Secondary market and vending system for devices
A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of a mobile telephone is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes an inspection area with at least one camera and a plurality of electrical connectors in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the mobile telephone for determination of a value of the mobile telephone. The recycling kiosk also includes a processor, a display and a user interface.
1. A kiosk for purchasing a used electronic device, the kiosk comprising:
a housing;
a bin within the housing, wherein the bin is configured to securely contain the used electronic device together with other used electronic devices;
an internal inspection area within the housing, wherein the internal inspection area is configured to receive the used electronic device;
a user interface;
one or more processors; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the kiosk to—
receive information from the used electronic device via wired or wireless connectivity between the kiosk and the used electronic device, wherein the received information includes information related to a condition of the used electronic device,
present to a user via the user interface an offer to purchase the used electronic device for a price based at least partially on the received information,
lock down the internal inspection area to prevent the user from accessing the used electronic device,
if a rejection of the offer is received from the user, unlock the internal inspection area to permit the user to remove the used electronic device, and
if an acceptance of the offer is received from the user, receive the used electronic device in the bin.
2. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the received information includes information related to an operating condition of the used electronic device.
3. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the wired or wireless connectivity includes wired connectivity via a cable connector of the kiosk.
4. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the wired or wireless connectivity includes WiFi wireless connectivity.
5. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the wired or wireless connectivity includes Bluetooth wireless connectivity.
6. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein:
the kiosk further includes an internally directed camera;
the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the camera to capture an image of the used electronic device; and
the price is based at least partially on the received information and the captured image.
7. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein:
the instructions, when executed, cause the user interface to present the user with a question about the used electronic device; and
the price is based at least partially on the received information and a response to the question.
8. The kiosk of claim 7 wherein the question relates to a condition of a display of the used electronic device.
9. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein:
if the acceptance of the offer is received from the user, the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the kiosk to compensate the user for the used electronic device.
10. The kiosk of claim 9 wherein:
the kiosk includes a cash dispenser; and
the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the kiosk to dispense cash to the user via the cash dispenser to compensate the user for the used electronic device.
11. The kiosk of claim 9 wherein:
the kiosk includes a voucher dispenser; and
the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the kiosk to dispense a voucher to the user via the voucher dispenser to compensate the user for the used electronic device.
12. The kiosk of claim 9 wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the kiosk to initiate an electronic payment to compensate the user for the used electronic device.
13. A method for purchasing a used electronic device, the method comprising:
receiving information from a used electronic device via wired or wireless connectivity between a kiosk and the used electronic device, wherein the received information includes information related to a condition of the used electronic device;
receiving the used electronic device in an inspection area of the kiosk;
presenting, via a user interface of the kiosk, an offer to purchase the used electronic device for a price based at least partially on the received information;
locking down the inspection area of the kiosk to prevent a user from accessing the used electronic device;
if a rejection of the offer is received from the user of the kiosk, unlocking the internal inspection area to permit the user to remove the used electronic device; and
if an acceptance of the offer is received from the user of the kiosk, receiving the used electronic device in a bin of the kiosk, wherein the bin is configured to securely contain the used electronic device together with other used electronic devices.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein receiving the information from the used electronic device includes receiving the information from the used electronic device via WiFi wireless connectivity between the kiosk and the used electronic device.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein receiving the information from the used electronic device includes receiving the information from the used electronic device via Bluetooth wireless connectivity between the kiosk and the used electronic device.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
receiving the used electronic device in an inspection area of the kiosk; and
capturing an image of the used electronic device via an internally directed camera of the kiosk, wherein the price is based at least partially on the received information and the captured image.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising using analysis software on the image to identify scratches on the used electronic device.
18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
presenting, via the user interface, a question about the used electronic device; and
receiving, via the user interface, a response to the question from the user, wherein the price is based at least partially on the received information and the response.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the question is related to a condition of a display of the used electronic device.
20. The method of claim 13 , further comprising, if the acceptance of the offer is received from the user, dispensing cash to the user via a cash dispenser of the kiosk.
21. The method of claim 13 , further comprising performing an electrical test on the used electronic device via the wired or wireless connectivity, wherein the received information includes a result of the electrical test.