It’s become a part of “Mac culture” – eagerly anticipating and even lining up to buy the latest generation iPhone or iPad. But when new models come out fairly frequently, what’s to be done with the old versions? They can always be passed on to a friend or family member, or even sent to a local electronics recycling depot. But upgrading to the latest Apple “ i device” isn’t cheap, so wouldn’t it be nice to get a few dollars back, easing the expense?

That’s where Gazelle.com comes in. They’ve capitalized on the fact that thousands of people have extra gadgets sitting around the house that are perfectly good but have been abandoned for the newest model. Their service, for which they have earned an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, allows consumers to trade in unwanted devices.

The process is simple. Visit Gazelle’s website and answer a few questions about the device you no longer want. They’ll tell you it’s value, and providing it’s worth more than $1.00 you can ship it to them free of charge. Once received by the company they’ll check it immediately and then send your funds. Customers even have the choice between receiving a check, money in their PayPal account or an Amazon gift card.

Gazelle accepts a wide variety of devices including iPhones and other smartphones, iPads and other tablets and some computers, including MacBooks. They then find new homes for the devices, in part by refurbishing them and selling them on their active eBay store.

Since its inception, Gazelle has become an increasingly popular service and to date have taken in nearly 1 million items on trade. They take their clients’ trust very seriously and guarantee all personal data will be securely erased from devices they receive. With such a great program and commitment to customer service, it’s no surprise nine out of ten clients have reported being happy with the company, or that Gazelle has earned such a prestigious rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Gazelle even offers a referral program for customers – for each friend you refer who sells a gadget, you’ll receive $10.00, and the friend will get an additional $10.00 for their first trade-in.

There is a lot of merit to this creative business solution. It means less waste and clutter, with old devices no longer sitting around the house or being tossed away. What’s more, it also helps subsidize the purchase of new gadgets. Perhaps you’ve decided to clean up around the house and realized getting a few dollars back for your old electronics is better than having them collect dust. Or maybe you’ve got your eye on a new iPad Mini or the upcoming new iPhone and want to take some of the sting out of the purchase price.

Whatever your reasoning, using Gazelle.com is a great way to make the most out of your electronic purchases and save yourself a bit of money. It’s quick, easy, free and definitely worth investigating if you’re still holding on to your first generation iPad and iPhone 3.