Trade-in service Gazelle on Monday launched a new resale service backed by a quality guarantee, allowing shoppers to buy used iPhones and iPads at heavily discounted prices, without having to worry about the condition of their purchase when it arrives.
The new Gazelle Certified store offers discounts on "gently used" devices with no contracts or strings attached. AppleInsider partner Gazelle ensures the condition of devices with a 30-point quality inspection, and all purchases are backed by a 30-day risk-free return policy.
For example, customers can find a "certified like new" 64-gigabyte AT&T iPhone 5s for $379. A brand new, full-price iPhone 5s contract-free with just 16 gigabytes of storage sells for $549 from Apple.
Certified iPhone 5 units start at $274, while used iPhone 4 models can be purchased contract-free for $159.
At first blush, the used iPhone prices offered by Gazelle appear to be comparable to selling prices for iPhones on other reselling sites, such as eBay. But the difference is the Gazelle Certified store is backed buy a quality guarantee that the company hopes will earn consumers' trust, with Gazelle pitching its storefront as being akin to BMW's certified preowned program.
While its iPhone prices are competitive, Gazelle's iPad selection isn't as compelling, with "certified like new" 16-gigabyte iPad Air units selling for $399 -- the same price that Apple sells the units for brand new. The same can be said for the iPad mini with Retina display, which sells used for $299, also the same as Apple's brand-new pricing.
For now, the Gazelle Certified store only offers iPhones and iPads, though specific sections for generic "cell phones" and "tablets" are available, suggesting that other devices will be offered over time. The company boasts that 9 out of every 10 customers who have used Gazelle say they had an "excellent" experience.
While Gazelle's certified preowned sales are new, the company continues to offer trade-in services for users looking to upgrade to new models. Prices and exclusive bonuses, including an additional $20 cash for iPad trade-ins, can be found in the AppleInsider trade-in guide, also included below: