When I get a new phone, I’m always excited to download the apps, try out the camera, and test its speed. Getting a new phone is fun for me because it only happens every few years.
But once I have the new phone, I’m overwhelmed with what to do with my old one. How do I sell it and make the most money without spending hours fielding requests or offers from potential buyers?
That’s where sites like Buyback Boss come in. Through their simple buy-back process, they give you an offer for your phone, send a prepaid shipping label, and send money via PayPal once they receive your phone. They even have a price-match guarantee and high reviews from past customers.
But is it worth using this site over others like it?
What is Buyback Boss?
Buyback Boss is a site that buys back or lets you trade in used and new cell phones, tablets, and Apple watches. All you need to do is select which device you have, describe its condition, and then Buyback Boss will show its offer price.
They also accept iMac computers and iPods, but you have to submit the information manually and wait for an email with the quote. You may have to provide a serial number or more information about the device to get an accurate offer.
One downside is that only three types of cell phones are currently accepted — iPhones, Samsung, and Google Pixels. If you have a different type of phone, you’ll have to sell it elsewhere.
Before diving into the details, here’s our Buyback Boss review at a glance:
Free
Price Trade in devices you don’t use anymore
nimbus33 Rating Price-match guarantee, high ratings, and free shipping
Buyback Boss buys cell phones, tablets, cameras, computers, video games and consoles, and even collectibles. Submit information about your device on their website and get an instant quote. They’ll also match any higher quotes from other sites.
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Buyback Boss User Review: How Does the Site Work?
Buyback Boss has a user-friendly interface and a simple process for selling or trading in your phone.
Get an offer on your device
The first step is to describe the condition of your phone so they can give you an accurate price quote. Buyback Boss accepts devices in the following conditions:
- Brand New – sealed in original box. Has never been activated or used.
- Mint – Like new with no signs of use. More than 80% of battery health. No cosmetic or operational problems.
- Good – May show signs of wear, but no major cosmetic or operational problems.
- Fair – Can have heavy signs of wear and tear, including some cosmetic or operational issues. No chips or cracks.
- Damaged – Cracked screen, buttons don’t work, low battery life, personal engravings, and other systems don’t work.
- Broken – Completely non-functional, including devices that don’t turn on.
If you have a question on what kind of condition you should state, you can email or call customer service and describe the device in detail. They can help you choose the appropriate option. If you choose a condition that’s better than what the phone or tablet actually is, then you could end up being offered less money.
My current phone is a 64 GB Samsung Galaxy S9. It’s in relatively good condition with a few scratches here and there. Buyback Boss offered me $145 to trade it in, which I thought was a fair deal given that I wouldn’t have to list anything or deal with potential buyers myself.
I also got a quote for my newer 4th Generation iPad Pro. It’s in excellent condition, or “Mint” according to Buyback Boss’s standards, and comes with 1TB of storage.
I paid $1,649 for it brand new, and Buyback Boss offered me $650.
I did a quick search and realized that the same iPad is selling for $835 on eBay. But if you, like me, prefer the simplest route of not dealing with shipping and buyers, then Buyback Boss’s offers seem fair, especially with their highest-price guarantee.
This guarantee means that if you get a better offer from a different site, you can take a screenshot or send an email to [email protected] Once they receive and verify the offer, Buyback Boss will match it.
Related: 11 of the Best Places to Sell Your Old Phone for Cash
Ship your goods for free
Once you accept the price, they’ll email you a prepaid shipping label. You have to print out the label and send the device back. Once they receive your shipment, Buyback Boss reviews the device to verify it’s in the condition you described. If it is, you’ll get paid.
If it’s not in the condition you claimed, then you’ll have the option to get your device sent back free of charge.
Cash in
Once you receive the payment, you can deposit the check to your bank account or transfer the money from PayPal account to your bank.
If you want, you can choose to donate the money to their charitable partner, Lighthouse for Hope. This is a non-profit that helps families with children diagnosed with cancer. The organization supports families with financial assistance as they struggle with day-to-day expenses.
Buyback Boss Features Review
Unfortunately, Buyback Boss doesn’t have an app; you have to do all the work on their website. But the site is easy to use and it only takes a few minutes to get a quote.
Price lock guarantee
The price lock guarantee means that once you submit the information and accept the price, it won’t change for up to 14 days. You can use this time to try to find a better price elsewhere and ask Buyback Boss for a price match.
If you’re offered a higher price on a competitor site such as Decluttr or Gazelle, take a screenshot or email the link to [email protected]
Bulk sales
Buyback Boss also accepts bulk sales, which is perfect if you own a business where you buy devices regularly or work in IT. It’s also great if you’re updating phones for everyone in your family and want to recoup some of the costs.
