ecoATM

I got a new phone and wanted to recycle my old Samsung note 2. I saw eco atm in my local vons and thought I might as well recycle my phone there. The process was simple, I walked away with $ 40 and helped the environment. Win-​win for everyone!

Read an article about Ecoatm and thought it was a great way to earn a few dollars, get rid of clutter and let others benefit from our unwanted items.
My husband and I went to the one at Fashion Valley but the machine was dead. We were annoyed because before we left the house we were trying to determine if the website would indicate which machines were operating as I had read reviews that some machines don’t have enough cash to pay you out and you have to have a check sent to you. I would think they would indicate that the machine was not operating but oh well.
We found another one inside the Vons on Aero. The process was simple and we did okay. Not the huge payout I was hoping for but at least we are helping out the environment.

I don’t ever take the time to review businesses but this is an occasion where a company went so far beyond my expectations that I felt compelled to let others know about it.
A few months ago I left my tablet on an airplane. I reported it lost through the airline’s website but I assumed it was gone for good. A few weeks later I received a call and email from ecoATM telling me that the device had been sold at one of their kiosks. They provided instructions for how to reclaim it, which included filing a police report and requesting the police to contact them and confirm that they device could be returned to its rightful owner (I’d imagine this is for tax write-​off purposes and/​or to demonstrate to law enforcement that ecoATM will partner with them to resolve these cases and assist them in combating sales of stolen property). Once I followed those steps, ecoATM overnighted my tablet via FedEx at no cost to me.
In this day and age of tight margins and underhanded business practices, my experience with ecoATM was a breath of fresh air. Their staff couldn’t have been more helpful and courteous, and even the police officer investigating my case had great things to say about them. Before this experience I probably would have just sold my used electronics on CL, but now I’ll go out of my way to do business with these guys if the compensation is similar. In me they now have an evangelist for life.

EcoATM is a scam. I had my iPad mini stolen at the Atlanta Airport. About a month later EcoATM contacts me and informs me that they had my found it as it had been turned in at one of their kiosks.
I was excited that it was found. Despite it having a lock code that I identified, and it being registered to me, and having all my personnel information that i could readily identify they needed me to file a Police Report. This is not an easy to explain to a Police Officer why you are filing a report for something that happened months ago in location different from where the incident happened. In addition, when you try to explain what ecoATM is all about you get a blank stare.
Nevertheless, I obtained a Police Report only to find out i now need a letter «releasing the iPad» to me from the Police Department. More delays, but I was promised that they hold on to the returned iPads for a year.
Called today for an update, and ecoATM informed me that they had «Recycled» my iPad. Meaning, they sold it for profit! I never gave them authorization but they said they attempted to contact me and since they could not reach me they sold it, Their legal team has this all figured out. I asked how many stolen devices they sell each year, but I did not get an answer.
After complaining to the service person I spoke to their boss. I had no satisfaction there and asked to speak to their boss, They wouldn’t do it, end of conversation right there. They sold my iPad for their profit and I have no recourse. As I said, it is a scam.

My son’s iPhone was stolen in his school locker room 5 months ago. We tried to find for couple of days then left the hope and bought him another phone. Not sure what route the stolen phone took but ended up in ecoATM about 3 weeks ago. As this phone was locked, the company representative contacted me to check if the phone is stolen or I was the one who deposited the phone. They said «send me a copy of police report & another form signed by police so that we can send you back the phone.» I did the same and to my surprise they shipped the phone overnight for free. Never seen so honest business before. Great Job ecoATM.

This company reported to me they had my son’s stolen phone in June; here it is the end of September and it still has not been returned. We submitted the police report as requested and it states what they indicated would be needed to return the phone. The report was received within a week and they still have not returned the phone. We have made numerous phone calls and emails and have gotten nowhere. Each rep and call was useless and a waste of our time. I really wish they would have never contacted us and got my son’s hopes up his Iphone would be returned. Something’s not right with this company. Their service makes me want to file a police report on them for keeping our stolen property. I just don’t want to waste more of my time.

Amazing! Thank you EcoAtm! My phone was lost/​stolen 3 months ago and was sold to one of your kiosk. All I needed to do was file a police report and request an authorization from the police to release my phone. Once that was received by EcoAtm, they packaged and shipped my phone OVERNIGHT.
Again, thank you! I wish more people know about your amazing services beside buying phones for cash.

