Got E-Waste? Target, RadioShack Will Buy Your Old iPhone

One of the pitfalls of our ever improving tech devices is that we throw away perfectly good gadgets. You can probably recall at least one instance of replacing a cell phone not because it was broken beyond repair, but because a sleek new model caught your eye.

Planned obsolescence is sometimes more about perception than functionality, and that old phone you recently replaced might be just what someone else is looking for. That's why retailers like Target and RadioShack are partnering with websites like NextWorth, Gazelle, and CExchange to buy back used gadgets for store credit (or cold hard cash if you go directly through NextWorth.)

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There are a lot of winners in these programs: Target and RadioShack get more foot traffic, meaning more chances for people to spend money in their stores; customers have more options for buying pre-owned devices at reduced rates; and functional electronics stay in use and out of landfills.

Sure, there are plenty among us who are motivated to sell old products on Ebay or Craigslist or seek out e-waste recyclers, but adoption of these programs by brick-and-mortar stores makes it easy for everyone else.

Via PSFK

Photo (cc) by Flickr user kevindooley