Selling an old mobile? How to get the best price

Our new site, www.mobilevaluer.com, which compares what companies that buy your old phones will pay out, shows that consumers who pick the wrong buyer are often sorely underpaid.

Dozens of firms have sprung up peppering TV screens over recent months offering to pay you for an unwanted mobile, offering over £200 for the latest gadget. But with so many to choose from, it can be difficult to know which gives the best price.

Take someone selling a used Samsung Z700. The Mobilevaluer.com site shows you can earn £55 from the best payer but just £7 – an 87% loss – if you went direct to the worst payer.

You can often make even more cash by selling your handset on eBay, though that can be a hassle, so it's weighing up whether you want to spend a little longer to get a better price.

Often with simple phone-buying sites, you register your phone online, it sends a jiffy bag to send it back in and you receive a cheque. The whole process usually takes 7-10 days.

Below are the differences between the best and worst payers for the most popular search on Mobilevaluer.com this week.

Martin Lewis, creator of MoneySavingExpert.com, says: "Don't fall for the marketing hype from mobile recycling companies, and simply get rid of your phone having seen a fun advert without comparing prices.

"It's worth balancing out whether you should be selling the phone on eBay too. For lower value phones, unless you're a regular eBay seller, the difference probably isn't worth it.

"However, if you've got a hi-tech model, it's worth considering doing it yourself on eBay. In fact, for these phones, if you give it to some of the recycling companies it's not unknown that they will simply flog it on eBay themselves."

Further reading/Key links

Slash mobile costs: Cheap Mobiles Sell old mobiles: Mobilevaluer.com iPhone guide: Cheap iPhones