capitalism *is* fun :-)

I have a mobile subscription with a CDMA operator. I am considering to close the contract since they are total crap. I have a mobile phone and a PCMCIA card which I won’t be able to use anymore. Both are in mint condition. While browsing their site, I noticed that they have a "recycle" program. A lot of blah-blah about a cleaner environment, recycling, etc. They are not offering you any incentive for doing this. Ok .. I don’t really need an incentive for this. I would do it out of good will.
Here comes the nice part. When I login to my user account with them, I have an option to purchase refurbished equipment from them at outrageous prices. Their prices for new equipment are outrageous also. They ask up to $200 for a phone with a monochrome LCD and 80’s technology, and it’s the price you way when you get a subscription to go with it.

Now I figured it out. They ask people to recycle phone for the sake of the environment, and behind the doors (in the user area accounts), they actually resell them for a price. Brilliant idea :)