Why it’s worth protecting your gadgets

The best part about getting a new gadget is unboxing it and reveling in its pristine condition. Then there’s that little bit of joy when you see the logo appear on the screen and hear the first startup sound.

You’ll usually look after it for the next month or so, but eventually the first scratch or scuff will appear and the novelty will wear off. At that point, not only has your enjoyment of it diminished; it’s the resale value of the device when you want to sell it a year later to buy the next version.

When it comes to reselling an item, looks matter, and it’s hard to gauge how much the average eBay or Craigslist buyer cares about the look of your latest gadget. However, electronics recycler Gazelle.com shares how they rate your gadgets. Anthony Scarsella, Chief Gadget Officer at Gazelle, was able to tell WalletPop during a phone call how much a scratch or scuff will affect the resale value of your iPhone or Droid.