I bet these buyback programs are sold like the extended warranties that stores push on consumers. They're paper products with zero inventory, distribution and storage costs and highly profitable. When I bought a widget at Home Depot, I was led to a quiet area of the store and the salesman wouldn't hand the widget over but badgered me about the $179 extended warranty and this went on for a while until I told him if he won't sell it to me, somebody else will. I try to buy as many widgets as I can online today.