Sell my iPhone in Melbourne: 5 options compared

If you've got an old iPhone sitting in a drawer, there are five real options in Melbourne. Each gets you a different mix of cash, speed and hassle. Here's an honest breakdown - including where PhoneFetch fits.

1. Apple trade-in (the easiest, the lowest)

Walk into an Apple Store with your phone, get a credit toward a new device. Zero hassle. The credit is roughly 50-60% of what your phone is worth on the open market. If you weren't planning to buy a new iPhone today, this is the worst option dollar-for-dollar.

Best for: upgraders who don't care about squeezing every dollar.

2. National buyback sites (Mobile Monster, WeBuyBack)

You get an instant quote online, print a label, ship the phone, wait 3-7 business days for payment. The price is usually 80-90% of what you'd get on Gumtree. The deduction is real - it's covering their shipping, their warehouse, and the dispute risk when phones arrive cracked.

Common gotcha: the post-inspection downgrade. The original quote is for "perfect" condition. About one in three phones gets re-priced lower after they receive it, and you either accept or pay return shipping.

Best for: sellers outside major cities, or anyone happy to ship and wait.

3. PhoneFetch (us - Melbourne only)

Honest pitch: we exist because options 2, 4 and 5 are each annoying in their own way. We drive to your door anywhere within roughly 30 minutes of the Melbourne CBD, inspect the phone over a quick chat, and pay cash or PayID before we leave. Done in about 10 minutes from the moment we knock.

Our offers are usually $20-$50 higher than the national sites (no shipping, no warehouse) and within $30-$50 of what you'd net on Gumtree after fees, time and risk. Grab a quote at /sell - locks for 7 days, no email needed.

Best for: Melbourne sellers who want it done today, no shipping, no carparks, paid on the spot.

4. Gumtree / Facebook Marketplace

Highest price on paper, the most hassle in practice. You'll write a listing, field 15 lowball offers, deal with no-shows, eventually meet a stranger in a public carpark (please, in daylight) and hand over your phone. Expect 2-3 weeks from listing to cash for a fair price.

Real risks: phones get swapped during inspection ("hold this while I check it"), fake bank-transfer confirmations, and the buyer who wants to return it next week claiming it broke.

Best for: patient sellers who enjoy haggling and have time to spare.

5. eBay (with seller protection)

Auction-style listing gets you the closest to true market price - usually the highest of any option here - but eBay takes 13.5% in fees, plus PayPal takes 2.6%, plus you pay postage. After deductions you usually land roughly where Gumtree net would have. Plus the dispute risk: buyer claims "not as described," eBay sides with the buyer, you eat the loss.

Best for: high-end models (iPhone 17 Pro Max, etc) where the price ceiling is worth the fee drag.

The honest summary

If you're in Melbourne and want it done today, grab a quote at /sell - no email, no signup, just an instant number.