Contrary to what most people think, refurbished phones aren’t like normal second-hand phones. Yes, they are used phones but these have been sent back to the manufacturer because of a minor fault or traded in for a newer model. After this, the phone is thoroughly examined and all faulty parts removed and replaced with new ones. For it to be a refurbished phone, it is confirmed that its working and that all parts are in good shape.
Though refurbished phones are good, cheaper and they also work, it’s good to know, how do you ensure you get a good deal? What do you look for in a refurbished phone?
- Warranty
Warranty is the most important thing when buying a smartphone. If the refurbished phone you’re buying doesn’t have any issues, the retailer should have no problem including a warranty with your purchase. If your retailer doesn’t include a warranty, you might be shocked to find out there is something inherently wrong with the phone. Always check the warranty and the duration of the warranty before buying a refurb.
- Buy from the manufacturer
Most of the time a phone manufacturer has handsets that are in perfect shape. It might be the original owner returned the phone for a minor fault that was repaired. When this happens, the manufacturer can’t sell the phone as a new one. They try reselling the phone as a refurbished one on the official website. The phone is cheaper and coming directly from the manufacturer, it must have a warranty and be in good shape. It’s a cheaper way of getting the phone you want and saving some money.
- Read the fine print
This mostly applies when doing large purchases right? Well, it also applies to when you’re buying a refurbished phone. If the phone is marked “as is”, this is a red flag. It means you agree to buy the phone as it is with all its faults. If the phone has a fault and you buy it, even the warranty doesn’t help if it was marked “as is”.
- Make sure the phone isn’t network locked
The refurbished phone must be open to all networks. Having a phone locked to one specific network is a pain and an inconvenience. Make sure the phone can accept any SIM card with no problems.
You can check if the refurbished phone retailer is selling the phone from the box and if so, does the phone come with accessories such as earphones, a charging cable, and charging brick. A refurbished phone offers you a good phone at a much cheaper price compared to the same phone new from the manufacturer. However, it is up to you to make sure you aren’t duped into buying a faulty phone.
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