Cash for Gadgets

In good times, you just threw stuff out. But in a recession, consumer interest in both buying and selling used electronics and other goods is thriving, with a whopping 63% of thrift and consignment stores reporting an increase in revenue this year. For those of us who don't have time to create an eBay (EBAY) listing, respond to all the auction queries and ship the item, there are easier ways.

Online Buyback Services. With these services, sellers complete a short questionnaire about their gizmo's condition and receive a value estimate and a prepaid postage label for mailing the item. Once the company inspects the device, it responds with a firm offer and a check. Of course, these services pay a fraction of what you'd get for selling the same device on eBay: A used second-generation 32GB iPod Touch fetches about $300 on the auction site, while the buyback services offer $70 to $210. Trade-in values vary widely from one site to another, so compare offers beforehand.

Of the major buyback sites, Gazelle.com may have the most convenient service. It sends a free, postage-paid box and will arrange to return your item if you're unhappy with the post-inspection offer. CExchange.com and EZtradein.com sometimes offer more cash but won’t send a box or return the item for free. And BuyMyTronics.com buys damaged goods the others may not accept; for example, it'll buy your cracked-screen iPod Touch for $44.

EBay Middlemen. There are thousands of eBay “trading assistants” who will auction items for a cut of the sale. Some will even retrieve it from a seller's home or mail a check.

Again, it’ll cost you. National franchise iSold It charges commissions ranging from 33% to 40% of the sale price, for example. Locate an eBay-screened middleman in your town at ebaytradingassistant.com/directory.

Trade-in Guarantees. For an upfront fee, you can lock in your trade-in value. Several retailers and web sites offer this, but TechForward.com is the only major seller that deals with most electronics (not iPhones) no matter where they were purchased. The site sells buyback contracts that offer a guaranteed 20% to 50% of what you paid. Its fee: $20 on a digital camera, $150 for a large flat-screen TV includes a prepaid mailing label and shipping materials. A Garmin Nuvi GPS, purchased in fall 2007 for $800 would yield $160 today if you had paid $20 for the guarantee. Note that if you lose or break the item, TechForward won't buy it or refund the fee.