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Trade-in
In brief
Trade-in (deutsch: Inzahlungnahme) bezeichnet die Abgabe eines Altgeräts beim Kauf eines neuen, wobei der Wert des Altgeräts auf den Kaufpreis angerechnet wird. Hersteller, Händler und Mobilfunkanbieter bieten Trade-in-Programme für Privat- und Geschäftskunden an. Für Unternehmen ist Trade-in eine Möglichkeit, beim Hardware-Austausch Altgeräte loszuwerden – vorausgesetzt, die Datenlöschung ist geregelt und belegt.
Trade-in and other recovery routes
| Gone | How the value flows | Typical for |
|---|---|---|
| Trade-in | Credit toward the purchase price of new devices | Purchase from the same provider |
| Buyback | Repurchase on terms agreed in advance | Framework agreements, leasing |
| Verkauf an einen ITAD-Dienstleister | Payment of the buyback price, independent of new purchases | Larger inventories, mixed brands |
Trade-in is convenient but ties you to one provider. An independent sale leaves you free to choose when buying new and often includes devices from different manufacturers. How the value is made up is explained in the entry Residual value of IT hardware.
What companies should look out for
- Data deletion: Who erases, using which method, and is there proof for each device?
- Rating: Does the offered value only apply after the condition has been checked, and what happens in the event of deviations?
- Locks: Account and management locks must be removed beforehand.
- Accounting: For tax purposes, a trade-in is generally an exchange with additional payment. Clarify the treatment with your tax advisor.
More on secure sale in the article Selling used laptops and smartphones. Second IT buys IT hardware regardless of manufacturer, erases every device with Blancco and issues an erasure certificate for each device.
Frequently asked questions about trade-in
What does trade-in mean in German?
Inzahlungnahme (trading in): the old device is credited toward the purchase of a new device.
Is trade-in or sale cheaper?
That cannot be said across the board. Compare the credit with the buyback price and take effort, data erasure and documentation into account.
Do I have to erase data myself before a trade-in?
That depends on the program. For company devices, you should agree on erasure with proof for each device.
How is a trade-in treated for tax purposes?
For tax purposes, a trade-in is generally an exchange with additional payment. The exact treatment depends on the individual case. Clarify it with your tax advisor before trading in larger quantities of old devices.
When does trade-in make sense for companies?
If you are buying new devices from the same provider anyway and convenience is important. Drawback: you are tied to that provider. An independent sale leaves you free to choose when buying new and often includes devices from different manufacturers.
Sell old devices regardless of manufacturer – with an erasure certificate for each device.
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