FAQ2018-01-14T15:46:41-05:00
I’m not sure how to grade this device2022-12-05T10:04:57-05:00

Grading devices is very important because Buyers keep their prices high when they trust that we’ll grade devices fairly. Here are a few tips:

  • Check first for water damage. If a device is water damaged, you don’t need to worry about anything else. You won’t be asked to give the device a cosmetic grade once you indicate that it has water damage.
  • Look at the phone from the side to ensure that it isn’t bent. If the device is bent, check the box indicating that the device is water damaged or bent.
  • Check the screen carefully. You’re looking for cracks, chips or deep scratches. A desk lamp is helpful when checking screens, as the reflection can be used to identify problems. If the screen is scratched badly enough that it would be annoying to use, you should check the questionnaire box indicating that the screen is severely scratched. If the screen is loose (when you press on it you can see it move relative to the body of the device) you should indicate that it’s broken. A loose screen is usually the result of a poor screen replacement and the Buyer will probably have to replace it again.
  • Check the body of the device for scratches and dents. Reference the Device Condition Matrix on the Resources page of your Cellbie account to determine which cosmetic grade to choose.
  • Although it’s technically possible to process a phone with multiple problems (e.g. cracked screen and broken back) as Unacceptable condition, please process these phones as Recycles using the Broken flow. Such devices are almost always beyond economical repair and do not justify Unacceptable pricing.

If you always follow these steps and stick to the guidelines in the Device Condition Matrix, you should expect great feedback from Cellbie Buyers!

What are the benefits of buying through Cellbie?2018-01-14T15:43:53-05:00

We’re glad you asked! Here are a few reasons:

  1. It’s really simple. When you sign up, we’ll create a Cellbie account that you’ll use to enter and maintain your online price list. Changes you make are instantly reflected in the Cellbie Marketplace, so you have complete and immediate control. You’ll immediately start competing for devices at our many trade-in points (highest price for the specific device being sold wins).
  2. We’ll get you access to phones you wouldn’t otherwise be able to purchase. We have lots of retailers, repair stores and bulk traders who sell devices exclusively through Cellbie. You won’t need to develop the relationships, sign the contracts, set up payment mechanisms, etc. We’ve done it for you.
  3. You won’t get surprises. (maybe this should be first). We precisely identify devices (make, model and memory size) and we test them so you know their condition when you buy them. You won’t be wasting time reporting discrepancies and managing reconciliation payments.
  4. Your Cellbie account will give you real-time visibility to your purchases and provide you with detailed reporting.
  5. If all that isn’t enough, we’ll even provide you with price trend information so you can anticipate rather than react to price changes!

Sound good? Contact us!

I’m responsible for my company’s cell phones. Can I use Cellbie?2018-01-13T13:51:14-05:00

Yes indeed. If you work with a wireless dealer, you can speak to them about trading devices in using Cellbie. They might already be working with us! If not, you can mention us to them (or them to us) and we’ll get them set up. Another option is for us to set you up directly so you can manage trade-ins yourself. We also offer a turnkey solution called Cellbie Pro, so there are lots of options to help you get the most for your used devices, which helps keep your overall costs down!

How do I get paid by Cellbie buyers?2018-01-13T13:52:32-05:00

You don’t! We pay you and our buyers pay us. The beauty of the Cellbie Marketplace is that you get the great pricing that comes from a competitive market, but you don’t have to deal with all the buyers directly. We handle all the overhead, including contracts, price lists maintenance (actually our buyers do this), etc. And of course, there are no discrepancies or reconciliations to worry about. Cellbie becomes your single point of contact for trade-in (and we’re really nice to work with).

I offer trade-in at my retail store. Is Cellbie suitable for retail use?2018-01-13T13:52:52-05:00

Definitely! The Cellbie Retail system is designed specifically to meet the needs of retailers. Providing top trade-in prices is a great way to enable activations and new device and accessory sales. A complete trade-in, including device identification, condition rating, automated diagnostic testing, lock checks, theft checks and content wipe can be completed in under six minutes. At the end of the process, the device is sold and you have a bag tag that indicates the buyer and shipping address. Not only that, we provide comprehensive reporting capabilities via our secure web interface. Depending on your Point of Sale (POS) system, we can provide an integration that will automatically populate fields in your POS with key information such as IMEI, make, model, memory and price.

You get the best trade-in prices and total respect for your Retail Associates’ and customers’ time.

My phone is broken. Can I still trade it in?2018-01-13T13:53:18-05:00

Absolutely! Many of our buyers have repair facilities and are very interested in broken devices. This includes devices with broken screens or common problems like defective cameras or speakers. You’ll be surprised how much your broken device is worth. By building a marketplace of buyers, we’ve ensured that we have buyers for almost any kind of device, and that they’re willing to pay competitive prices!

How is Cellbie different from other trade-in programs?2018-01-13T13:54:05-05:00

Great question! Unlike legacy trade-in companies, Cellbie doesn’t buy or sell used smartphones. Cellbie is a software platform that connects buyers and sellers. This means we have no vested interest in device prices. We don’t try to make prices go up or down. We let the market set prices, so you can feel confident that the price is right whether you’re buying or selling!

We’ve built our software platform to do a couple of things that are unique in the trade-in industry:

  1. We’ve created an online marketplace of device buyers. Our buyers have entered price lists and will compete to purchase all the devices we can get them!
  2. We’ve put powerful, but easy to use, technology at the point of trade-in to precisely identify a device (make, model, memory,etc.), to remove activation locks, and to test devices to determine their level of functionality. This eliminates mistakes and enables us to offer our “No discrepancies, no reconciliations” policy.

By creating an online marketplace of buyers, we’ve ensured that device prices are the best in the industry. By moving device testing from the warehouse to the point of trade-in, we’ve eliminated the nasty surprises that are so common in the legacy trade-in business.

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