Witches, ghosts and goblins, oh my! With Halloween just around the corner, it’s our favorite time of year to huddle around the campfire and share spooky stories. At Phobio, we can’t think of anything more frightening than what some consumers do with their old phones, tablets and laptops. Here are a few of the most hair-raising device horror stories we’ve heard: 

Terror in the Trash

Believe it or not, many consumers simply throw away their old phones and unwanted devices. This terrifying tale is disturbing for two reasons. First, if consumers toss their devices without erasing their data, they’re putting their personal information at risk. Secondly, trashing a phone, tablet or other device is horrible for the environment. 

In 2020, there are an estimated 3.5 billion smartphone users across the globe. If all of these folks dumped their old devices, our planet would be littered with heaps of environmentally-unfriendly waste. Fortunately, trade-in programs give consumers and businesses the opportunity to recycle or refurbish and resell their unwanted phones. This not only reduces waste; it also extends the life of the materials used to make devices.

Monsters in the Closet

What’s hiding in your closet? If you’re like thousands of other Americans, probably dusty stacks of outdated phones, tablets and other devices. Each of these old units represents a missed opportunity for consumers and businesses. 

If you have tech devices you no longer use, don’t leave them sitting on a shelf to lose value. Trade them in for cash or a credit to put towards a newer model. Even if a device is no longer in working order, you can still send it in to be recycled. If any of the device’s internal or external parts still function, they can be removed prior to recycling and reused by manufacturers. The EPA reports that for every million cell phones recycled, 35,000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium are recovered.

Dreadful Data Disasters

Each year, countless consumers and businesses forget to back up their data before trading in their devices. The horror! When a trade-in provider receives a phone or other device, the first thing they do is erase all the data. This is why it’s critical to back up all your files, photos, music and contacts. Once you’ve shipped off your device, there’s no retrieving that info.

After you back up your data, we recommend performing a factory reset to guarantee all of your information is deleted from the device. This also will restore the device to its factory settings. Here at Phobio, we always perform a secure data erasure from every device we receive to safeguard privacy and protect personal information. If any media or data cannot be erased, we recycle the device instead of reselling it.

At Phobio, we’re proud to offer fright-free trade-in solutions. We work with top mobile operators and consumer electronics brands to build simple and transparent trade-in programs their customers love. Not only do we help consumers get the most value for their device trade-ins; we also help companies boost device sales and elevate their brand. Want to learn more? Contact us today!