When Is Buying a Used or Refurbished Phone a Good Idea?

Jan 1, 2019

Buying a used or refurbished phone may sound tempting, especially when you consider the price of smartphones today.

But, if you’re like many consumers, you may have reservations about buying a phone that has previously been used, whether or not it has been reconditioned. The good news is that experts agree a refurbished or used phone can be a wise investment – as long as you’re careful about where you purchase it.

Used phones

Used vs. Refurbished Phone: What’s the Difference?

A used phone is simply that – one that someone else previously used as their device. In most cases, this term means that you’re buying the phone just as it was returned or sold by the previous user.

A refurbished phone was also previously owned by someone else. However, before it was offered for sale, it was evaluated, repaired as necessary and reconditioned by trained and experienced phone repair technicians.

During the refurbishing process, technicians wipe the devices clean and then systematically test components and functions. A refurbished or reconditioned phone should look and function exactly like a new model, fresh from the factory, with robust battery life and response time.

Benefits of Buying a Refurbished Pre-Owned Phone

In most cases, reconditioned phones were not returned by the previous owner because of a problem. Rather, the prior user simply wanted a new (or different) model and, to get a discount on the new purchase, they traded in their old device for credit. Sometimes, these phones were never even used but, once returned, they cannot be legally sold as new.

More often, these devices were lightly used, but still virtually indistinguishable from a brand-new phone.

So, for a substantially discounted price, you can have the same model and features you seek in a new phone.

Buy Pre-owned & Refurbished Devices from a Phone Repair Expert

If you’re interested in exploring the remarkable savings you can get from buying a pre-owned smartphone, be very careful where you decide to purchase.

Look for an established phone repair company that employs expert technicians. If they also refurbish and sell used phones, you can rest assured they do a thorough job.

Also look for a company that offers refurbished phones with a warranty. If a company is willing to stand behind its work in this way, giving you the peace of mind that comes with a warranty, you can buy pre-owned phones with confidence.

In Utah, FixITMobile | Bad Apple’s expert phone repair technicians refurbish pre-owned Apple iPhones as well as Samsung and Android models. We have a large inventory of used phones to choose from, all of which come with our risk-free 30-day limited warranty. We have the latest models too, so you’ll never be forced to compromise on your selection.

Visit one of our convenient Utah locations today or check out our large selection of refurbished phones online.