# What do I do with my old cell phone?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-my-old-cell-phone/278405
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [December 6, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-my-old-cell-phone/278405 "2004-12-06T19:41:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-my-old-cell-phone/278405/1 "2004-12-06T19:41:03Z")
Ivylad and I are upgrading our cell phones (I get a very nice corporate discount through work, I swear, with all the bennies I’ll never be able to leave! :D) and I’m not sure what to do with the old phones. I heard of some charity that will refurbish them to give to abused women so they can have a phone to call 911. Any other ideas?
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### Author:  [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-my-old-cell-phone/278405/2 "2004-12-06T19:42:09Z")
Some charities apparently collect them. I’ve always preferred to take mine on a one way trip to the shooting range.
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### Author:  [@badmana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badmana)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2004, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-my-old-cell-phone/278405/3 "2004-12-06T19:43:53Z")
You should be able to return it to the dealer. My company refurbs phones for women in shelters for 911/emergency calls.
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### Author:  [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-my-old-cell-phone/278405/4 "2004-12-06T19:48:30Z")
[http://www.phones4charity.org/](http://www.phones4charity.org/)
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### Author:  [@caphis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caphis)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-my-old-cell-phone/278405/5 "2004-12-06T19:59:58Z")
> [@ivylass](#):
>
> Any other ideas?
I, too, am interested in other ideas. I’m replacing my cell phone soon, as well.
Selling it is an option, provided it’s not a junker and you have any required unlock codes.
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### Author:  [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2004, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-my-old-cell-phone/278405/6 "2004-12-06T20:29:50Z")
Check with the battered womens’ shelters in your area. Here, they can be donated and given out to women who need them. All they need is a charged phone–no plan necessary–to call 911.
Our shelter gets loads of them, and keeps them on hand for the women to choose from. The legal office (in the shelter) gives them to people who need them as well–one needn’t be a shelter resident.
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### Author:  [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)
#### Post date: [December 6, 2004, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-my-old-cell-phone/278405/7 "2004-12-06T20:34:56Z")
Before you give it to a charity, do you personaly know any person who does not have a cell phone or OnStar, and is possibly elderly or would benefit from the ability to call 911 from almost anywhere?
If you have older relatives who do not own cell phones, give it to them to keep in their purse or glove box.
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### Author:  [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2004, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-my-old-cell-phone/278405/8 "2004-12-07T05:31:57Z")
[geek]
Use the high-powered batteries in your electronics projects!
[/g]
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### Author:  [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2004, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-my-old-cell-phone/278405/9 "2004-12-07T13:16:00Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#):
>
> Before you give it to a charity, do you personaly know any person who does not have a cell phone or OnStar, and is possibly elderly or would benefit from the ability to call 911 from almost anywhere?
>
> If you have older relatives who do not own cell phones, give it to them to keep in their purse or glove box.
Nope, everyone’s covered there. I think I’ll contact our local fire department and see if they can use them. Thanks!
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### Author:  [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)
#### Post date: [December 7, 2004, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-my-old-cell-phone/278405/10 "2004-12-07T13:27:15Z")
[Legendary thread on the subject](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=239790&highlight=cell+phone+launch)