Trade In. Cash Out. Do Good. The SmartphonesPLUS Story
September 24, 2025 | Business Support, Member Stories
SmartphonesPLUS started in Cedar Rapids with a simple idea: make it easy and secure for people and organizations to trade in used electronics and keep them out of landfills. Today, the company serves customers nationwide and was named to the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing companies in America this year, a milestone that underscores both momentum and trust.
The team provides end-to-end electronics trade-in, IT asset recovery, and e-waste recycling. That includes certified data destruction, device buyback, audit reporting, and expert refurbishment. The goal is straightforward: extend the life of technology, reduce waste, and make reliable devices more affordable and accessible.
Who they serve is just as broad as what they do. Consumers use the online trade-in platform to get instant quotes for phones, tablets, laptops, and more at smartphonesplus.com. Enterprises and managed service providers turn to SmartphonesPLUS for bulk device buyback and lifecycle recovery. K-12 schools and universities clear out aging fleets with secure chain-of-custody and reporting. Nonprofits and community groups even run recycling fundraisers to turn old tech into new dollars for their missions.
Trust sits at the center of the experience. SmartphonesPLUS maintains five-star review ratings across platforms and holds Better Business Bureau Accreditation. Customers can buy certified pre-owned devices with free shipping, stop into a store for a repair, or schedule a pickup for bulk lots. However you engage, the process is designed to be simple, transparent, and fast.
Sustainability is a core outcome. Every device that enters the pipeline is renewed, repurposed, or responsibly recycled. Millions of electronics are thrown away each year; SmartphonesPLUS offers a practical alternative that protects data, returns value to owners, and diverts waste from landfills.
Connections matter, and the company’s Economic Alliance membership has helped fuel growth. Founder and CEO Christopher Hale serves on the Business Support Innovation Council and regularly plugs into BizMix and ImpactCR networking. These touchpoints open doors to partnerships, local talent, and regional visibility as the company scales.
Recognition on the Inc. 5000 is an exciting moment, and the team is quick to credit customers, partners, and the broader Cedar Rapids community for the support behind it. With strong local roots and a national reach, SmartphonesPLUS is proving that responsible tech reuse can be good for business and good for the environment.
“Every device we renew keeps valuable materials in use and sensitive data protected. That is real value for customers and our community.” — Christopher Hale, Founder and CEO, SmartphonesPLUS
For more information on SmartphonesPLUS, visit their website at https://www.smartphonesplus.com/