Traditionally, second-hand smartphones have been the go-to devices for people looking to save a pretty penny on their phone purchase. This, however, left people open to a number of issues, including poor battery life, scratched phones, a lack of warranty to protect their investment, and much more.
Today, budget hunters have a better alternative – refurbished phones. This tends to be a touchy subject, with critics believing that refurbished devices offer too much risk than they are worth. In analyzing this claim, it’s worth noting that refurbished phones are not similar to used phone.
Hence, they present less risk. In fact, under the right circumstances, buying a refurbished phone from Phonebot could be just as good as buying a new phone. Here is everything you need to know about buying refurbished devices.
What is a refurbished phone?
Generally, a refurbished device refers to a pre-owned handset that was sent back to the manufacturer due to a hardware problem or manufacturing defect and repaired for resale. However, not all refurbished phones were once faulty. Based on industry standards, a smartphone’s value automatically drops right after you buy it and open the seal. That means if you were to change your mind and returned a phone to the store, the seller would have to resell it as refurbished.
Ideally, all refurbished phones are inspected thoroughly for flaws before being put back on the shelf. Repairs could either be done by a third-party or the manufacturer, and in the event, they are undertaken by the manufacturer, such devices tend to be labelled as certified pre-owned phones or manufacturer refurbished devices. These phones offer the highest level of reassurance as they are worked on by the same engineers who made them and come with a limited warranty.
What are the pros and cons of a refurbished device?
Like everything in life, refurbished phones present some great aspects and limitations too. The biggest advantage of refurbished phones is of course that they come at a discount. They might not be as cheap as used phones, but you will still get to save a lot. Refurbished phones also allow you to get the exact phone you want. Smartphone manufacturers usually halt production and the sale of their older models at some point. This means, if you are looking to buy an iPhone 8, you may need to turn to a reputable refurbished phones dealer in Australia.
Furthermore, going refurbished lets you do your part in protecting the environment. In Australia, 88% of electronics purchased in a given year wind up in a landfill. When you also consider that Australians are among the highest consumers of tech in the world, it is evident how dire it is for all of us to practice environmental sustainability. If you go for a refurb, you help cut down on tech waste that continues growing at an astronomical rate.
What should you consider when buying a refurbished smartphone?
Buying a refurbished device demands patience and a bit of foresight. With the numerous vendors out there claiming to offer refurbished phones, it’s easy to fall victim to scammers. If you have decided to get a refurb for your next device, here are a few things you should consider.
- Refurbished grade – This refers to a standard that denotes the quality of the refurbished product. Different vendors classify their offerings different. So be sure to check the fine print before hitting the “Buy Now” button.
- Price – Identify a few dealers of pre-owned devices and compare prices. Before making any purchase, you need to ensure that you are getting value for money.
- Reputable Retailers – Make sure you’re buying a refurbished device from a reputable retailer.
Where can you buy a refurbished smartphone?
There are plenty of vendors in Australia who offer refurbished devices. Apple and Samsung offer refurbs directly, but stocks are limited and subject to availability. However, if you are keen, you can bag a great bargain from them but that is rare.
So, should you buy a refurbished phone?
The quick answer is yes. Let’s face it. We would all love to own the latest flagship models. But such devices also come with a price tag to match, with costs spanning anywhere over $1000 AUD. Not all of us can cough up that much. That’s where refurbs come in. These devices let you own a smartphone that you love with the features that you need without it having to cost a fortune. Yes, you will need to be more vigilant about where you buy the smartphone from. But if you take the things, we mentioned above into consideration, you are guaranteed to score a great deal on a refurbished phone.