uSell

What: uSell is a marketplace to sell your smart phone, iPad, iPod, tablet, Macbook, video games and video consoles to professional buyers

Expected pay: NA

Husl$core: $$

Commissions & Fees: Not applicable

Where: Nationwide

Requirements: Be of legal age (18 or older, depending on jurisdiction)

Review:

uSell acts as a go-between for individual sellers and resellers of electronics and games.  uSell is not directly involved in the transaction between buyers and sellers. As a result, it disclaims any responsibility for what those third parties do. Smart move.

The professional buyers who pick up products here don’t always act honorably, according to numerous seller reviews. Indeed, they often slash purchase prices after sellers have sent their electronics. Although some buyers appear satisfied, a number maintain they were scammed. They say they didn’t get anything close to quoted price after the buyer got their goods.

Realistically, when you are selling to a reseller, you are not going to get top dollar. After all, the reseller is going to pay uSell a fee for helping it find your products (everybody’s gotta eat) and then the reseller has to turn around and sell your phone or tablet at a profit. That’s a lot of middle-men.

You’d do better to market your cell phones and tablets at sites where there are fewer go-betweens. We’d suggest Swappa, TheWhizCells, ItsWorthMore or Gazelle. If you want to sell video games, eBay or Craigs List would be better choices. 

What their users say: From SiteJabber:

“I sent them in a phone that was in flawless condition. It was barely two months old. They email me saying it was damaged and cut the price on what they would give me big time to $3 from $40. I am now waiting for the return of it. It better still be in perfect condition because that phone was not damaged when I mailed it”

“This was a horrific experience, i was given a quote of about $100 for my iphone. No calls nothing for 2 weeks. When i contact them myself they told me we sent u a check for $9. I said what is $9? I was quoted $100 and got the most vague excuse about the market going up and down and my phone has a scratch here or there. Basically total bs. I demanded my phone back and they said no. Read the terms and conditions which is longer than the declaration of independence. Right…. people need to be aware of this scam and avoid usell unless you want to send them your valuable phone for free.”

“Complete and total scam. If you send your phone in, you have two outcomes. 1. Get absolutely nothing. No check, no word about your phone.  2. Wait months and months and get a check for under 10 bucks. What’s their excuse? Either they didn’t get it, or your phone was “damaged.” Stay away. Far away.”

From ComplaintBoard: 

“Sent in a 64 GB Iphone 6. Phone was IMMACULATE and usell claimed the “screen clicks when pressed on” which is made up, fictitious issue. I declined their “revised offer” and am now awaiting the return on my device. Extremely disappointed with this service. I would not recommend to anyone and will actively advise anyone I see to avoid this site/business.”

“I was very disappointed when I saw that USELL underrated my phone quote for “bad side keys” – which the phone did not have. (Lowered to $40 from $73) I requested my phone to be mailed back. But the “unit” I received back had a cracked screen and a DIFFERENT SERIAL NUMBER. It looked like someone took a hammer and smashed it – AND it’s not even my phone. This is a bait & switch operation USELL is a scam….Use Gazelle or another similar reputable company instead.”

From Reseller Ratings:

“Always a bait & switch with these guys. Never get the amount quoted. I would beware and use more reputable companies such as Gazelle.”

“They offered me $65 dollars for my water damaged iPhone. Then they gave me a new offer of a $6.50.  I finally got the phone back after a week of waiting and I took it to the ecoATM in Walmart and sold it to them for $20. Don’t use usell. It’s a rip-off, even Walmart will give you a better deal.”