Cell Phone Jail

Bob Sullivan, an MSNBC technology consultant, recently wrote about the plight Americans are facing every day with postpaid carriers and some tricky ways out of your contract. As we all know, most wireless carriers in the U.S. make you sign your life away for a free phone. This practice effectively does two things, misconstrue Americans perception of the actual cell phone value (Razors are not free believe it or not) and forces premature upgrades.

Currently, the average life of a cell phone in America is 18 months, while its been proposed in certain studies that a cell phones have actually been designed to last up to seven years. Before there was a cell phone recycling market, this frequent upgrading was creating unnecessary e-waste. However, the general public is wising up and realizing that their old phone still has a use. Whether its being melted down for its precious metals, being provided as a 911 life line, or raising money for a non-profit, retired phones are increasingly finding an alternate home.

There are a myriad of companies out there that will take your old phone and find a second home for it, but how do you choose one? Here are some helpful hints in choosing a company to give your old cell phone to:

• Price guide: Make sure you read the fine print. Some companies will only pay you if your phone is in perfect working order. Also, don't be fooled into thinking your going to get the most for your cell phone just because they pay UP TO $300. Odds are your not going to have that type of phone to turn in, its a marketing scam.
• Shipping: Shipping should always be free. Most of the companies offer free shipping via USPS, UPS, or FedEx.

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