Trade-In FAQs

Our employees grade the condition and perform a functionality check. At a minimum, in order for us to accept a device, it must turn on and function as a user would normally expect. Power supplies are often required and a battery-powered device must run on its own battery. We assign a condition grade based upon our inspection.

Condition Grades:

GOOD. The device is fully functional with no technical problems and has no scratches, dents, or dings. Shows signs of normal use.

FAIR. The device is fully functional with no technical problems and only a few scratches due to normal use. If the device has a screen, there are no scratches or burned-out pixels. Moderate physical damage and fully functional.

BROKEN. Significant physical damage or does not function properly.

NOT ACCEPTED. There is an issue with the device so that the device is not eligible for trade-in, including but not limited to the following:

• It has functional damage or product failure that affects its ability to perform its function or impairs its use;
• It has been recalled or withdrawn from sale;
• It has water damage or damage from other fluids;
• It shows indications of a serial number modification or tampering;
• It has insect/rodent infestation/damage;
• The factory seal has been broken;
• A password has not been cleared;
• The device is still attached to an active account;
• The "Find My Device" function has not been disabled. 

RECYCLE. Eligible device does not have any monetary value but will be collected and sent to a recycling partner that complies with the highest industry standards regarding the reuse, refurbishment or recycling of products as well as waste disposal generated from the recycling process.

If the device is not accepted for trade-in, we can responsibly recycle it. To learn more about our Recycling Program see BestBuy.com/Recycle. 

Important note:

For all Apple devices, you must disable the "Find My" function and remove the device from your iCloud account before trading in your device. To do this, please visit these two links:

• Apple “Find My” Removal
• Apple Activation Lock (Web Based)

For Android 5.0 or newer, you must reset device to factory settings before the start of the trade-in transaction.

• Make sure the device is connected to the internet or to the mobile network.
• Open the Google Settings menu.
• Under "Personal," touch "Backup and reset." You may need to enter your pattern, PIN, or password.
• Under "Personal Data," touch "Factory data reset."
• Read the information on the screen and touch "Reset phone."
• If the screen is locked, you will need to enter your pattern, PIN, or password.
• When prompted, touch "Erase everything" to erase all data from your device's internal storage.
• When the device has finished erasing, select the option to reboot your device.

Your device may be:

• Sold by Best Buy Secondary Markets channels or other Best Buy resale outlets (resale);
• Sent to Geek Squad® Service Centers (for parts and refurbished devices sold via the Best Buy outlets online); or
• Responsibly disposed of via our Recycling Program. See BestBuy.com/Recycle for details.

The Best Buy Trade-In Program is subject to state and local secondhand dealer laws, which regulate the buying of used personal property. Many of these laws require businesses to collect information about the seller and the purchased product, and report it to law enforcement in an effort to reduce crime and recover stolen property. In some locations, to comply with applicable law, the personal information collected may include:

• Copy of your ID
• Second form of ID
• Fingerprint
• Photograph of you

Best Buy also reports certain information about trade-in transactions voluntarily in other locations. Additionally, Best Buy may be required to share personal information in response to a valid court order, subpoena, government investigation, or as otherwise required by law. Best Buy reserves the right to report, and may be required to report, to law enforcement agencies any activities that Best Buy believes to be unlawful. Best Buy may share certain information when we believe that such release is reasonably necessary to protect the rights, property and safety of others and ourselves. For more information on our privacy practices, please review the Best Buy Privacy Policy.

Please note: Once a trade-in has been completed it is considered final.

For help with an in-store trade-in, please visit the customer service desk at the store where you plan to or have already traded in your device.

For help with an online trade-in, please contact [email protected]. Typical response time is within 2–3 business days, Monday–Friday excluding holidays.

1. Go to the Best Buy website BestBuy.com/TradeIn and select the product you want to trade in. Answer a few questions about your item and we'll give you an estimate of the trade-in value of your item.
2. If you agree with the estimate and our Trade-In Program Terms & Conditions, follow the instructions to ship your product to us with the provided carrier shipping label. Drop off your item at the carrier's store or call the carrier to arrange for a home pickup. Your item must be delivered to us within 14 days of the estimate or Best Buy has the right to revise or withdraw the estimate for trade-in or credit value.
3. Our verification team will grade your product's condition and verify its functionality. It may take several business days after delivery for this to occur.
4. We'll evaluate your item, confirm the final offer with you via email, then email an electronic Best Buy Gift Card to you within 5 business days.

If you drop off your item with a shipping carrier such as UPS, please keep a drop-off receipt for your records.

• Please avoid using a shipping carrier’s drop box location(s) as you won't get a shipping receipt.
• Include any documentation and accessories that originally shipped with your item. These items may include warranty cards, keyboards, mice and connection cables. Failure to include normally included items or accessories will impact the value of your trade.
• Do not include any CRT monitors. These can be recycled at your local Best Buy store.

