Before you throw away or donate that old smart speaker or tablet, wait just a moment. Amazon might give you a gift card for it.
The Amazon Trade-In program is a great way to get paid for old tech items you have lying around. They don't even have to be from Amazon. If your item qualifies, you'll get an Amazon digital gift card and a 20% discount on a new Amazon device.
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Step 1: Check how much you can get for your unwanted tech.
When you trade in, you'll get two things:
An Amazon digital gift card (also known as a promo credit)
A 20% discount toward an Amazon device
To see how much that gift card will be, go to the Amazon Trade-In page, identify the product you want to trade in, answer a couple of questions about its condition, and you’ll get a quote for how much you'll get.
You can trade in items from a bunch of brands, not just Amazon.
Amazon accepts trade-ins on products from Amazon, Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, Google, Bose, Sony, Netgear, Asus, TP-Link, and more. Generally, they need to be in working condition.
How much can you earn from an Amazon trade-in?
How much you can earn from your trade-in will depend on how old the device and exactly what you're trading in. Here are some examples of trade-in values (for working devices in good condition with all of the included accessories):
Echo Show 8: 1st Generation Black, $35 Amazon gift card
Beats Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earbuds: $20 Amazon gift card
Ring Video Doorbell 3 with HD Video: $10 Amazon gift card
Fire TV Sticks: up to $6 Amazon gift card
If you find an offer you like, complete the trade-in request and get a confirmation in your email and in the Amazon app.
KCL TIP: Costco also has a really great trade-in program too.
Step 2: Send your old device to Amazon within 45 days.
Once you've submitted your trade-in request, you've got 45 days to get your old device to Amazon, who will then sell it as used or recycle it.
You can ship it yourself if you really want to.
Follow the directions in that confirmation email for how to box up your item. The email will include a packing slip that you'll need to put inside the box. The email will also contain a shipping label, so you don't have to pay extra to ship your trade-in. Follow these instructions for shipping your trade-in.
Or take it to a drop-off location (it's way easier).
It's way easier to just take your device to a drop-off location. Some Whole Foods stores even have them. Check the list for your state to find your nearest location.
No boxes or packing tape are needed. Just show your emailed trade-in confirmation to the person at the counter and hand over your old device, dangling cords and all. They'll send it back to Amazon.
Step 3: Get paid — you'll get an Amazon gift card and a 20% discount on a new device.
Your 20% discount on a new Amazon device and your promotional gift card (for the amount of your trade-in value) will appear automatically in your account once Amazon approves your trade-in. If you brought your item to a trade-in location, great news — you'll get your payout the same day. If you mailed it, you'll wait 15 days.
Here's how we got our discount for a trade-in
We recently used the Amazon Trade-In program for a new Amazon Echo Spot by trading in an old Echo Dot. As you can see on the receipt from a recent Amazon shopping haul, here's how we used our trade-in discount. We got a 20% discount on the Echo Spot (labeled "Echo Trade-In") and a $5 gift card credit (labeled "Gift Card Amount) for trading in the Dot.
Amazon makes it easy to redeem these discounts. The 20% discount will be in your Amazon account and will be automatically applied to your new eligible device purchase. The gift card will be in your gift card balance in your Amazon account and will be applied automatically as well.
You can also pay full price for your item up front and then get a refund.
If you'd rather hang on to your device until your new one arrives, don't worry. You can still take advantage of the Amazon trade-in program. You'll just pay full price for your new item, send in the old one, and then get a 20% rebate (if you bought an Amazon device) back on your original method of payment. Your digital gift card will be deposited into your Amazon account to be used later.
Stack trade-in offers with sales to save even more during Prime Day and Black Friday.
During special events (like Prime Day, Prime Big Deal Days, and Amazon's Black Friday sale), Amazon likes to discount the list price of its devices by 30% - 50%. The trade-in program stacks with that.
Here's an example using the Echo Show 5 (original price $49.99):
35% discount from the sale ($17)
20% trade-in discount for trading in an old item ($9.99)
$5 gift card credit (after trade-in of an old item). This could be even more, depending on the item.
Total discount: $31.99 (or 64% off).
Sometimes, Amazon gives you an instant trade-in payout, but don't forget to send in your item.
During Prime Day and other major sale events, Amazon sometimes offers instant trade-in discounts. That means you just have to pinky-swear to Amazon that you're going to send in your old device. You'll get the gift card and the 20% discount up-front, so you can use them right away.
If you don't send in your item within 45 days, though, Amazon will yank your payout back by charging your credit card on file.
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