BOOST MOBILE, the world’s largest youth-focused telco brand, has announced the launch of its new smartphone Trade-In app, with a goal of providing Australians with an easy, convenient and safe way of trading in their old smartphones and iPads for cash. By increasing the number of smartphones that are traded in, Boost Mobile is looking to play its part in the circular economy, encouraging re-use of existing smartphones and easily delivering cash for unused technology, the ultimate win-win as budgets tighten and the cost of living soars ahead of Christmas.
In new research undertaken by Boost Mobile, 78% of Australians revealed they have at least one unused smartphone in their home, with 74% open to trading in or recycling their old smartphones. Lack of perceived value (52%), convenience (21%) and private data concerns (25%) were the main reasons stopping some from having their smartphones re-used or recycled.
The new Boost Mobile Trade-In app addresses these concerns, gamifying the trade-in process and enabling customers to check their phone’s and iPad’s accurate trade-in value, and receive a free Australia Post shipping label all in a few easy steps. From the comfort of your home, unwanted devices can now be assessed and valued via the app, which takes consumers through a range of six diagnostic tests to help derive a specific value. Once the customer accepts the quote they can send the device back free of charge at any Australia Post office, and once the device has been checked customers will be conveniently paid cash directly into their account.
“For our customers, the new Boost Mobile Trade-In App means both more cash and less waste. Simply put, one of the best ways to recycle is to reuse, and we are excited that our customers can now quickly and easily get money back out of their old devices while also doing the right thing by the environment,” said Boost Mobile General Manager Jason Haynes.
“At a time when cost of living is through the roof and Christmas is just around the corner, Australians could be sitting at home earning extra cash and not even know it. Our Boost Mobile Trade-in app makes it easy to trade in your unwanted devices, simply download the App and follow the steps, then send us your device with free postage and get paid cash into your account.”
With an iPhone 8 Plus 256GB in good condition and working order worth $190, and an iPhone 11 256GB worth $405, the amount of unlocked cash in draws and cupboards in homes across Australia can quickly add up, providing a nice cash bonus for Aussies as they look to celebrate the festive season in the face of rising cost of living pressures.
Australia is behind many other similar markets when it comes to trading in their smartphones, with Mobile Muster finding that only 8% of mobile phones in Australia are either being sold or traded in when someone purchases a new phone, something that is far more prevalent in the US, UK and Europe.
Having smartphones be a more regular feature of the circular economy also means less e-waste and landfill. In the UN’s 2020 Global E-Waste Monitor, Australia was reported to create 21.3kg of e-waste (including smartphones) per capita, but only recycling 9% of this. Europe by comparison leads the charge recycling 42.5% of its 16.2kg of waste per capita, and North America follows by recycling 15% of 20.9kg of e-waste per capita.
The accuracy of the trade-in app’s quote is possible thanks to a tailored selection of gamified diagnostic tests incorporated into the app to derive its trade-in market value. The six tests within the app process include a screen accuracy test, touch screen test, pixel test, phone buttons check, microphone check and battery drain test. It also takes consumers through a ‘how to’ clear data that may still remain on their smartphone before sending in their device.
The launch of the trade-in app takes Boost Mobile’s championing of refurbished smartphones to a new level, as it looks to play an even bigger role in participation in, and promotion of, the circular economy. It offers consumers an easy way to get value from their unwanted smartphones, while recycling them into the Boost refurbished phone program for re-sale. Having sold refurbished devices online for over three years, this app and trade-in program sees the offering come full circle as 98% off all devices received will be given new life via Boost’s Refurb Shop. This process furthers the environmental benefits of refurbished devices by maximising the life cycle of old phones and helping keep devices in use and out of the landfill for as long as possible.
“Refurbished and re-used technology is not a new concept to Boost Mobile, we were the first major prepaid supplier to offer refurbished smartphones for sale in July 2019. We’ve been looking at delivering a way to buy phones from customers for some time now and we are very excited to be once again leading the way in encouraging more Australians to have their phones re-used as they upgrade, while also unlocking some much-needed cash.”
The Boost Mobile Trade-In App is available to download now from the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
The 6 key tests included in the app are:
- Screen accuracy test: touch a target on the screen
- Touchscreen test: touch all points of the screen
- Pixel test: touch to identify dead pixels on an orange screen
- Phone Buttons check: check that buttons work
- Microphone check: speak directly into your device to check the sound works.
- Battery Drain Test: torch turns on and phone vibrates for 30 seconds to see by how much it drains the battery
Other checks in the app include product model and size, aesthetic condition and IMEI number.
Payment
Boost pays real money into the customer’s nominated Bank or PayPal. Once the device has been received and checked at the Alegre warehouse, the customer’s payment is processed with bank transfers usually clearing within 24 hours. Boost’s competitive pricing means a guaranteed great deal.
