It's Worth More Review: Fair Prices or Bad Deals?

Is It's Worth More Legit? Our Hands-On Test

Feeling ripped off by trade-in quotes? You’re not alone. After testing It’s Worth More’s "sell and buy" refurbished tech platform, we discovered alarming inconsistencies. We traded devices and purchased four products to evaluate their pricing, device conditions, and trustworthiness. Spoiler: Their $30 iPhone offer speaks volumes. Let’s break down what’s really going on.

Why Trust Our Findings?

We physically shipped devices, tracked evaluation timelines, and stress-tested purchased gear. As tech reviewers with 12+ years of industry experience, we compared every price to eBay/GameStop averages and inspected for hidden flaws like third-party screens and battery degradation. No sugarcoating—just data.

Core Findings & Market Context

It’s Worth More operates two models: buying your used tech and selling refurbished units. Our testing exposed critical gaps in both.

The Trade-In Trap

• Bait-and-Switch Tactics: Quoted $65 for an iPhone 12 Mini (fair condition), later slashed to $30 for "degraded battery" without evidence.
• Arbitrary Deductions: Xbox Series S offer dropped from $100 to $95 for a "missing power cord" we included.
• Industry Comparison: GameStop offered $140-$154 for the same Xbox—40% more than It’s Worth More’s initial quote.

Key Insight: "Fair market price" claims ignore real-world benchmarks. Their business model relies on underpaying sellers.

Refurbished Buying: Mixed Results

We purchased four devices across condition tiers:

Device	Condition	Paid	Market Value	Verdict
Mac Mini M1 (16GB)	Excellent	$370	$350	✅ Fair deal
Galaxy S21 Ultra	Fair	$200	$170	⚠️ Slight overpay
iPad Pro 2018	Very Good	$320	$300	❌ $20 overpay
iPhone 12 Pro	Very Good	$290	$275	❌ Poor value

Critical Flaws Found:

• iPhone 12 Pro had a non-genuine display (confirmed by iOS warning) and 81% battery health.
• S21 Ultra’s "fair" rating included deep, tactile scratches compromising durability.
• iPad Pro had 1,800 battery cycles—far exceeding typical use.

Purchase Experience Breakdown

Device-Specific Red Flags

📱 iPhone 12 Pro: The Screen Switcheroo

Advertised as "very good," but arrived with:

• Third-party display causing color distortion (magenta tint).
• Unmentioned 81% battery health—a critical omission for a "premium" refurb.
• iOS 16 (outdated software), suggesting lax quality control.

Our Take: At $290, this is a terrible value. eBay listings at $275 include genuine parts.

💻 Mac Mini M1: The Only Win

• Correct specs (16GB RAM) plus unexpected 512GB SSD (upgraded from 256GB).
• Minor cosmetic scuffs matched "excellent" claims.
• Why it worked: Simpler hardware, fewer failure points.

📱 Galaxy S21 Ultra: Fair Isn’t Fair

• Deep scratches penetrated the glass ("fair" rating).
• Bloatware (pre-installed Monopoly Go) crashed during testing.
• Silver lining: Cameras and 10x zoom functioned correctly.

The Warranty Illusion

It’s Worth More promotes a 1-year warranty, but:

• Non-OEM parts (like the iPhone’s display) may void coverage.
• No battery health guarantees—even for "very good" devices.

The Refurbished Reality Check

When to Avoid It’s Worth More

1. Selling ANY Device: Their offers are 40-50% below competitors. That $30 iPhone insult? Real.
2. iPhones/iPads: High risk of part swaps and battery issues.
3. "Very Good" Tier: No meaningful battery or screen integrity checks.

Rare Exceptions to Consider

• Base-model Macs/PCs: Less profit incentive for part swaps.
• "Excellent" Graded Devices: Still verify specs upon arrival.

Pro Tip: Use warranty returns as leverage. We forced a reinspection by threatening to dispute charges.

Your Action Plan: Smart Alternatives

🔍 Before Buying Refurbished

1. Demand battery health reports (iOS Settings > Battery, Android apps like AccuBattery).
2. Verify OEM parts: Request IMEI/serial number pre-purchase to check repair history.
3. Price-compare relentlessly: Use eBay "sold items" filters for real market prices.

💡 Where to Sell/Buy Instead

• Selling: Try GameStop (gaming gear) or Swappa (phones).
• Buying: Back Market (90-day warranty) or Apple Certified Refurbished.

Final Verdict

It’s Worth More prioritizes their margins—not your value. Avoid trading in at all costs. If buying, stick to simple devices (non-Apple) and scrutinize every listing. That "year warranty" won’t save you from third-party screens or dying batteries.

"Their $30 iPhone offer isn’t an outlier—it’s the business model."

Got burned by a refurbished deal? Share your story below—we’ll help dissect it.