FAQ
The Trade-In
Why do I need to create an account?
Prepping Your Phone
How do I erase all the data from my cell phone?
Do I need to cancel my service or deactivate my cell phone?
How do I find my cell phone’s IMEI/ESN number?
How can I tell if my cell phone has been water damaged?
How do I know what cell phone model I have?
Do you want my charger and other accessories?
Do you accept broken or damaged cell phones?
What model cell phones do you accept?
Your Privacy
Do you keep my information safe and private?
Money Matters
Other Questions
The Trade-In
Why do I need to create an account?
We want to know where to send your cash or store credit. Creating an account also will allow you to log in to check the status of your Flipswapped phone. And it makes it easier to trade in more cell phones in the future.
Prepping Your Phone
How do I erase all the data from my cell phone?
Most cell phone models allow you to erase all your personal data – your phone directory, photos, text messages, etc. —and reset it to the factory settings. Just refer to your owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s website for instructions. Also, make sure to remove any user locks, or set the password to 0000, before you trade in your cell phone.
Do I need to cancel my service or deactivate my cell phone?
Yes. All Sprint, Verizon, Alltel, US Cellular, Cellular One, metroPCS, and NTelos cell phones, and all other CDMA cell phones that do not use a SIM card, must be released and have a zero account balance. If you send us a phone from CDMA carriers that is not released or carries an unpaid balance, you may not receive credit for your trade-in. (CDMA is one of the two main network technologies. The other is GSM. Most carriers use one or the other.)
How do I find my cell phone’s IMEI/ESN number?
Most cell phones have the IMEI or ESN number located on the sticker underneath the battery. If your cell phone is GSM (most Cingular and T-Mobile phones), you can also press the following keys one at a time: * # 0 6 #. As you press the last #, your phone’s IMEI number will appear on the screen.
How can I tell if my cell phone’s water damage sticker has been activated?
Most cell phones have a water damage sticker underneath the battery. If the sticker is a red dot that has “bled” beneath your battery, that means your phone has come into contact with moisture or water. You’re phone may function normally even though it has come into contact with moisture and the sticker has turned red.
How do I know what cell phone model I have?
If the model number is not visible on the front it can usually be found on a sticker underneath the cell phone’s battery.
Do you want my charger and other accessories?
We will gladly accept your wall charger, car charger, or any other accessories for your cell phone. Simply include them in the package when you ship your cell phone to us. And remember: We pay the postage.
Do you accept broken or damaged cell phones?
Some broken or damaged cell phones still have enough value for us to pay you for them. If not, we will gladly accept them for recycling.
What model cell phones do you accept?
We accept ANY phone from ANY carrier in ANY condition!
What if my cell phone isn’t listed?
Please send an email to (support@flipswap.com). Make sure to include the manufacturer and model of the cell phone. We will add it to our system and notify you by email when it has been added so you can trade it in!
Can I trade in more than one cell phone?
There is no limit to the number of cell phones you can trade in.
Your Privacy
Do you keep my information safe and private?
We will never sell or give your information to 3rd parties. Please see our Privacy Policy for more details.
Money Matters
We do. Once you have determined the trade-in value of your cell phone and accepted the credit offered, just print out a prepaid USPS shipping label. There is no cost for you to trade in your cell phone.
We send checks on the 15th and last day of every month. You will be notified via email when your cell phones are received, and again when we mail your check. The entire process generally takes three weeks from the day you ship us your cell phone.
Other Questions
What do you do with my cell phone?
If your cell phone is in working condition or can be repaired, we make sure it goes to a place where it can be reused. If your cell phone is beyond repair, we recycle it using the most environmentally friendly methods currently available.
Can I get my cell phone back once I send it to Cell Phone Trade-Ins?
Unfortunately, once you send us your phone, we are unable to send it back to you.