CHICAGO — With last week's release of the newest version of the iPhone, some owners of the suddenly outdated version of Apple Inc.'s hit phone didn't sit home and grumble. They sold, then upgraded.
Smartphones and other tech gear that are rendered obsolete by the latest version, or just get a little old, certainly are far too valuable to stash in a drawer and forget about. In fact, with an iPhone, you might be able to sell it for nearly the price you paid. But you have to know how to play the "recommerce" game to get top dollar.
Recommerce isn't just for iPhones but for many of today's tech gadgets, from Black Berry phones to Xbox gaming consoles to laptop and tablet computers. Some consumers are seeking cash, while others just want a "green" way to dispose of their electronics.
"The very worst thing you can do from an economic and an ecological perspective is stick it in your drawer and later throw it in your trash," said Joe McKeown, vice president of marketing and communication for the phone buyback site ReCellular.com.
Reselling is "the right thing to do for your pocketbook and the environment," he said.
Used iPhones are an extreme case because they are always in high demand.
Like the price of a stock, price quotes for used iPhones fluctuate on websites that buy gadgets from consumers. Prices vary more on product-launch days.
"People just want to have the latest and greatest," said Kristina Kennedy, spokeswoman for Gazelle.com.
"When they're on a plane and the person sits down next to them, they want them to notice they have the iPhone 5, not the iPhone 4. There's sort of a badge of honor that comes for the hard-core Apple enthusiasts with having the newest one."
Many buyback sites resell used phones — on eBay, for example — although, ReCellular.com buys and sells used phones on its own site.
On Gazelle and some other sites, you can lock in a price and ship the phone weeks later, giving you time to buy your new phone and transfer service to it.
Owners of iPhones might be shocked to know you can sell your phone and get back most of what you paid. That's because U.S. wireless carriers usually sell phones for less than cost and make up for it with the price of the service plan. For example, many consumers paid $299 for their 32-gigabyte iPhone 4, which retails for at least twice that. One buyback site, Cellitused.com, was recently offering $232 for one in good condition, and $290 for one in like-new condition, according to price aggregator uSell.com.
Upgraders can use the money to defray the cost of a new iPhone or help pay early termination fees if they will be jumping to a new wireless carrier before their contract expires. Some gadget buyers pay cash, while some store-sponsored buying programs pay in store credit.

New homes for used gadgets

How to sell used tech gear.
Sell to a buyback website. This is a low- hassle option, but you might not get top dollar. Gazelle.com, for example, concentrates on being simple and fast. After you accept its offer, it will send you a box with prepaid shipping. Or you can go to a FedEx store, which will package it for free. Usually payment is issued within a week of your device arriving, Gazelle says. uSell.com is an aggregator, searching prices on three different buyback sites. ReCellular.com is among the oldest sites for selling and buying used phones.
Sell it yourself. You're likely to get a higher price if you find your own buyer. Often that means using word-of-mouth or such online tools as eBay or Craigslist. But it can be a hassle to create an advertisement, respond to potential buyers and package and ship the item yourself. EBay has an Instant Sale section where it offers fixed payouts via PayPal.
Retailer buybacks. Some gadget upgraders might prefer a known retailer. Best Buy will give cash or a store credit for trade-ins. A 32-gigabyte iPhone 4 in good condition yields $181 in cash or $279 on a Best Buy gift card. Amazon.com recently was offering $274 for the same trade-in. Its payout comes in the form of an Amazon.com gift card.
A word of caution. Before selling, be sure to erase all your private data on devices such as computers and phones. Many devices have an option in their settings to wipe all data and restore the gadget to factory defaults. Some used-gadget buyers also say they will securely erase your data.