BuyBackWorld

Sell: BuyBackWorld is a site where you can sell your old cell phone, cameras, gift cards, electronics and electronic accessories

Expected pay: NA

Husl$core: $$

Commissions & fees: Not applicable

Where: Nationwide

Requirements: Electronics and the legal right to sell them

Review:

Like Gazelle, The Whiz Cells and ItsWorthMore, this site offers to buy your cell phone or other electronics. You describe your item; get a quote; they send postage and you send in the device. Easy peasy.

The problem is that a litany of consumers complain that the site is a bait and switch operation. BuyBackWorld consistently finds fault with the products sent in, dramatically cutting the offer once consumers send in their cell phone or tablet. In some cases, consumers who claim they sent in items in great condition and demanded they be returned when the site claimed they were damaged, said the items did come back with damage, as if to justify the low valuation.

While other sites have a few similar complaints, the number and severity of the complaints about Buy Back World indicate that this site has unique problems. All three of the other sites mentioned in this review would be better choices to sell your electronics.

What their users say: (From Facebook)

“The quotations offered from BuyBackWorld are reasonable, until you send your device in. What they do is malicious. By giving a reasonable initial offer they bait the customer into sending their device to them. When received they review the device and give an adjusted offer. The adjusted offer is always lower, usually much, much lower than the initial offer. They count on consumers who don’t want the hassle of selling themselves to cave and accept a lowball offer. I did this with two devices and two identical results. The second of the two was a 100% functional and beautiful iPad2. They offered me $45 (selling on eBay for $55 to $90) and I thought, well it’s easy so let’s do it. When I sent my iPad into them, they came back with a final offer of $12…no explanation. Got my iPad back and sold it on eBay for $90.”

“They offered me a good price for my iPhone 6 which was in great condition. Once they received it, they lowballed me and said it had a cracked screen, which it did not. They are deceitful and should not be trusted. 

“Their offer had dropped from $70 to $12. The cable is worth almost 12 dollars…..I recommend throw your device away rather than dealing with this organization.”

From the Better Business Bureau:

“DO NOT SEND YOUR ITEMS IN. I sent in several items, received confirmation they were received and one week later began receiving emails they did not get them. After responding and requesting attention they canceled my trade with no contact and now I don’t have my items or my money!”

“Sent my used iPhone 6 in. I stated that it was in average condition. They offered $220 and sent me shipping labels. A few weeks later they sent me an email stating that my phone is suffering from “LCD compression,” which it was not. My new price is $55. I should have checked the reviews before I shipped.”

“Our company IT department evaluated my iPhone as being in excellent condition. BuyBack World said it was damaged and offered to pay 1/3 of its original quote. I suspect this is their business model.”

“This company is a complete and total scam! They make an offer to buy your phone that is in perfect condition so you send your phone and then they say your phone is damaged and is only worth $12 and not the $81 they had offered! This has happened to me 2 times now. The 1st time it happened, I thought that maybe it was damaged in the shipping. This 2nd time I shipped my phone back with the hard cover on backward to protect the screen and once again they say my phone was damaged!! Will never use this company again.”

“By email they told me they would pay me $100 for my Samsung Galaxy s6. So I sent it to them. Weeks later they tell me the phone is “password protected” (It is not!) and offered me $10! I told them to send my phone back.”

Try Buy Back World