What to Think About Before Buying A Second Hand Mobile Phones?
- Priyanka Ahuja
- Aug 7, 2019
- 2 min read
The company that makes mobile phones would like you to believe that a brand new phone is the best kind of phone. And, your life will be lacking if you don’t have the updated camera, processor, virtual assistant button, all packaged in polished glass mobile phone. But there is plenty of good, slightly older, used smartphones out there, and the second hand phone market has been growing right along with the overall smartphone market.
Nowadays, legitimate ways to buy used or refurbished phones. Not long ago it felt like your best option in taking a chance on an unknown seller. Also, there was a high likelihood of the “refurbished” phone - what you were buying was an old or used phone with a bum battery.
All of those things are still happening, but now, e-commerce starting to offer more assurances for buyers. That includes sharing more details about the condition of a refurbished phone or offering slightly better warranties with the product. So, it is easy for you now as you can choose to shop on sites that match your comfort level.
Consider the sources
You should know that there’s always the potential for fraud when you aren’t walking into a well-known retailer and buying a new phone that’s going to be activated for you.
And, it is important to know that you don’t have the same fine-print assurances you’d get from a certified seller. So make sure you consider the sources before buying a second hand phone.
Feeling Used
Minor scratches or scuffs can be expected with pre-owned phones, but structural damage and reduced functionality are not the things you should go with.
In refurbished phones, displays are the parts most often in need of repair or replacement before they get resold.
One thing that needs to be considered is - if you’re buying a refurbished mobile for environmental reasons: buying a completely refurbished phone means you’re reusing some of the phone’s parts, but not all of them.
Fine Prints
You should know what more important than the condition of the used phone is what kind of return policy they have and the kind of long-term protection they’re offering you.
Return policies are usually short, ranging from two weeks to 30 days, so it is important for you to read the fine print before you buy a refurbished phone.
Warranties also vary, but it’s always worthwhile to look for one that’s bundled in with the sale of the second-hand phone and offered by the original manufacturer. It streamlines the process if you do need to send your phone for repair because you’re dealing with the same place that sold you the phone. You’re also less likely to be sold a protection plan for your second hand phone, that’s the right fit, or even valid, for the device you’re buying.
Final Words
That’s still a small sliver of the overall pre-owned phone market, but it shows that there’s a growing interest for use. Also, it shows that people are increasingly willing to get something that’s “new” to them, rather than that shiny new thing a company release every year.
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