In this article, I’ll take a close look at MaxBack, a popular website for selling used electronics. I’ve checked out a few different websites for selling and buying used phones to determine how MaxBack compares.
Selling Your Phone at MaxBack
If you're looking to sell an old cell phone, MaxBack may offer one of the highest cash returns. Still, according to customer feedback online, communication is key when selling to MaxBack. If your phone is in worse condition than you say, MaxBack will reduce its offer (which it calls a "re-quote"). Also, MaxBack's inspection process can take a while which can lead to frustration.
Still, MaxBack is recognized as a safe and trustworthy company. As of this writing, it had a 4.7 (out of 5) star rating on Trustpilot with 2,293 reviews. It had 4.47 out of 5 stars on ResellerRatings with 371 reviews.
If you’re thinking about selling your phone at MaxBack, here are five things to know before sending it in:
Below, you’ll find more detailed information about how to get started on MaxBack, how to earn the most for your device and how this buyback company compares to other popular options.
What Is MaxBack?
According to the company's website, MaxBack is a trustworthy electronics buyback program. The company pays cash for cell phones, tablets, smartwatches and more.
To sell your device, you can visit MaxBack’s website to enter a few details and describe the device’s condition. You’ll then get an instant quote online. If you like the quote, you can send your phone to MaxBack for free. Once the company evaluates your device, you’ll get paid via PayPal or check.
MaxBack prides itself on offering instant quotes, free shipping and free returns. To learn more about MaxBack, check out the company's "About Us" page online.
Is MaxBack Safe?
In short: Yes, MaxBack is safe. The website was founded in 2010 and was owned by parent company Clover Wireless, now Reconext. Over the years, it's grown into a trustworthy electronics buyback program.
MaxBack's reviews online are generally positive. On Trustpilot, 91% of the 2,293 customer reviews at the time of writing were "Excellent." Less than 1% were "Bad." Similarly, on another review site, Reseller Ratings, MaxBack had 84.9% five-star reviews out of 371 entries. 7.5% of the reviews were one-star ratings.
I spent some time reading through the negative reviews on both websites, and it seems like most of the dissatisfaction came from lower re-quotes or delays in the inspection process. To avoid these issues, be as honest as possible when describing the condition of your phone online, and reach out to MaxBack Customer Support for updates if you haven't gotten an email in a while.
How To Sell Your Phone
You can get an instant quote online for your phone with MaxBack. If you decide to accept the quote, you can ship it for free to be inspected. Once your phone passes the inspection, you’ll get paid via PayPal or check.
If you’re thinking about selling your phone to MaxBack, here’s what you can expect throughout the process:
Get a Quote
The first step in selling your phone to MaxBack is getting a quote online. To get a quote, make sure you have the phone you're selling nearby so that you can get a few details about its specifications.
When you first visit the website, you can begin looking for the specific device you're hoping to sell. You can click "Sell iPhone," "Sell Cell Phone," or click on a different device to begin. Then, you'll be prompted to provide details about your device including the model, carrier, storage capacity and condition.
There, you'll see descriptions and quotes for your device in different conditions. If you believe your phone is in excellent condition and MaxBack determines that it's only in good or fair condition, this is a great way to estimate what your re-quote may be.
To avoid a re-quote, verify that all of the information you’re entering is correct, and be as honest as possible about your phone’s condition. Once you’ve determined which description best fits your device, click “Add to Cart” and “Sell Now.”
Check Out
When you're ready to make the sale, you'll have to create an account with MaxBack. This process is really simple and quick. You'll just enter an email address and create a password.
Then you'll be able to complete the transaction by entering your name, phone number and address. You'll also be able to choose your payment method: PayPal or check.
If you have a promotion code, this page is where you enter it. Sometimes you'll find one on MaxBack's homepage. At the time of writing, there was a promotion code for St. Patrick's Day that offered a 5% bonus (max bonus payout of $20).
Once you’ve filled out all of the requested information, you click “Complete Transaction” to make the sale.
Ship Your Phone
Once you've completed the transaction, you'll be provided with a link to print your shipping label. MaxBack provides a pre-paid USPS Priority mail label for each transaction. (You'll need to print the label, as MaxBack doesn't mail physical labels to sellers.)
Before you ship your phone, take the time to prepare it for sale. While MaxBack claims that it wipes all your data, it's still best for you to clear any personal data yourself before mailing your device. (Don't forget to back up your data first!) You're required to include a functional charging cable and A/C adapter and send the device charged to at least 80%. Also make sure it's fully unlocked and ready to re-activate.
Once you've prepared your phone for sale and printed your shipping label, carefully package it, label it, and mail it as soon as possible. Keep in mind that your online quote from MaxBack is valid for only 30 days.
Get Paid
After your phone arrives at MaxBack, it’ll be verified, including a serial number check to make sure the phone is fully paid off and not registered as lost or stolen. Then MaxBack begins the inspection process, checking both the cosmetic and functional conditions of your phone.
Once the inspection is complete, you'll either get an email that your phone's been accepted or you'll get a re-quote. You might get a re-quote if your phone is determined to be in a different condition than you indicated online. If you reject the re-quote, MaxBack will mail your phone back to you at no cost. If you accept, your sale will be finalized.
MaxBack claims that you can receive payment in as little as three days. But some reviews online indicate that the process may take a little longer. Once your phone has passed inspection or you've accepted a re-quote, you'll be paid instantly via PayPal, or a check will be mailed to your address within 3-5 business days.
Is MaxBack 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 and convenient for you.
I looked at seven different offers for an iPhone X in average condition with 64GB of storage on an AT&T network. Here's what I found:
Offers on an iPhone X, 64GB
| BuyBackWorld | $235 |
| Decluttr | $183 |
| ecoATM | $90 |
| Gizmogul | $81 |
| MaxBack | $196 |
| NextWorth | $210 |
| Swappa | $359 |
#tablepress-115 from cache
Generally speaking, you'll find some of the highest offers at Swappa followed by BuyBackWorld, NextWorth and MaxBack. 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 bid by listing your phone on Swappa, there is no guarantee that your phone will sell. With MaxBack, you’ll get an instant quote online that’s good for 30 days as long as your phone arrives as described.
If you like the quote you get online and you know your phone is in the right condition, I think MaxBack could be a good way to sell your phone. In addition to great prices, MaxBack offers free shipping, free returns and fast payment once your device passes its inspection.
Tips for Selling Your Phone at MaxBack
If you’re thinking about selling your phone at MaxBack, 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 MaxBack, compare it to other offers online. Check out secondary markets like Swappa, NextWorth, BuyBackWorld and Decluttr to get an idea of how much your phone is going for. 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 MaxBack, 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 re-quote.
- 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.
- Ship ASAP and check for updates regularly. MaxBack 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.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, MaxBack is a great option for selling your cell phone, tablet or smartwatch. MaxBack offers some of the highest returns for used phones alongside Swappa, BuyBackWorld and NextWorth, plus you'll get an instant online quote and free shipping.
Before you sell your phone, be sure to get quotes from different websites for comparison purposes. 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 MaxBack, 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 re-quote. Once your phone has passed its inspection, you can expect your payment to be issued quickly via PayPal or check.
Have you ever sold a phone on MaxBack? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!
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