What do you do with old cell phones????

[slowburninsteve]

Over the years I have accummulated a box full of old cell phones. Does anyone know of a place that would want them? I hate to put them in the trash (and it may not be acceptable to do so). Thanks!
Steve
Roanoke, VA

 

[BarbC]

They can be recycled. I got a boxful from the local Safe Haven shelter to distribute to my elderly because they can be used to dial 911.

I believe there are also programs to distribute the phones to military members.

 

[Bob R]

Best Buy used to have a recycling box for phones, they may still have them.

If you have the chargers, take them and the phones to the local women's shelter. Like Barb said, as long as they are charged thay can be used to dial 911.


If you don't have the chargers, go to your local hotels and motels where business people stay and ask if they have any they would let you look through. If you explain why they will usually just let you have them.

bob

 

[JWiley]

Welcome to Cell Phones for Soldiers!

Do make sure all your personal info has been deleted before you donate. And the battery fully discharged.

 

[ladder13]

Welcome to Cell Phones for Soldiers!

Do make sure all your personal info has been deleted before you donate. And the battery fully discharged.

+1 that's where I send mine.

 

[BrianE]

Delete all information, bring them to work and they give them to the battered womans shelter.........

 

[n4zov]

Just Google "Donate Used Cell Phones" and you will turn up a lot of places that want them.

 

[Moonman]

The 911 always works, so shelters for abused woman can always use them.

 

[USAF385]

When I get a new phone, I hold on to my old one. If I break the new one I can just re-activate my old phone until I find a replacement. It has proven useful a few times (for me and others) having a spare phone laying around. My other old phones have been donated to the organizations mentioned above.

 

[bennettfam]

I agree with USAF385! My son dropped my wife's phone into a cup of iced tea, and my daughter lost hers in a mosh pit at a Christian rock concert. Reactivating old phones has saved us $ twice until the 2-year contract cycled us into a new phone again. Just remember to hang onto that charge cord too.

 

[zoom6zoom]

Best Buy used to have a recycling box for phones, they may still have them.

Yes, and it's being updated to accept more items, like plastic bags and such.

 

[stk622]

They can be recycled. I got a boxful from the local Safe Haven shelter to distribute to my elderly because they can be used to dial 911.

I believe there are also programs to distribute the phones to military members.

Battered womens shelter also is a very good way to help with your old phones.

 

[cp1969]

They make good targets.

 

[badam0112]

I sell them on Ebay. I always keep the box, manual and power cords when we buy a phone. When we upgrade a phone, the old one goes on Ebay.

 

[pistolite]

You might try this:

How A 17-Year-Old Craigslist-Swapped An Old Phone For A Porsche

 

[slowburninsteve]

Today I took the old phones and donated them to the local battered women's shelter run by the Salvation Army. They were thrilled to get them and even wrote me a tax deductable receipt. They let the residents check them out when they are going to be out of the shelter either working, looking for a job, or going to doctor appointments. I think they went to a good cause.
Steve

 

[sipowicz]

I use them to call old friends.

 

[zercool]

I'm very torn about the phones to the shelters. I approve of the concept 100%... but in practice, it has problems.

Old phones have no contract, so they have no number associated with them. Therefore, no way to call them back or determine who has it. Cell locating technology for 911 is nowhere near perfect - most companies only guarantee 50yd accuracy or so with the latest phones. As I'm sure you can imagine that could cover an entire apartment building... and with an older phone, the technology isn't anywhere near as good. Some companies still have the old tech on their towers, too, which narrow it down to about 5 square miles. :-\

I have had more than one call from a 911-only cell phone that was clearly a nasty domestic - but no location, no callback number, and no way to send help. It's a sickening feeling.

 

[Jupiter01]

Burn them all at the stake....a fitting end !

 

[OFT II]

Burn them all at the stake....a fitting end !

Wow! You dug this one out of the attic. The thread is six and a half years old.