It’s not clear exactly how many devices you need to have to choose the bulk sale option, but if you have several devices you’re selling or trading in, it may be worth contacting Buyback Boss to discuss pricing, the conditions of the devices, and shipping.
Customer support
Buyback Boss offers phone and email support. Customer reviews of Buyback Boss say that they’re quick, responsive, and friendly. One person even said that they got an email from the CEO to apologize for a snafu on their end.
A couple users wrote on Trustpilot that they actually received more money than what Buyback Boss had originally promised them. One person had forgotten that their phone was unlocked so it was actually worth more than they realized. BuyBackBoss has a 4.8 rating on Trustpilot with more than 1,500 reviews. This is one of the highest ratings among cell phone buyback services.
Another person said they listed their iPhone as being an older model than what it actually was. Buyback Boss noticed this and paid more for it being a newer phone.
They’re also active on Reddit and will frequently respond to posts about their site. Often they’ll add items based on user feedback. This shows they’re tech-savvy and interested in improving their service.
Related: 7 Places to Sell Your Electronics for the Most Money
How Much Does Buyback Boss Pay?
Here’s what BuyBack Boss pays for a few popular devices.
| Device | Provider | Storage/Size | Price Offered |
| Samsung S9 | Verizon | 128GB | $160 |
| iPhone 7 | Verizon | 128 GB | $85 |
| Apple Watch (Series 5) | GPS only | 40 MM | $120 |
| iPad Pro 10.5 Inch | WiFi only | 256 GB | $240 |
| iPod Nano (7th Generation) | WiFi Only | 16GB | $10 |
| Google Pixel 3 XL | Factory unlocked | 64GB | $160 |
| iPhone 11 | AT&T | 256GB | $405 |
| Galaxy S8 | Factory unlocked | 64GB | $80 |
| Note: These estimates are accurate as of July 2020 for devices in “good” condition. Your estimate may vary depending on the date and demand. | |||
Although Buyback Boss pays comparably to similar sites, they guarantee that if you get a better quote somewhere else, they’ll match it. So before you commit to Buyback Boss’s offer, obtain quotes from other providers to ensure you’re getting the best possible price for your device.
However, some customer reviews mention people sending in their devices and being offered less than the stated amount. Even though they have a highest-price guarantee and a 14-day price lock, Buyback Boss reserves the right to change the payout amount if the item isn’t in the condition you report it.
If you’re offered less money, you can either accept the new offer or request to have your phone shipped back to you for free so you can try to sell it elsewhere.
Buyback Boss states that they pay within 1 to 2 business days of receiving the device. Depending on the shipping time, this could be within a week of sending it.
Review of Buyback Boss Alternatives
If you’re looking to sell your phone, tablet, or other device, you should get multiple quotes from other sites. If one site gives you a higher price than Buyback Boss, you can still sell it to Buyback Boss by cashing in on their price-match guarantee.
Decluttr
Decluttr buys devices like phones, tablets, and laptops, but it also accepts items such as CDs, DVDs, and video games.
The site has a 4.6 rating on Trustpilot with more than 14,000 reviews. It has a handy app that customers can use to scan their items, accept the price, and receive a pre-paid shipping label.
Decluttr says they pay you the day after your item arrives, as long as it’s in the same condition you reported it. If the item is in a worse condition, Decluttr will offer you a new price.
You have 14 days to accept the price, or they’ll ship you the device back for free.
Related: Decluttr Review
Gazelle
Gazelle is a site where you can purchase used electronics and sell your own used devices. They accept cell phones including Samsung, iPhone, and Google devices.
They also buy iPads, MacBooks, and iPods — handy if you’re an Apple fan who loves upgrading to the latest device.
Gazelle provides an offer, pre-paid shipping label, and pays customers via check, PayPal, or Amazon gift card.
Related: Gazelle Review
Swappa
Swappa is a site where you can both buy and sell devices such as phones, laptops, tablets, watches, and video games. The site has a 4.9 rating on Trustpilot with more than 8,000 reviews, even better than Buyback Boss.
You have to register an account to get a quote, but the site states their average payout for devices. Unlike Buyback Boss, you sell devices directly to other consumers.
Otherwise, the process is similar. You choose your device, its carrier, color, storage size, edition, and model. Sellers have to connect their PayPal account to Swappa to get paid.
Related: Swappa Review
Buyback Boss Review Summary
Getting a quote and sending your device is a simple and easy process with Buyback Boss. However, once you get a quote from Buyback Boss, you should still try to see if you can get a better deal through a site like eBay or even Craigslist. Thanks to their price-match guarantee, you may be able to earn more if you do some extra work and try selling it with one of those sites or services.
But if you’re in a hurry or don’t want to deal directly with buyers, then you’ll find a good deal on the site.
