The recent TikTok ban in the United States sent users into an immediate frenzy, especially since the app was disabled for only a few short hours before becoming available again. However, since its return on January 19th, TikTok has been inaccessible for new downloads in the U.S., as the platform was removed from the app stores on the 18th. Luckily, users who had the app installed before the 14-hour outage were able to return to the platform and continue using its services.
As a result, there’s been a recent demand for phones with TikTok pre-installed. Desperation to access the app has driven users to make big purchases on websites such as eBay, where listings for these phones have increased drastically. In fact, prices have even skyrocketed to new heights with some sellers asking for up to $25,000 for devices like the iPhone 15 Pro that come equipped with the video app.
Since these phones have recently been in high demand, retailer GameStop has stepped into the conversation and is trying to gain a piece of the profit. On Wednesday, the gaming company announced that its stores will begin accepting trade-ins for phones with TikTok installed.
“Have TikTok? GameStop will buy your phone for cash or trade credit,” the company wrote in a social media post.
On GameStop’s website, the latest iPhone models were reportedly only going for a few hundred dollars, which is far less than the prices circulating on eBay.
Nonetheless, selling a TikTok-installed phone might seem like a great idea but it also comes with a handful of complications when it comes to logistics. For starters, most secondhand devices will require factory resets to wipe the phone of the previous owner’s information. But, in doing this, TikTok will also be deleted and make the phone useless. This can be bypassed if the seller signs out of their accounts and leaves the app installed. However, buyers still risk losing their access if they attempt to sync their data into the app.
