AO, the UK’s most trusted electrical retailer, announces that musicMagpie, one of the UK’s leading recommerce operators, which it acquired in December 2024, has launched a nationwide partnership with Timpson to provide instant in‑store smartphone trade‑ins across more than 1,300 Timpson locations in the UK.
Following a successful four‑month trial, customers can now trade in their smartphones at over 1,300 Timpson stores, where devices are checked on the spot and funds are transferred immediately. The new service improves accessibility for customers who prefer face‑to‑face convenience and instant payment.
This proposition strengthens AO’s strategy to grow its presence in new categories, particularly mobile, while increasing volume through musicMagpie’s refurbishment operations and reinforcing AO’s circular economy goals.
Consumer insight
Censuswide surveyed 2,000 UK adults between 28 November and 1 December 2025. Key findings include:
- 73% of adults have an unused smartphone at home.
- These devices hold an average resale value of approximately £250.
- This equates to an estimated £10bn of unused smartphone value across the UK.
- 68% of respondents prefer trading in devices in person.
- One in four say that receiving immediate payment is very important.
John Roberts, CEO and founder of AO World, said:
“We know that apathy is the biggest barrier to trading 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 Timpson sites.
“It’s another great synergy from our acquisition of Magpie in 2024 and is really just the start of the enormous potential that we see for this partnership.
“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, said:
“Adding Magpie to 1,300 Timpson stores across the UK is a huge milestone for us and will take our reach and convenience for customers far beyond anything we’ve tried before. It’s great to see that so many customers are choosing to trade in their old phones in a way that’s as good for the planet as it is for their wallets.
“This partnership means that most people in the UK are now just minutes from turning their unused tech into hundreds of pounds of instant cash.”
Sid Hubbard, Group Director of Timpson, 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.”