Why Did Decluttr Shut Down? Here’s Where to Sell Your Old Tech Instead
First opened in 2013, Decluttr quickly became a reliable platform for people looking to quickly and fairly sell their used tech. Fast forward to June 2025, 12 years later, with no prior notice, Decluttr officially announced on their website that the company was shutting down.
So what happened?
Why the sudden shutdown?
And more importantly, are there any good Decluttr alternatives where you can sell your old tech for the best price?
What Happened? Why Was Decluttr Shut Down?
Quick context: Decluttr was a buyback company that bought a number of items, from tech to Legos, books, and even DVDs. But what many people didn’t know is that Decluttr was owned by MusicMagpie, a company that basically offered the same services as Decluttr but operated in the UK with a very similar website.
Then in October 2024, AO (formerly Appliances Online), a UK-based online electronics retailer, secured the acquisition of MusicMagpie for $13.3 million. At the time of writing this article, MusicMagpie (Decluttr’s parent company) still operates and has remained mostly unchanged.
Another point worth addressing is the steady decline in Decluttr’s service quality. Before the shutdown and even before the acquisition, the quality of Decluttr’s service and products seemed to fall below standard. This can be observed from Decluttr’s numerous 1-star reviews on several sites like SiteJabber and ResellerRatings. However, they still maintain over a 4 star rating on Trustpilot.
Then in March 2025, Austin Evans, a YouTuber with over 5.6 million subscribers, made a video showing his experience buying and selling tech on Decluttr. Let’s just say it wasn’t a good look. Most of the products fell short of Decluttr’s stated standards and didn’t even match their listed descriptions.
Why Was Decluttr Closed?
As of the moment of writing this article, the exact reason for Decluttr’s sudden closure hasn’t been officially confirmed. However, looking at recent events, it’s clear that a lot was happening behind the scenes. The abrupt closure likely stemmed from a mix of challenges, especially following the acquisition of its parent company, MusicMagpie.
While the full story might take time to surface, it seems the decision to pull the plug on Decluttr was rushed, leaving many customers shocked and caught off guard.
The Best Decluttr Alternative: Where to Sell Used Tech
If you’ve been left wondering where to sell your old tech now, there’s good news. SmartphonesPLUS is the best alternative to Decluttr, and in many ways, it’s even better.
According to recent trade-in comparisons, SmartphonesPLUS pays up to 25% more than competitors, including carriers. Plus, with the express payout option, customers receive their payout within one business day.
To keep things short, SmartphonesPLUS offers a simple, transparent, and reliable platform for selling your smartphones, tablets, handheld consoles, smartwatches, and more. They have a dedicated trade-in team that ensures you get the smooth experience you expect. Check out some recent reviews of the SmartphonesPLUS trade in platform on their Trustpilot page.
How SmartphonesPLUS Works
It’s really easy to sell your tech on SmartphonesPLUS. You can get it done in less than 2 minutes, and your payout comes fast too. All you have to do is:
- Go to SmartphonesPLUS.com
- Select your device and its condition
- Get an instant quote
- Ship your device
And just like that, your device is sold. Another great part about selling your device to SmartphonesPLUS is that there is a wide variety of ways for you to get paid. From the standard bank transfers and checks to gift cards and prepaid cards.
Is Decluttr Coming Back?
Decluttr’s website clearly states that it is closed. No rebranding, no repurposing, just closed. That doesn’t mean things can’t still change, so we’ll have to wait and see.
All their social media pages are still online, but they haven’t posted in a long time.
Final Thoughts
Decluttr’s sudden shutdown left many customers stranded, with no clear explanation. But while the platform may unfortunately be gone for good, the need to safely and easily sell old tech remains.
SmartphonesPLUS is the perfect alternative, offering even better prices, faster payouts, and a smoother, hassle-free process.
Got an old phone or gadget lying around? Get an instant quote at SmartphonesPLUS.com and turn it into cash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the competitors of Decluttr?
Decluttr’s major competitor was SmartphonesPLUS. Other competitors include Gazelle and ecoATM.
Which is the best alternative to Decluttr?
SmartphonesPLUS is the best alternative to Decluttr. SmartphonesPLUS offers high payouts, a smooth and transparent experience, free shipping, and even buys broken devices.
