Frequently Asked Questions

TechLoop makes selling your old devices simple! Just search for your device, select the storage and condition, get an instant trade-in price, and if you're happy, we will send you a FREE shipping label. We pay you by bank transfer the same working day we inspect your device, and inspection is within 1–2 working days of it arriving.

We buy most devices, including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, laptops, and gaming consoles. Use our search options to check if we accept your device. Even if we may not offer you a price for older devices, we can still recycle them for you for free. We try to support our local communities by giving away devices each month.

Apple M-series MacBooks (M1 and newer), yes. Get an instant price online or bring it into the Swindon unit.

Enter your device model in our search bar, or select it from our manufacturer's devices list, select your storage capacity or size, then honestly assess the condition. You will receive an instant trade-in price. No account needed! More than that, your price will be sent to your mobile and email account and will be locked for 14 days from when you complete your order.

Yes, completely free! We provide free shipping labels with no hidden fees. All we ask is that you pack your device safely, remove any accounts from it, and reset it before you ship it to us. This is important as it would delay the payout and may result in a rejection.

Our prices are based on the device model, storage capacity, and condition. We constantly monitor market prices to offer competitive rates. Newer devices and higher storage options generally receive better prices. Pristine condition devices are worth more than those with cosmetic damage.

Your trade-in price is locked for 14 days from when you complete your order (checkout). Device values can fluctuate based on market conditions, so we recommend sending your device as soon as possible.

If our inspection reveals that your device condition doesn't match what was selected, we'll contact you with a revised offer. You can choose to accept the new price or have your device returned to you free of charge. We never leave you without options.

Yes! We accept phones, tablets, consoles, and watches in most conditions — cracked screens, water damage, battery issues, and devices that won't power on. Select 'Poor' condition when getting your trade-in price. A device that does not power on is quoted as Poor, but because we cannot test it before it arrives, the offer may be reduced further on inspection depending on its state, or refused if it cannot be assessed. We can't accept devices that are blacklisted or locked to an account (iCloud, Google FRP).

You have three completely free options: 1) Free Postage — we email you a free Royal Mail Tracked label, valid for 7 days from when it is issued, to drop at any post office (you can generate a new one from the tracking page). 2) Free Doorstep Collection — if you're within about 30 minutes of Swindon, we come to your door, usually at weekends; further away on request. 3) Drop-Off — bring your device to our Swindon shop Monday to Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm and get paid on the spot in cash or by bank transfer.

We recommend using a sturdy box with bubble wrap or paper padding. Remove any SIM cards and memory cards before sending. If you don't have suitable packaging, let us know and we can arrange to send you a free padded envelope or box.

Your prepaid label is a Royal Mail Tracked service and includes Royal Mail's standard compensation cover (currently up to £150). It is not a separate full-value insurance policy. Always get and keep your proof of postage — without it no claim can be made. If your device is worth more than the standard cover, you are welcome to send it with your own courier and higher insurance at your own cost. The same Royal Mail Tracked service and standard cover applies to any device we return to you.

Once you've posted your device, you can track its journey using the tracking number on your shipping label. We'll also email you updates when we receive your device and when payment has been sent.

Yes. Free doorstep collection is available within about 30 minutes of Swindon, usually at weekends. We check the device at your door and pay before we leave. Further away we can sometimes arrange collection for higher-value items — ask when you book.

Photo ID, and please sign out of iCloud or your Google account and factory reset the device first. We check every IMEI against the blacklist before paying, so a device that is reported lost, stolen or still under finance cannot be bought.

For devices you post to us, we pay by bank transfer only, directly to your UK bank account via Faster Payments. You'll need to provide your bank details (sort code and account number) when completing your sale. If you walk into the Swindon unit or we collect from your door, you are paid on the spot in cash or by bank transfer.

We pay by bank transfer the same working day we inspect your device, and inspection is within 1–2 working days of it arriving. Faster Payments usually arrive in your account within minutes of being sent. We'll email you confirmation when payment is on its way.

For devices you post to us, we pay by bank transfer only — no PayPal, cheque or store credit. If you walk into our Swindon unit or we collect from your door, you can choose cash or bank transfer on the spot.

Yes, please! Before sending your device, back up your data, sign out of all accounts (especially iCloud/Apple ID for iPhones, and Google Account for Android), and perform a factory reset. This protects your personal data and speeds up processing.

Activation Lock is a security feature on Apple devices linked to your Apple ID. You MUST remove it before selling by going to Settings > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My iPhone and turning it OFF. Devices with Activation Lock enabled cannot be processed: we'll ask you to remove it, and if it's still on after 7 days we'll return the device free of charge.

You don't need to send chargers, cables, cases or boxes, and we don't pay extra for them. If you include them anyway, we'll send them back to you. Consoles are the exception: the original box is needed for a Pristine grade, and a missing controller reduces the offer. Power and HDMI cables don't affect a console's price.

Please remove your SIM card and any memory/SD cards before sending. These contain personal data and cannot be returned. If we find a SIM or memory card, we'll securely destroy it.

Yes. TechLoop is a UK-registered business based in Swindon, registered with the ICO for data protection. All transactions are secure, your data is encrypted, and we're committed to transparent, honest service — the price you see is the price we pay unless your device arrives in a different condition than selected.

Before sending your device, please factory reset it and remove any accounts (iCloud, Google, Samsung etc). This protects your personal data and allows us to process your device quickly. Devices that arrive locked to an account may be delayed or rejected.

Once your device has been posted to us, the order cannot be cancelled — please be certain before sending. We return a device free of charge only when our inspection finds a different condition and you decline the revised offer, or when an activation lock is not removed within 7 days.

You can track your trade-in anytime by visiting our Track My Trade-In page and entering your trade-in reference or email address. You'll see real-time updates from submission through to payment completion.

If your parcel is lost in the post, tell us and keep your proof of postage. We raise the claim with Royal Mail ourselves and pay you your quoted price, up to £150, within 30 days of the claim being raised.

If you haven't posted your device yet, simply don't send it — your trade-in quote will expire automatically after 14 days and you won't be charged. Once you have posted your device, you can no longer cancel. The only free return is if our inspection finds a different condition and you decline the revised offer.

You can reach us by phone at 01793 939176 (Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm), WhatsApp us on the same number, or email us anytime. We aim to respond to all enquiries within 24 hours. Check our Contact page for more options.