive a counteroffer that you must respond to within five days. If you don’t respond within that timeframe, the lower offer will be automatically accepted. This is the main reason it’s important to check your email regularly once you’ve shipped your phone. 

Get Paid

After your phone passes its inspection or a counteroffer is accepted, BuyBackWorld will issue your payment within two business days.

Currently, BuyBackWorld offers three methods of payment: PayPal, Venmo or check. If you choose PayPal or Venmo, you’ll receive your payment immediately. Checks are delivered by USPS First Class mail, which can take 3-10 business days to arrive.

According to the website, you’ll receive an email confirmation once your payment has been sent.

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4. Is BuyBackWorld the Best Place To Sell Your Phone?

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 for you and your device. 

I tried this by gathering quotes from seven different companies that buy used phones. I looked at offers for an unlocked iPhone 12 in good condition with 64GB of storage. Here’s what I found in March 2023: 

CompanyOffer
Swappa$265
ItsWorthMore$195
Gazelle$177
BuyBackWorld$160
Decluttr$147
ecoATM$110

Generally speaking, you’ll find some of the highest offers at Swappa followed by Gazelle and Decluttr. The next highest offers came from BuyBackWorld, ItsWorthMore and ecoATM. Of course, it’s important to check out a few secondary markets to see where phones like yours are earning the most. 

While you may be able to get a higher bidder by listing your phone on Swappa, there is no guarantee that your phone will sell. However, with BuyBackWorld, you will get an instant quote online that’s good for 30 days as long as your phone arrives as described. Plus, you can choose from three different payment methods compared to Swappa’s one. 

You can check out a more detailed comparison of the best places to sell your cell phone here.

If you like the quote you get online and you know your phone is in the right condition, I think BuyBackWorld could be a great way to sell your cell phone. In addition to a great price, BuyBackWorld offers free shipping, free returns and fast payment once your phone passes its inspection.

5. Tips for Selling Your Phone at BuyBackWorld

If you’re thinking about selling your phone at BuyBackWorld, here are a few tips to keep in mind to get the most out of the sale: 

  • Compare the quote to other buyback programs. Once you have a quote from BuyBackWorld, compare it to other offers online. Check out secondary markets like Swappa, 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 BuyBackWorld is worth your time. Plus, you’ll be prepared for a counteroffer 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 BuyBackWorld, 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 a counteroffer.
  • 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. BuyBackWorld recommends shipping your phone as soon as possible once you get a quote. Since the quote is good for just 30 days, it’s best to get the item in the mail quickly. Once you ship your phone, check your email regularly for updates. You’ll get a notification when your phone arrives and again after the inspection. Remember, you’ll have only five days to decline a counteroffer before BuyBackWorld accepts it on your behalf.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, BuyBackWorld is a great option for selling your cell phone or any other used technology or household item that the website accepts. BuyBackWorld offers some of the highest returns for used phones alongside Swappa, NextWorth and MaxBack, plus you’ll get an instant online quote and free shipping. 

Before you sell your phone, be sure to get a few quotes from different websites that buy used technology so that you know where you’ll earn the biggest profit possible. And no matter where you decide to sell your phone, be sure to back it up and wipe it before sending it in. 

If you do sell your phone to BuyBackWorld, make sure you’re honest about your phone’s condition and check for updates on your order regularly. Ship your phone as soon as possible and be ready for a counteroffer. Once your phone has passed its inspection, you can expect your payment to be issued within two business days via PayPal, Venmo or check.

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Have you sold a phone through BuyBackWorld? Tell us about your experience in the Clark.com Community.

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