You Won’t Believe How Much These Broken Electronics Cost

When your phone breaks, do you bother trying to sell it on eBay, or just toss it out? Here are some prices for completed listings in “for parts or not working” condition on eBay that might surprise you.

A flight of stairs. The cement of the sidewalk. A toddler. The toilet. A bottle of diet Pepsi not capped tightly enough in your purse. What do these have in common? They're silent gadget-killers, lurking in wait for the right moment to fry your phone, camera, or other electronics. It's not a matter of "if", it's a matter of "when".

And when your gadgets break - and oh yes, they shall - do you bother trying to resell it or say your goodbyes and give it its proper Viking funeral in the East River (not recommended by FDNY)? Is it actually worth the hassle of listing it on eBay, waiting for a buyer, waiting for them to PayPal, and shipping it off?

Apparently, it actually might be worth the hassle.

eBay allows you to list electronics in the condition "For parts or not working". I searched for completed listings that were specifically listed this way, and the prices were fairly surprising for items with sometimes very serious defects.

The prices on these pieces of junk might make you consider putting up with waiting in line at the post office.

$1,065.00 - MacBook Pro 17" (missing 3 keys and doesn't turn on)