Plenty of us are guilty of keeping outdated smartphones, iPads and other devices at the bottom of a drawer, never to be powered on again. You’ve heard that you shouldn’t put electronics into regular old trash cans and garbage chutes, but what are you supposed to do with them? Well, you could take your old tech items to an electronics recycling location — or you could trade them in for a gift card to use on your next Costco run.
That’s right — Costco’s “Trade-Up” program allows customers to mail in tech devices they’re no longer using in exchange for Costco Shop gift cards. Here’s what to know about the Costco trade-in program. And whenever you shop at the warehouse club, be sure to use RetailMeNot’s Costco discounts and coupons. Not a Costco member? Sign up through RetailMeNot and get a free digital shop card.
What Is the Costco Trade-In Program and What Products Are Eligible?
We’ve got some bad news for Android and Kindle users. Apple products are the main attraction for Costco’s “trade-up” incentive, which the company offers through a partnership with trade-in company Phobio. While Phobio does accept other companies’ smartphones and tablets through the Costco trade-in program, you may be less likely to have your device accepted or to get as high a value of a Costco Shop card as you would with an Apple product.
So, which electronics items (Apple or otherwise) are included? Here’s the full list, from Phobio’s website:
- Macs
- iPads
- Apple Watches
- iPhones
- Other Smartphones
- Other Tablets
Note that while non-Apple smartphones and tablets are included, laptops and desktop computers that aren’t Macs can’t be traded in for Costco Shop cards through Phobio’s program. If you have any ineligible devices taking up space in your junk drawer, try taking them to a store that offers an electronics recycling program. You might not walk away with a gift card, but you will make your home just a little bit less cluttered.
How Do You Start the Costco Trade-In Process?
The nice thing about Costco’s partnership with Phobio is that you don’t have to schlep your electronics anywhere, even to your local Costco warehouse. All you’ll need to do is ship your device to Phobio. Here’s how it works.
First off, you’ll need to go to Phobio’s website and get a quote for the item you’re trading in. You’ll need to identify the item’s manufacturer, along with providing its serial number. Inputting the specifics about your device will generate a quote from the company indicating an estimate of how much you can expect to receive on a Costco Shop card in exchange for the device.
And if you want to compare Phobio’s offer to that of other trade-in programs, there’s no reason you can’t do so. Target’s electronics trade-in program, for instance, is a bit different from Costco’s — you’ll have to take your devices into the electronics section at select Target stores to see if they’re eligible for the program. (If you have Amazon-branded devices to trade-in or recycle, Amazon offers a trade-in program through the mail, too.)
How Do You Ship Products for the Costco Trade-In Program?
Once you’ve gotten a quote from Phobio (and you’ve decided whether you want to receive a digital Costco Shop card or a physical card by mail), the next step is mailing in the electronics you’ll be trading for a Costco Shop card. Luckily, Phobio makes this process easy.
The company will send you all of the shipping supplies you need, along with packing instructions for getting your device there safely. Simply box up your device and drop it off at the proper courier. Pay close attention to those packaging instructions, though — you don’t want to have your device damaged in the shipping process, which could get you a lower-value Shop card than your initial estimate.
Getting Your Trade-In Payout from Phobio
After Phobio receives the device you’re trading in, the company will wipe all of the files and data off your device, so you don’t need to worry about your digital privacy being compromised. You’ll get a Costco Shop card (either physical or digital, depending on your specified preference), and you’ll be on your way to a money-saving trip to the warehouse giant. (Note that you can’t redeem Costco Shop cards for cash or use them for Same-Day Delivery Instacart orders from Costco.)
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