With over 98.9 million cell distributed in North America , have you ever wondered where all the old cell phones go? Is there some mysterious cell phone heaven? Maybe you have noticed them in bins at your local Staples or even at your local thrift store. Is there a good way to get rid of your cell phone, or is there some other good use they could be put towards? Believe it or not, there are some things that can be done with the ancient cell phones from the past. If you are a cell phone user that replaces his/her phone every year, then these tips might be even more valuable for you.
1. Trade it in - Several online companies (and maybe even some local ones in your neighborhood) buy old cell phones. It's a great trick for upgrading, especially if you have to pay for an upgrade to the latest cell phone. See what your old phone is worth, buy the new one, and sell the old one. The value of your old cell phone may surprise you.
2. Staples - As mentioned, Staples has introduced a recycling program for old cell phones, PDA's, and pagers. You can usually receive some sort of coupon for giving Staples your old cell phone. It may not be the best option for you, but at least your cell phone is worth something.
Staples gives them to a company called Collective Good, who then takes them to either be distributed in developing countries or has them refurbished for reuse.
3. Toys - Old cell phones can become great toys for children. They see parents with their cell phones, and often want one of their own. Deactivate your old cell phone and watch them mimic your cell phone habits. Be careful though, smaller children should probably not handle cell phones and other electronics. They may shock or cause harm if not handled correctly.
4. Your Provider - It isn't widely publicized, but your cell phone provider may actually have a cell phone recycling program. Policies vary from company to company, but you might be pleasantly surprised.
Something that may prove useful to us all is a fun product called the Sticky Pad. If your cell phone broke while in your car, this might be your lifesaver. It's a simple little pad that you place on your car dashboard. It simply holds your cell phone, PDA, or sunglasses in place while you drive. Sure works a lot better than seeing your brand new cell phone come crashing down, getting scratched-or even worse, breaking.
