Exclusive: Gizmodo can confirm that at least some EB Games locations will now let you trade in your smartphone for cash or store credit. For instance, the 32GB iPhone 4 will net you $267 to spend in store, or 20 per cent less if you want the cash.
An EB Games employee told us that the smartphone trade-ins “started last Friday, and there’s a brochure in store.” A second employee with access to an updated “trade-in list” said the retailer isn’t re-selling used phones to customers, and that they’re most likely being offloaded in bulk.
There’s no mention of phones on EB Games’ trade-in site, suggesting the program may be in limited trials — possibly only in Queensland and Western Australia.
Giz was also informed that the 16GB iPhone 4 trades-in at $262 — just $5 behind the 32GB model. Score! Well, if you’ve got a 16GB, that is. A range of other smartphones, including BlackBerry handsets and Android phones are also being accepted. The HTC Desire fetches a price of $120.
Meanwhile, Gizmodo also received a screenshot of what appears to be the EB Games inventory system. It clearly shows a range of iPhone models, new and old, though no prices are listed. The anonymous employee who sent us the shot says it looks “similar to just before we started trading iPods and iPads.”
From the confirmations we received in our call-arounds today, that appears to be the case. But those prices. Woah. EB usually low-balls a bit on game trade-ins, and it looks like that’s continuing here.
Biderjum
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 11:58 AM16GB iPhone 4 = $350 cash from muzumo sounds better to me
Nic
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 12:23 PMSoon they’ll be offering a fiver with a bonus stick of gum for your first-born.
Jay
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 12:52 PMWhy are they buying phones?
I sold mine iPhone 4 16GB for $400
Iain Dickson
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 1:00 PMI don’t know, but I’m sold. It’s a good outlet for those phones that have the water damage indicator on, but still work perfectly well, to get the most money.
InformedGamer
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 1:02 PMOr you could sell it on ebay for $600. Morons…
Chumly
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 1:20 PMEB seems to be becoming the new cash converters.
I wonder if they’ll take an old VCR and some simpsons VHS recordings for a Mass Effect 3 preorder…
Maybe do a pay day loan with my copy of Karaoke Revolution as security?
Trent
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 1:21 PMiPhones are not Smartphones.
Corteks
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 4:20 PMHah!
+1
Jordan
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 10:27 PMThank you!
Thatguy
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 1:22 PMI wonder if they’re checking with the police to see if these are stolen or not?
I doubt it. Seems like a good way to fence goods.
Rick
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 1:26 PMYou can get $600-700 on eBay for an iPhone 4 32GB. I know EB need to make money off the deal, but damn.
Rick
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 1:27 PM^ Trentposts are not Smartposts
Jordan
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 10:28 PMyour opinion is wrong
donclon
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 1:36 PMis this like everywhere in aus?
chugs
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 1:55 PMum guys are you all missing the point or perhaps EB failed to label it properly for you
$267 for a ‘stolen’ iphone
Andrew
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 2:27 PMlol, if I “stole” and iphone, I’d still sell it on ebay for $600 rather than to EB for nearly nothing.
Nowheredotcom
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 4:27 PMWhat and eBay you get $500 plus in cash… Gezz this is a joke really.
EBee
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 10:56 PMI think you’re ALL missing the point here.
As an employee, I KNOW EB are just currently experimenting with Apple products as trade-ins and also sales. I wouldn’t expect any of you to wander into my store and trade your iPhone to me for the prices offered, I personally feel kinda embarrassed offering them myself. It’s the company’s way of treading the waters to see if people would be interested in selling their old smartphone and if it would be worth trying to resell them.
IMO, I hate dealing with Apple and the fact that my retailer that’s supposed to specialise in games is currently flaunting iPod’s as a ‘gaming platform’ just pisses me off and smartphones just throws fuel on the fire. I’m there to sell games to customers, not to work behind a god damn Genius bar.
Mr.NiK
Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 2:26 PMA real EB employee would not defend EB.
EBee
Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 5:55 PMHow do you figure that?
Ruku
Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 10:37 AMI don’t see what your problem is… iPhones/iPod Touchs/etc (the mobile market in general) as a gaming platform has grown at a tremendous rate. Your personal bias aside, if you knew anything about the games industry, you would understand why EB is trying to sell a platform with a larger user base than the Nintendo DS…
Steve
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 11:13 PM“32GB iPhone 4 will net you $267 to spend in store, or 20 per cent less if you want the cash.”
Wow. At least offer something a bit more plausible to see if people are open to the idea. I’ve traded in iPods in the past when the trade-in prices were reasonable.
Shaun
Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 2:00 AMEB Games – RIP OFF
EB Manager
Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 2:11 AMJust confirming this is only being trailed in WA and QLD.
We will trade ANY phone which has a working colour screen and a charger for a minimum of $5. The more popular/recent phones (iPhone, Blackberry, Nokia’s, etc) are given a premium trade value.
chris
Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 10:11 AMi don’t know how eb are still alive.. then again if they happen to sell 2 games they could pay their staff for a week at their prices… why can’t they at least attempt to be competitive?!
EBee
Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 5:56 PMWere not competitive, yet were still alive. Obviously were doing something right. ;-)
Nubz
Saturday, July 23, 2011 at 3:54 PMThose trade in are PATHETIC! I have sold a 16gb iPhone 3G on Ebay and got $400 just 2 weeks ago, some of them even get up to $450!!
Iphone 4 can easily fetch $600
Ruku
Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 10:42 AMThese trade-in offers, similar to the trade-ins on games, is just ludicrously insulting.
Jenny
Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 6:11 PMI’ve got a iPhone 3GS 32gbs in working condition and with a cable. How much can I get it for (in money), I asked cash converters, they will only give me $50 fir it!!! That’s a rip off!!!