Old technology could be worth money

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Your pile of old electronics might be worth some serious money.

"If your gadget is new enough, you can actually turn it in for cash or a gift card," said Lisa Freeman, of Consumer Reports' ShopSmart magazine.

In ShopSmart's search, a Samsung Galaxy s 2 fetched $94 and an Apple iPad 2 went for $190.

ShopSmart found the website glyde.com often quoted the highest prices while Amazon.com proved best for random gadgets such as hard drives and speakers. And www.nextworth.com allows you to send items in or drop them off at stores, including Target.

"You really have to check different sites at different times because we found that prices vary from site to site," Freeman said. "And prices can change over time, too."

If the price you're offered doesn't seem worth it, consider a donation -- cristina.org connects you with local organizations that accept old electronics.

Of course, some items are just not wanted by anyone. But you should still recycle them responsibly.

Stores such as Staples and Best Buy will take old computers off your hands or drop them off at a local recycling center. At the very least, you can keep more junk out of the landfills.

Whatever you do with your old electronics, be sure to wipe them clean of all your personal data first. Click here for more information.