People looking to recycle their old smartphones for cash using musicMagpie can now do so in person at Timpson stores across the UK and receive payment on the same day.

Electrical retailer AO, which bought musicMagpie in December 2024, made the announcement today after trialling a walk-in smartphone trade-in service at select Timpson stores over a four-month period.

With the initial trial being a success, AO says musicMagpie will now have a presence at more than 1,300 Timpson stores across the UK.

Best known for offering key cutting and shoe repairs, many Timpson stores are located in Tesco supermarkets as pods.

The expanded partnership between musicMagpie and Timpson will see customers taking their device to a local Timpson store, handing it to an employee to look at, and then, if the device is accepted, getting paid “in minutes”.

The partnership forms part of a wider strategy to increase market share and customer awareness in mobile, as well as to increase musicMagpie’s tech refurbishment volumes.

John Roberts, chief executive and founder of AO World, said: “By combining musicMagpie’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.”

Steve Oliver, managing director and co-founder of musicMagpie described the move as a "huge milestone" for the company, taking its reach far beyond anything it has tried before.

musicMagpie previously ran solely online, with its service requiring customers to select the device they’re looking to sell via its website, type in their details and print out a prepaid label.

They then needed to package their device and take it to their nearest post office, before waiting for musicMagpie to receive the product, process and analyse it, and make the payment after determining the device’s condition. The process could take weeks, with a risk of devices being lost in the post.

But with research from Censuswide showing that 68 per cent of Brits prefer in-person smartphone trading and a further one in four expecting immediate payment, AO decided the way in which musicMagpie operated had to change.

In addition to helping customers make money on their old devices during the cost-of-living crisis, AO said its decision to take musicMagpie into physical stores will allow it to increase its foothold in the £10 billion unused smartphone industry.

Speaking about the new partnership, Timpson group director Sid Hubbard said: "Our expert colleagues are a trusted and friendly face to millions of customers across the UK, and this additional service further enhances the high street experience for new and existing Timpson customers.

“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 musicMagpie."

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