SAN DIEGO, May 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Tablet shipments have been on a steady decline,[1] while tablet trade-ins are growing ecoATM, Inc., the nationwide network of automated electronics recycling kiosks, saw tablet trade-ins more than double from Q1 2014 to Q1 2015 and set out to determine what's changed with tablet owners.

A recent ecoATM survey suggests a disconnect between initial expectations and eventual tablet usage.
• More than one quarter of respondents (27 percent) indicate they use their tablet less than they anticipated when initially purchased
• Twenty-six percent report using their device less than three hours per week
• Eight percent of tablet owners say they no longer use their device

Survey findings point to utility as a primary reason why tablet usage may be declining. Of those who no longer use their device:
• 60 percent indicate they prefer using a laptop instead
• 26 percent say their smartphone does everything they need
• Seven percent indicate their tablet is broken

"Just because your tablet has fallen out of your favor doesn't mean it has to gather dust. You can still take it to an ecoATM® kiosk to turn it into cash and give it a second life," said Randy Erman, director of product marketing at ecoATM. "ecoATM kiosks recognize more than 5,500 devices including tablets, smart phones and MP3 players."

With a network of more than 2,100 kiosks in the U.S., ecoATM has responsibly recycled or enabled the reuse of more than four million devices. ecoATM kiosk data lends insights into additional tablet trends:

• Southern states including Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama experience the highest collection rates
• Of the tablets and cell phones collected, a higher percentage of tablets traded in are broken; one quarter of all tablets traded in are in non-working condition
• The Apple iPad® 2 and iPad mini™ are collected more than any other tablets

To get the best value for tablet trade-ins through its network of kiosks, ecoATM recommends these simple steps for proper preparation before selling a device. To find an ecoATM kiosk location, please visit https://www.ecoatm.com/locator/.

Methodology: The ecoATM consumer tablet use survey was conducted by Edelman Berland between May 5-11, 2015, and polled 1,175 tablet owners in the U.S. The margin of error for the survey is ±2.9%.

About ecoATM
ecoATM, is the first company to create an automated self-serve kiosk system to buy back old phones, tablets or MP3 players for cash. ecoATM uses patented, advanced machine vision, electronic diagnostics, and artificial intelligence to evaluate electronics. ecoATM® eCycling stations provide a convenient trade-in solution with features that validate sellers' identities and deter the sale of stolen phones, and the company collaborates with national, state, and local law-enforcement groups in combating mobile phone theft through innovative use of technology and education (https://www.ecoatm-public.myshopify.com/pages/law-enforcement/).

ecoATM holds Responsible Recycling (R2) and ISO14001 certification, confirming the company's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of electronics recycling, as well as ISO27001 certification for information and personal data security. See http://www.ecoatm-public.myshopify.com/pages/how-it-works/ for a video of how an ecoATM kiosk works.

[1] International Data Corporation (IDC), April 2015
Photo- Tablets Meeting Consumer Expectations
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