Please follow these shipping tips:

• Wrap the items using plenty of bubble wrap, foam packaging, or other packing supplies around fragile items. Please do not use non-traditional packing materials such as clothing, towels, and other household items. Include all components included in your quote.
• Package the system in a sturdy cardboard box designed specifically for shipping.
• Tape all edges on the sides, top and bottom to make sure there are no rough edges that could be snagged by automated mail processing equipment. We do not recommend using masking or cellophane tape.
• Attach the shipping label to the outside of the package. Use a piece of clear shipping tape over the top of the label.
• Call the carrier or drop off the package at the carrier's shipping location. Be sure to keep the tracking number for your reference.
• Your item must be received within 14 days of the estimate or Best Buy has the right to revise or withdraw the estimate for the trade-in or credit value. Any promotional offers may no longer be valid, depending on the terms of the promotional offer, if the item is received later than 14 days from the date of the estimate.

You are responsible for removing any data from your item before providing the product to us. Under no circumstances will Best Buy be liable for any loss of any data or media from products delivered to us for trade-in or recycling. For help on removing your personal data and wiping your hard drive clean, learn more from Geek Squad®.

You are responsible for disabling the lock on devices with iOS 7.0 and above or Android 5.0 or newer before the start of the trade-in transaction.

If an item ships and correctly matches the quote you generated, the transaction is already considered final, as the quoted value was accepted upon the shipment of the device.

If the verified value differs from the quoted value, and a gift card has not yet been issued, the item, so long as it is not a biohazard or considered dangerous, can be returned if you pay the return shipping costs.

Your item will be shipped directly to our recycling partner, where the item will go through a reclamation process. Then our authorized recycling partner will responsibly recycle your item.

Do not ship any trade-in and recycle items together. They arrive to different receiving locations and any trade-in items shipped to our recycling partners are non-recoverable and will not award trade-in value.

1. Create a BestBuy.com order and add the desired trade-in to receive credit towards your new purchase of a comparable item.
2. After the delivery of your new purchase, follow the instructions provided to ship your product to us with the carrier shipping label found on your order details page. Drop off your item at the carrier's store or call the carrier to arrange for a home pickup. Your item must be delivered to us within 14 days of the estimate or Best Buy has the right to revise or withdraw the estimate for trade-in or credit value.
3. Our verification team will grade your product's condition and verify its functionality. It may take several business days after delivery for this to occur.
4. We'll evaluate your item and confirm the final offer with you via email. Your trade-in value along with any associated promotional value, will refund automatically to your original form of payment from the order.

The Trade-In Program is not available at all locations. Most stores participate in the program. The stores that currently do not participate in the program, including Outlet stores, are:

Best Buy Outlet locations, except Pineville, NC

Washington, DC

• Columbia Heights

Georgia

• Douglasville

Massachusetts

• South Bay

Minnesota

• Coon Rapids

New York

• S. Setauket
• Patchogue
• Commack
• Huntington Station
• Bay Shore
• Riverhead

Puerto Rico

• Rio Hondo
• Hato Rey

Best Buy stores offer the Trade-In Program subject to local restrictions and requirements. Based upon such conditions we are not able to provide our Trade-In Program in all store locations.

If there isn't a participating Best Buy Trade-In location near you, we may accept your trade-in through our online trade-in process.

Our Trade-In Program is intended for the convenience of our retail customers and is not designed to handle large volume or commercial transactions.

Best Buy reserves the right to limit Customers to trade in no more than five (5) of the same, or similar, product per month.

These product limits are subject to change at any time. Please note that there may be additional product limits associated with promotions. We reserve the right to refuse any trade-in or limit quantities for any reason at our own discretion.

In some Best Buy locations, due to local requirements, we can only accept trade-in of items for which you have a valid Best Buy receipt.

If you don’t have a receipt and still want to get rid of your old product, we can help you recycle it. Learn more about Best Buy recycling.

1. Check to see if your item is eligible for trade-in and what it may be worth, then find participating Best Buy locations near you at BestBuy.com/TradeIn.
2. Bring your eligible electronics, any included accessories, and a valid U.S. state driver's license or state-issued photo identification card to a participating Best Buy store. Do not mail trade-in items to a Best Buy store. We can’t accept items mailed to our stores.
3. We'll grade your product's condition and verify its functionality.
4. Based on these factors and the current resale values, we'll determine how much we will offer you for your device.
5. If you accept, we require you to present a valid U.S. state driver's license or state-issued photo identification card, sign a statement of ownership, and agree to the terms and conditions. There may be additional personal information required to complete the transaction based on the jurisdiction's secondhand dealer laws. For more details, please speak with a Blue Shirt.
6. You'll then receive payment for the device, either directly applied to a purchase transaction or by Best Buy Gift Card. If provided a gift card, you can use the gift card toward purchasing almost any item sold in store or online.

Note: All in-store trade-in transactions are final at the time of completion, when the item becomes the property of Best Buy.

If your item has no trade-in value, we can help you recycle it. Learn more about Best Buy recycling.