Trade in or sell privately? The honest maths
Elsa Marchand, Senior Editor·16 June 2026 7 min read
We compared 200 European private listings against our own quotes for the same models to see what the price difference really is after costs.
The headline gap
Private listings for recent phones asked on average 18% more than our trade-in quote. Actual completed sale prices were only 9% higher, because most listings sell below asking.
The costs nobody lists
Marketplace commissions, payment fees, shipping and packaging typically absorb 5–8%. Add the time spent answering messages and the two or three no-shows per sale.
Chargeback fraud on private phone sales remains the biggest single risk, and it usually falls on the seller.
When each option wins
Sell privately if the device is rare, in perfect condition, and you are comfortable handling shipping disputes. Trade in if you value certainty, want the money within days, or want it deducted directly from a new purchase.