We buy phones all day, every day, across eight shops. The people who walk out quickest with the most money in their hand are always the ones who did a bit of prep at home. It takes about five minutes.
1. Back it up first
Do this before anything else, because the next step wipes the phone. iPhone, Settings, your name, iCloud, iCloud Backup, Back Up Now. Android, Settings, Google, Backup, Back up now.
Take five minutes to check the photos actually went up. We cannot get them back for you once the phone is wiped, and it is heartbreaking when somebody realises in the car park.
2. Turn off Find My, this one matters most
This is the single biggest reason a sale stalls at our counter.
If Find My iPhone or the Google equivalent is still switched on, the phone stays locked to your account even after a reset. It is called activation lock and it makes the phone worthless to anyone else. We cannot buy it, and no legitimate shop can.
iPhone, Settings, your name, Find My, Find My iPhone, and turn it off. It will ask for your Apple password. Android, Settings, Google, Find My Device, turn it off, and remove your Google account under Settings, Accounts.
If you have forgotten the password, sort it out at home where you have the email to hand. Trying to do it stood at a counter is nobody's idea of a good time.
3. Factory reset it
Once it is backed up and unlocked, wipe it. iPhone, Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Erase All Content and Settings. Android, Settings, System, Reset, Factory data reset.
Take your SIM card and any memory card out while you are at it.
4. Find the charger and the box
You do not have to have them. But the original box, cable and any accessories genuinely do add to what we can pay, particularly on newer handsets and on anything unusual. Have a look in the drawer.
5. Know your battery health
On an iPhone it is Settings, Battery, Battery Health and Charging. A phone at 90 percent and above is worth more than the same phone at 78 percent, and knowing the number before you come in means you already know roughly where you stand.
We will test it ourselves anyway, on the counter, in front of you. But there are no surprises if you already know.
Then bring it in
Bring photo ID. We are legally required to take it when we buy, the same as every legitimate buyer, and it protects you as much as us.
We test the phone while you wait, tell you the price, and pay you the same day. No posting it off and waiting a week to find out they have knocked a hundred quid off.
And if you are not sure you want to let it go for good, ask about Buyback. Sell it to us and you have 28 days to buy it back. People use it when money is tight for a fortnight and they do not want to lose the phone over it.
You can get a price online before you set off, or just walk into any of our eight stores.