Take it to Timpson: Music Magpie companions with retailer to supply telephone trade-ins

Music Magpie will allow customers to trade in their old smartphones at Timpson stores, it announced today.

The secondhand retailer will offer in-store trade-ins at 1,300 Timpson sites following a four-month trial.

White goods giant AO World, which bought Music Magpie in 2024, said customers will be paid ‘in minutes’.

AO boss John Roberts said: ‘We know that apathy to is the biggest barrier in old tech, and the ability to ‘Take it to Timpson’ now makes it a no brainer for customers who can get cash in only a few minutes for their old smartphone at over 1,300 Timspon sites.

‘By combining Music Magpie’s refurbishment expertise with Timpson’s trusted nationwide network, we’re helping customers unlock the value in their old tech instantly, while keeping more devices in use and making them more affordable for every pocket.’

Trade-in: Customers can now hand in their old phones at 1,300 Timpson stores 

Its research found that the total value of unused smartphones is estimated at around £10billion, with 73 per cent of adults having at least one with an average value of £250.

Sid Hubbard, group director of Timpson said: ‘Repairing worn, old or damaged goods has been at the heart of the Timpson service offer for over 150 years. 

‘We are pleased to extend this to smartphone trade-in for our customers on behalf of Music Magpie.’

MusicMagpie started life reselling CDs and DVDs after it was set up in a Stockport garage in 2007 by Walter Gleeson and Steve Oliver.

A £10million cash injection from private equity firm LDC in 2011 helped the group expand into North America, where it trades under the name Decluttr.

The business now resells everything from books to clothes, laptops, smartwatches, and game consoles, and also runs subscription services allowing customers to rent electronics.

AO World bought Music Magpie in December 2024 for £10million as it looked to bolster its trade-in options for its customers.

It said the acquisition will help to offset the financial risks posed by the growing shift towards ‘sustainability and repair’ in the consumer technology market.