Thank you sooo much ECO ATM! My cell phone was stolen and sold to one of your kiosks. I put a lock on the phone that stated that the phone was lost and to contact me if found. One of the reps called me told me to file a police report and have the police department send an email stating that the item was not on hold and can be released to owner. Once that was complete I got my phone back!!! They sent it next day. It feels so good to have my phone back in my hands! Thank u!!!

I have read a lot of negative responses on this site about this company, and I must admit I have never used one of their kiosks. However, I had a brand-​new iPhone 5s stolen in February. Two days ago I received a call from this company informing me they had found my phone when someone sold it to them. Luckily, I had the «Find my phone» feature turned on so they were able to locate me. All I had to do was give them the serial number of the iPhone and the case number of my police report and they are overnighting my phone back to me at no charge. I am very impressed by this service.

This company promises cash for cellphones and tablets at their kiosks, even when they know that their kiosks don’t have enough cash to pay out.
This is an unethical business practice that needs fixed. If they (and the machine) are aware that there isn’t enough cash available, you should be warned BEFORE your device gets swallowed permanently into the machine that you are going to be paid via check.
A customer service rep told me they can tell remotely which machines have cash available. What a crock. I hate this company.

To be honest I was shocked at the comments I read here after my experience with ecoATM. After I upgrade my cell phone I was not sure what to do with the old one. I left it sitting in a drawer for about a month until my wife took it out and put it in the trash because it had become clutter. Having just read an article about where our electronic junk ends up (think India, Africa & China where people hand sort thru used computer piles two stories tall) I really didn’t feel right about throwing it away. I took it to the ecoATM booth after reading about the service online and walked away 15 minutes later with money in my pocket and feeling very environmentally responsible. Technology inevitably will malfunction once in a while and I am sorry for the other Unilocalers experiences but mine was great!

I wish I could give 0 stars!
I am so frustrated with this company! They have had our recovered 2-​day old iPhone 5S that we waited weeks weeks to arrive on back order from Apple. How could you give cash for a phone that JUST came out that people can’t even get their hands on that want to buy it!
They recovered our phone the first week of November. When I made the initial report, it sounded like we would easily have the phone returned by following a few easy steps… NOT! They have made this a moving target! We were told that there was nothing we needed to do… then we needed the police to send an email to release it. Then we were told we did not need this. Then we were told we need a police email AND the police report. The report could take another 4 weeks in my county! If I knew I needed it, I could have been working on it a month ago!
That machine just begs for thieves to put stolen devices in for fast cash. All of their requirements, like valid ID and pic, are not a deterrent. Whenever I’m in the mall, all I see is groups of young kids adding items and looking around like they are guilty of something.
Those machines need to be ripped from our mall to keep the criminals out.
Something needs to be done about this!

This company quoted me a statistic about the inventory they take in by MAX! Max quoted me that the company only receives 5 out 10,000 devices that are stolen. I didn’t argue too much but if that is the case the 5 people that have had stolen phones or electronic devices that have been sold to their company should be treated very well. Kim in claims was the only employee of the company that was understanding and cordial, if the statistical stat that was QUOTED to me by max then I am sure ther is an easy fix for the less than 1% of people that are left very unsatisfied and frustrated by the inventory intake system of this company.
1. Five out of 10,000 sounds like an extremely minimal statistic, I comp almost 50 $ a day for first time and regular customers for my business. If I was given AWESOME customer service and offered a $ 100 AMEX gift card from the get go I would not have contacted the BBB and Consumer Reports of SD, along with every major TV network.
If I was given an awesome over the phone back rub with a minimal $$$ compensation I would have spoken and written an opposite review to EVERYONE. Customer service is #1 and your company has fallen very short of this and this rant is one that I think could help your business. If the statistics that Max quoted are true then a few hundred or even a few thousand a month would be worth your companies face. You never know who’s stolen device could end up with you and one in the publics ear like mine can cause you a lot of grief like ME. TAKE CARE OF THE LITTLE PEOPLE, think about a COMP (AMEX GIFT CARDS) tab that is tax deductible that would make a lot of people happy.

This company sucks. When the cops retrieve my stolen phone and this company goes bankrupt, you heard it from me first. Do yourself a favor and do not associate yourself with this company at all or you’ll regret it down the road.