Hand in your old smartwatch: here’s how

Don’t throw away an old smart watch, because that’s a waste. You can hand in an old smart watch at these parties.

Hand in your old smartwatch

A ‘normal’ watch can last a lifetime, but what about a smartwatch? We believe that the lifespan of a smartwatch is mainly determined by the support period. Once a watch no longer receives critical security updates, it is not responsible to continue using it.

But what do you do with an old one? We don’t have any specific research on smartwatches at hand, but we know that redundant smartphones mainly end up in the kitchen drawer, or are even thrown away. That’s a shame, because old smartwatches certainly still have value.

From trading in, selling to donating: there are several ways to hand in old smartwatches. Below we discuss the possibilities.

1. Trade in your old smartwatch

The most straightforward solution for an unnecessary smart watch is to hand it in. There is a good chance that when you buy a new smartwatch, you can immediately leave the old one with the seller. This is ensured by the so-called old-for-new arrangement.

This states that when you buy a new electrical product, you can immediately return the old, similar product to the seller. The retailer (or a partner of the retailer) will then take care of the further processing and recycling.

Some sellers also have a return service. In this case, the store will buy your old smartwatch, after which you will receive a credit note. You can use this to reduce the sales price of the new model, for example. A return service is especially recommended if you have a relatively new smartwatch, it still looks good and has no defects.

You can trade in your old smartwatch with the following parties:

2. Sell old smartwatch

Of course, you can also sell a redundant smartwatch on your own. Again, this is especially worthwhile if the watch is in good condition, is still being sold and has no defects.

Old smartwatches can be sold in many places. The best-known option is Marktplaats. This website is very popular, placing advertisements is free and you have complete freedom in promoting your goods. You can also sell a second-hand smartwatch via platforms such as Ebay, Facebook Marketplace and Tweakers.

Be careful though. Not all potential buyers have good intentions and second-hand electronics are popular with scammers. Only ship a smart watch once you have received the money and make sure you are not alone at home when the buyer comes to pick up the product. Preferably make the payment digitally, because cash is easier to scam.

3. Selling a watch to a company

Selling a smartwatch yourself takes time, effort and possibly some frustration. Those who prefer convenience can also sell their smartwatch to a buyer. These companies buy second-hand electronics, including phones and tablets, via their website.

This works very simply. A quick Google search will yield numerous second-hand buyers. Then search for the smartwatch model, indicate the condition of the watch and whether there are any defects. Of course, a neat smartwatch will yield much more than a badly damaged model with the necessary dents.

Once you have filled out the form completely, the buyer will make an offer. If this is to your liking, you confirm the deal and send the old smartwatch. The buyer will then check the watch and transfer the promised amount, if everything is correct, to your bank account.

For example, you can sell an old smartwatch to Rebuy.

4. Donate old smartwatch

You can also choose to donate an old smartwatch to charity. Many charities receive compensation for discarded electronics and use this money to fund their projects.

For example, the Hulphond Foundation uses this money to train assistance dogs, while the Children Cancer Free Foundation (KiKa) finances scientific research into childhood cancer.

Anyone who wants to donate their old smartwatch can take a look at the Eeko website. This party works together with numerous Dutch charities and is responsible for the collection, processing and recycling of redundant electronics.

Eeko has collection points throughout the country and per location you can see for which charity the collection is for. In addition to Hulphond and KiKa, the logistics partner also works with CliniClowns, KNGF Geleidehonden and Stichting Opkikker.

→ Visit the Eeko’s website

5. Recycle old smartwatch

Finally, Wecycle is also very happy with your old smartwatch. This service collects electronic waste and ensures further recycling by recovering as many raw materials as possible for reuse. Think of (earth) metals and plastics.

Wecycle has more than 13,000 collection points in the Netherlands. You will find these boxes mainly in (large) supermarkets, DIY stores and garden centres. You can also donate an old smartwatch at the recycling centre of your municipality, because there is a good chance that Wecycle also has a collection point there.

The costs of the Wecycle project are borne by the producers and importers of electronics and energy-efficient lamps, who are affiliated with the Foundation Organisation Producer Responsibility E-waste Netherlands (OPEN). They must report their results to the Dutch government. So you know that your discarded clock will end up in the right place.

→ Visit the Wecycle website

Turn in your old smartwatch? Reset it first

Wherever your old smartwatch goes, first reset it to factory settings. This will delete all your personal apps, files, and settings. Your smartwatch will look and feel like it did when you first took it out of the box. We’ll explain how to do this in the article below.

Also read: How to reset your smartwatch: start with a clean slate

Buying a new smartwatch? Here are our tips

Use our smartwatch price comparison to find the best deal, or use our buying guides below to find out which watch is right for you.