What to do with blank SIM cards?

November 4, 2009 8:56 PM

I have about 30 surplus SIM cards, all for AT&T. They are new and unused SIM cards. Is there any life for new SIM cards with no account on them?

I routinely have piles of these unused SIM cards as a result of my job, about 30 to 50 a month. The reason is due to the fact that whenever we upgrade a phone, they send us the new phone with a new SIM included. Not wanting to deal with transferring accounts from SIM to SIM, the current user simply moves their old SIM and keeps their number, and we're left with unused, new SIM cards as well as the matching plastic cards that they've been punched out of.

The waste not want not person inside of me feels that there should be some way to put these to use, either by reselling them or donating them or doing something useful with them, other than throwing them out. Help?

posted by msbutah to technology (5 comments total)

Yeah, sell them on eBay. People will buy them to stick in unlocked phones they purchased themselves, to activate for GoPhone service.
posted by floam at 9:20 PM on November 4

Oh, and I was going to say, if I recall from when I bought one, it was like $4 including shipping. You're probably not going to make a bunch of money and it might be some work. I do remember that there were people selling entire lots of them in single auctions at reduced rates, that may be easier.
posted by floam at 9:26 PM on November 4

I'd bet that the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence would be happy to have them. They provide donated phones to victims of abuse, making it easier to get help in emergency situations.
posted by hydrophonic at 9:36 PM on November 4 [4 favorites has favorites]

Thanks for the info folks. I knew someone could use them. I'll hit up a few local YWCAs and the like to see if they want them. If not, time for eBay!
posted by msbutah at 8:39 AM on November 5

Just to clarify something - phones don't need a SIM card to call 911. That's usually what the donated phones from NCADV are for. They're asking for deactivated phones anyway.

I'd just eBay the SIM cards.
posted by drstein at 2:44 PM on November 5