Earn Free Amazon Gift Cards with the Amazon Trade-in Program

Selling no longer used items from around the house is one of the most popular ways to make money online. Some categories of items tend to be more in-demand and easier to sell such as books and electronics. People don’t mind buying them second-hand and they tend to be easy to ship.

There are several ways to get rid of unwanted books, electronics, DVDs, or video games. If you’re looking for a convenient way to get rid of these items, you may be interested in Amazon’s trade-in program. You can receive free Amazon gift cards for items you trade, plus Amazon will pay for shipping costs on the items you send them. Here’s an overview of the quick and easy process:

Search For Items – The first step to trading in merchandise is searching for the items you wish to sell on Amazon’s trade-in site. The categories in which Amazon accepts trade-ins are as follows:

• Phones
• Cameras
• Laptops & Tablets
• Wearables
• Textbooks & Books
• Video Games
• TV & Movies
• Music
• MP3 Players
• Other Electronics

If the item is available for trade-in, you’ll see the trade-in price and a button that will add the merchandise to your trade-in list.

The price Amazon offers can vary widely between items, so make sure you’re going to get as much or more than you could selling the item elsewhere. If you are trading in books, you can check prices at Bookscouter. If you are trading in electronics, compare prices to those at sites like Decluttr and Gazelle.

Review Your Trade-in List – After you’ve added all the items you want to trade, Amazon will display your Trade-in List. You can see the total amount of Amazon credit that you’ll receive. Some items may be worth different prices based on their condition. Amazon will assume the lowest acceptable condition and upgrade when your items are inspected. This means that you may end up getting more credit than the price displayed on this list.

Print Labels and Ship Package – Now you’ll need to print the shipping labels and securely package your merchandise. Amazon will pay the postage costs for the items. This can be an important consideration when you are deciding whether to sell the items through Amazon’s marketplace or trade them in. Sellers pay for postage in the marketplace, so you have to deduct that cost from your bottom line. If the trade-in price is close to what you could sell it for, it’s probably a better idea to stick with a trade-in. Once your items are boxed and ready, simply mail it from your home or drop it off at a post office.

Watch for Confirmation Emails – Amazon will email you upon receipt of your trade-in package. This email will also notify you of any condition changes. With a little luck, you’ll get more money because your items are in perfect condition! Also, if any items are unacceptable, Amazon will let you know and ship those back to you for free. After your items are inspected, you’ll get an email with your total trade-in amount. The credit is added to your account and can be used on your next Amazon purchase. Or, save it up for funding your Christmas shopping.

There have been reports of trade-ins being downgraded for reasons unknown to the consumer. If you run into this situation, contact customer service. During the trade-in process Amazon will ask you what you want them to do should your item be downgraded; return the item to you at no charge or accept the lower payment. Opt for the return if possible and try selling it through another means if you feel the item is in good condition and worth more than their lowest price offer.

Overall, the Amazon trade-in process is easy and convenient. While you could possibly make more money selling some items directly or via other sites or stores, the convenience of Amazon’s streamlined process has its advantages. And for some trusted purchasers, payment is instant. You don’t even have to wait for Amazon to receive your item in the mail. This can come in handy should you have an expected gift to buy or an emergency purchase comes up. An “Instant Payment” button will be displayed during the trade-in process if you are eligible for immediate store credit. Please be aware that if you take the instant payment and Amazon rejects the item or downgrades the payment upon receipt of the item for some reason, you will be charged the amount of the instant payment.

The next time you have a pile of items to get rid of, check the trade-in prices on Amazon first!

• Learn more about the Amazon Trade-In Program here.
• Want to make more money with Amazon? Check out my ultimate guide to Amazon jobs from home.