Store or Marketplace: Where Should You Sell Your iPhone in Montreal?
Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji can net more — at the cost of time and risk. Here's what each option really gets you.
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A private sale usually nets more money — but it takes days, means meeting strangers, and offers no recourse. A shop pays less, but pays cash in 5 minutes, with no negotiation, no no-shows and no fraud risk.
How much more does Marketplace get you?
Often more, in gross dollars — and that gap is what you're being paid for your time and risk. A motivated private buyer can offer more than a shop, which has to bake in testing, the warranty it resells, and its margin. The real question isn't "how much more?" but "is that extra worth the days of waiting and the risk?".
How long does it really take?
On Marketplace, expect several days; in a shop, five minutes. Writing the listing, answering messages, filtering lowball offers, absorbing no-shows, then meeting the buyer — each step takes time. At the counter, the evaluation takes 5 minutes and you leave paid.
The risks of a private sale
The risks are real: no-shows, counterfeit cash, reversed transfers, and no recourse. A buyer can cancel last minute, pay with fake bills, reverse an Interac or PayPal after the fact, or claim a fault once they've left. If you sell privately, always do the exchange in a police-station safe-exchange zone — many offer one, free of charge.
What a shop gives you in return
A firm offer, paid the same day, with no negotiation or listing. A shop also buys the devices private buyers refuse (broken, locked-out), does a certified erase in front of you, and pays you cash immediately — no meeting a stranger.
What if my iPhone is broken or won't turn on?
Private buyers rarely touch it; a shop still buys it. Cracked screen, water damage, dead Face ID, powered-off device — the components retain value. Details on broken iPhone buyback.
When Marketplace is the better choice
Recent model in mint condition, no rush, comfortable meeting buyers and willing to spend the time: Marketplace can get you the most. It's the right channel when the extra dollar is worth more to you than speed and peace of mind.
When a shop is the better choice
Need cash today, device is broken or older, don't want to meet strangers, or want it done in one trip: the shop wins. You trade the chance of a few dollars more for the certainty of being paid, right now, with zero risk.
The comparison at a glance
| Marketplace / Kijiji | Shop (e.g. SubSell) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Often higher | A bit less, but firm |
| Speed | Days → weeks | 5 minutes |
| Effort | Listing, messages, meetups | None |
| Risk | No-shows, fraud, fake bills | None (established business) |
| Broken devices | Hard to sell | Bought anyway |
| Payment | At the meetup, if all goes well | Cash, instant |
Want to know your device's value before deciding? See the buyback values by model and the buyback price index.
FAQ — Store vs Marketplace
Does Marketplace really get you more?
Usually yes, in gross dollars. But the gap is what you're paid for your own time (listing, messages, meetups) and the risk you take on (no-shows, fake bills, no recourse). A shop pays less but pays on the spot, with no effort and no risk.
Is it risky to sell your iPhone on Marketplace?
Real risks: no-shows, counterfeit cash, a reversed Interac or PayPal transfer, meeting strangers, and no recourse if the buyer claims a fault afterward. If you sell privately, do the exchange in a police-station safe-exchange zone.
How long does a store sale take?
About a 5-minute evaluation, then instant cash payment. At SubSell most customers leave paid in under 15 minutes total, with no appointment.
Can you sell a broken iPhone on Marketplace?
It's hard — most private buyers refuse a cracked screen or a phone that won't power on. A shop still buys it, because the components retain value.
Sell with no negotiation and no no-shows — paid cash in 5 minutes.
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