Walmart Offers Smartphone Trade-In Program

There’s now another new program to turn your working smartphones into credit towards purchase of newer models. If you have used iPhones, Samsung phones or one of more than a hundred other qualifying smartphones hanging around the office, it may be time to collect them.

Less than two weeks after Apple announced expansion of its electronics recycling program to include trade-in of smartphones at its retail stores, mega retailer Walmart has followed suit.

How the Walmart Trade-In Program Works

Walmart says its new smartphone trade-in program set to begin Sept. 21 – the day after the recently announced iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s go on sale – will be limited to its U.S. locations.

But that still includes more than 3,600 Walmart and Sam’s Club stores. The retailer is trying to position itself as the most cost effective location to purchase and upgrade mobile devices.

In an official announcement introducing the program, Steve Bratspies, executive vice president of general merchandise for Walmart U.S. explains:

More and more, customers are choosing where they purchase new smartphones based on where they’ll get the best value for their trade-ins. Our goal is to give them more value for their old devices and the lowest price for their new one…

Walmart will offer between $50 and $300 worth of store credit toward purchase of a new smartphone with a two year contract from carriers AT&T, Verizon Wireless or Sprint.

The company says it will also offer credit for smartphones available with prepaid plans like StraightTalk.

To participate, take used smartphones to an associate in the electronics department at a local Walmart or Sam’s Club for evaluation. Walmart also provides credit for trade-in of used tablets, laptops and other devices through its online “gadgets to giftcards” program.

Best Buy offers a similar online trade-in option for lightly used electronics devices.

Image: Walmart

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