I went back and dug up some old emails from early 2010.
They had originally offered me $35 based on the condition that I stated. Once they received it in the mail, they emailed back stating that there were several other issues with the phone (all of which were bullshit) and that they couldn't pay me anything for it, but they would recycle it.
This was their response to me after I rejected their bait and switch and demanded that they send my phone back to me:
"I can offer $20.00 for your phone. I know its not quite what you are looking for but please let me know if this will be a suitable offer for your phone. Or I can prepare your phone for return Nichole Customer Service www.CashforLaptops.com www.CashforiPhones.com www.CashforBerries.com www.CashforSmartPhones.com Go Green and EARN Green! Recycle your Laptops, Iphones, Blackberries and Smart Phones with us today! Refer a Friend!! Please login into your account and click the referrals link to learn all about this exciting program!"
I then sent the following to them in return:
I am not interested in your bait and switch tactics. I would rather destroy my phone myself than let you have it. I consider myself to be a smart person, and you aren't fooling me.
Your business practices are deceptive and you know it. After receiving your revised quote of $0.00, I went on the BBB website and saw that you had a grade "C". I now know why.
This entire portion of your business is built on a deceit. You give someone a quote for their item, based on what they stipulate it's condition is. You receive the item; Now the negotiating leverage is in your hands because you have the item. You tell them that there are more things wrong with it than they told you, so you lower the price. More often than not, gullible and/or lazy people probably concede and let you have their item for a reduced price.
The truth of the matter is, your customers are entering into a hard-ball negotiation with you when they send in your item, because your quote doesn't mean shit.
You told me that one of the reasons that my phone had a reduced value was "pitting on the case". Where was this option when I was checking boxes to describe my phone to you when I was receiving a quote? That's right, it wasn't there. It's part of the bait and switch. You also specified that my volume control was malfunctioning. That's a crock of shit, I used the phone and it's volume control for 6 months before I decided enough was enough with it's slow speed and went with a 3G. The volume control did not malfunction once.
There are PLENTY of people just like me on the internet that make the same claims; There's something in the water.
So my answer to you is not only No, but hell No, and if I don't get my phone back promptly and in the exact condition it was in before I sent it (I took pictures before sending it in), I will not only report your company to the BBB, but to the Nevada Attorney General's Office.
PS - And don't forget to send my charge cable.
Fun stuff.