How to get money for your old TV

Don’t just throw away your old TV. Firstly, This is against the rules in most places. Secondly, it might be worth something! If you don’t want it Give it up Or move it to another room, you may be able to get a little money for it. The amount will depend largely on its age and how good it was when new. Older flat screen TVs usually aren’t worth much, but they vary.

Depending on which option you choose, you may not even need to leave it on. Someone might pick it up. This is a good thing, because even if you still have the box (for some reason), shipping previously owned TVs isn’t a great idea. The boxes they came in were only designed to get to your home, and nowhere else after that.

This leads me to the first and most important question: How much is it worth?

Is your TV actually worth anything?

Most people remember how much they paid for a TV and assume that something like that is still worth years after they bought it. This is not true. The truth is that TVs have become very cheap, and there is no longer a large market for used TVs, especially if the TV is not expensive to operate. But there are some exceptions.

maybe He is It’s worth something if:

• It’s a cutting-edge TV from the last five years or so
• It’s an OLED TV, except perhaps for the first models
• Its size is greater than 65 inches
• It is a CRT “tube” television (in very specific cases, see below)

that it Maybe not It’s worth a lot if:

• They were budget or even mid-range LCD monitors
• She is over 10 years old
• It’s plasma
• It’s an early smart TV (unless streaming apps miraculously work)
• It’s an old CRT TV (except in very specific situations, see below)

that it Absolutely not It’s worth anything if:

• It is a rear projection TV
• It’s CRT RPTV (listen to this tip: lift with your knees, not your back)
• Doesn’t have HDMI (although some analog CRT monitors might be worth something)

There are exceptions to these rules. You may be able to find an assembly tool for your 500 pound RCA console TV. Perhaps an archaeologist is doing a project on early flat-screen televisions and finds your Fujitsu to be a prime candidate for his thesis.

TVs with early on HDMI versions such as 1.4 It’s not useless, but it has less potential use. They may not play well with conversation Streaming devices or Game controllers.

There is a specific situation where a CRT could be worth something. Hardcore retro gamers Prefer early video game consoles to CRTsAnd it’s getting harder to find for obvious reasons. However, they’re not looking for just any CRT, and if you have one of those huge ones from any era, it can be more of a hassle than just getting it out of your house. And forget about charging one.

If the CRT contains a component (Red, green and blue, plus two for sound) or even S video Input, this is promising. If it does not have at least one compound (Yellow, plus red and white for sound), it probably won’t sell for a significant amount. Before you think about sending it to the big trash bin in the sky (not your local landfill, which is full of toxic metals), it’s worth checking online if your specific model is sold anywhere.

Before doing anything else, clear the data

No matter what you plan to do with your TV, make sure it does Log out of all your streaming accounts. Then go one step further and Do a factory resetwhich you can find buried in the user menu. Obviously someone’s presence Download your Netflix for free This is only a problem if your TV is old smart tv, But deleting your passwords and personal information is… A good habit to deal with any of your old electronic devices.

Try selling on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace (if it’s worth anything)

While selling a TV may seem as straightforward as moving it to another room, the details are less clear. First of all, you need a local TV. No matter how well your TV is packaged, even if you have the original box, it probably won’t survive the trip. Modern TVs are very fragile. Now the seller has to deal with a broken TV, and you have to return the buyer’s money.

Even if you sell it locally, the same problem applies. Inevitably, a buyer will show up to get what you want 65 inch TV In a 1990 Honda Civic and ask for help putting it in the back, strapping it to the roof, or using some other less ideal mounting options. If you want to get rid of a large TV, be sure to specify its dimensions and weight in the ad.

Read also: 5 Reasons You Should Use Facebook Marketplace Instead of Craigslist

Instead, simply list it for free or at a near-free price, with the requirement that the “buyer” receive it. Don’t worry: only 90% of the inquiries you’ll receive will be about delivering it to them, no matter what the ad says.

Sidewalk or garage sale

A yard or garage sale is another option. Again, it’s easier than pulling it yourself. You can even get away with a very small yard sale that only includes one item, and that item is free.

I hesitate to even mention this, because if you live in an area where people take things on the sidewalk, you probably know about it. And if you don’t know, it’s not a good idea to leave trash on the curb for days or weeks. So your mileage may vary on this. I’ve definitely seen some of my neighbors trying to get people to use their old RPTVs, and look, no one wants that.

Donate your TV to charity (for a potential tax deduction)

The easiest option is that Donate it to a local charity. Some may have volunteers who will come pick them up. Many local charities may be registered as 501(c)(3), so you may be able to get a tax deduction for your donation.

There’s also Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity ReStore and others. You’ll need to bring your TV to one of their locations. Check their website to see if they will accept your type and size of TV. For example, they probably won’t take something old Rear projection TV Because most people don’t want them. Often times, TVs that are more than 5-8 years old are not desirable.

Also contact your local library, public schools, or various shelters. Many are always in need of donations, even though a 20-year-old TV may not be what they are looking for.

If that doesn’t work: Return your TV to Best Buy

If you can’t sell it for any reason, it may be cheap or free to get rid of it. Best buy will take Your used electronic devices, sometimes for free. They will also take old phones, tablets, batteries and even cables. Depending on the condition and size of the TV, a $30 fee may apply. If you can’t easily get the TV from Best Buy, they will pick it up at your home for $200. Not ideal, but probably better than renting a truck and getting off your back.

If you’re buying a new TV and installing it, it’s $50 He will remove the old one or move it to another place in your home.

Professionally recycle your TV

Some cities and local jurisdictions offer recycling of TVs, either by dropping them off at a recycling center or as part of regular curbside pickup. Some areas will allow you to schedule a free large pickup that includes TVs. Contact your local government/waste service for details.

There are a number of organizations that will help recycle your electronic devices, including televisions. verify EPA page for more information. MRM Recycling also has a page To help you determine options in your area.

A number of manufacturers have their own programs or partner with companies that do this. Keep in mind that just because a manufacturer has a program, it doesn’t mean there will be a delivery location near you. For example, LG’s closest delivery point to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States, is more than 350 miles away.

If you are now thinking about all the small electronics in your home that you can recycle, take a look at our site A guide to recycling phones, laptops, batteries and cameras for free.

Note: This story was first published in 2022 but has been updated with new links and information.

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In addition to covering audio and display technology, Jeff makes the photo tours From museums and amazing sites around the world, including Nuclear submarines, Aircraft carriers, Medieval castles,epic A 10,000 mile road trip And more.

Also see his books Budget travel for dummies and Best-selling science fiction novel About submarines the size of a city. You can follow it Instagram and YouTube.