Mail-in buyers like Gazelle and ItsWorthMore, or a local cash buyer?

How mail-in buyers work

Gazelle and ItsWorthMore both work the same basic way. You answer questions about the device online and get a quote. After you accept, a prepaid shipping label is provided, you pack the device and send it in, and payment follows after your device has been reviewed. Both state that a quote is only held for a limited time, 30 days at Gazelle and 21 days at ItsWorthMore according to their own pages, and a device that arrives later can be re-quoted at the then-current value. Payment is by check, PayPal, Zelle or a gift card depending on the site, and the timing is stated in days, not minutes. Check each site's own page for the current terms, since they change.

What happens if the final offer is different

Both sites say the offer can change after the device arrives if it does not match the answers you gave. Gazelle says the offer can go up or down and gives you five days to accept or decline. ItsWorthMore says it sends a revised offer and gives you three days. On both, not responding counts as acceptance. If you decline, each says the device is sent back to you at no charge. That is a reasonable system, and it is also the honest cost of any mail-in sale: you find out the final number after the phone is already in someone else's hands, and you may be waiting on a return shipment if you say no.

Decluttr is closed

Decluttr comes up in these searches, but its own website now says it has officially closed, with customer service available only for orders already placed. If you were planning to use it, use another buyer.

How a local buyer differs

With us, nothing is shipped. You text or call (518) 501-0602 with the make, model and condition, or send a photo, and we tell you the same day whether it is something we can buy and set a time. We meet one seller at a time by appointment in the Albany area, or come to you anywhere in the Capital Region. We give you the number in person, and you are paid in cash before we leave. If you say no, you keep the device. The how it works page walks through each step.

When a mail-in buyer is the better pick

A mail-in buyer suits someone who has no interest in meeting anyone, who is not in a hurry, who lives outside the area we cover, or who has a device that is easy to pack and simple to describe. Shipping is generally free, and you can do it all from your couch. If you are comfortable waiting a week or so for payment and you are happy to be paid by PayPal or check, it is a sensible option and we would rather say so.

When a local buyer is the better pick

A local buyer suits someone who wants cash today, who wants to know the number before the device leaves their hands, who has several devices at once, or who does not want to pack and track a shipment. It also suits anything awkward to ship, such as a laptop, a console with its controllers or a camera with its lenses. We buy phones, tablets, laptops, game consoles, cameras, smartwatches and more, so it is one meeting and not several parcels. Tell us what you have through the phones page.

Prepare the device either way

Mail-in buyers ask you to back up, remove the SIM, turn off Find My or the Google equivalent, and reset the device before it ships, and they say a device still locked to an account can delay things. The steps are the same for a local sale. A device still tied to an account cannot change hands, whoever the buyer is. The before-you-sell guide covers the steps for each kind of device.

Quick answers

Do mail-in buyers like Gazelle and ItsWorthMore change their offer after the device arrives?

They can. Both say the offer may change if the device does not match what you described, and both let you accept the revised offer or decline it. Check each site's own page for the current time limit and what happens if you do not respond.

How long does it take to get paid by a mail-in buyer?

Generally several days to a couple of weeks after the device arrives. The sites state payment timing in days, and checks take longer than PayPal or Zelle. A local buyer pays cash at the meetup.

Is Decluttr still buying phones?

No. Decluttr's own website says it has officially closed, with customer service open only for orders already placed.

Do I get my device back if I decline a mail-in buyer's revised offer?

Yes. Gazelle and ItsWorthMore both say a declined device is returned to you free of charge. The return takes a few days, and you cannot sell it elsewhere in the meantime.

Where can I sell a phone for cash near Albany without shipping it?

Cash For Electronics Albany pays cash in person, by appointment in the Albany area or at your door across the Capital Region. Use the quote form on the phones page or text us the model and condition.

Ready to ask about yours? Visit Sell your phone for cash in Albany: a local phone buyer near you. See our overview of who buys used electronics for cash in Albany. See our selling it yourself or to a local buyer. See our ecoATM kiosk or a local buyer. See our before-you-sell guide. Back to all guides.