Buying a used smartphone can save you some money, but it obviously involves a few risks—like making sure it’s in good condition (and that it isn’t stolen). Here are some tips I’ve learned after buying many used phones.
Smartphone makers release new models every year. Since people always have the fantastic deal on a used smartphone as long as you will forego the cutting edge.
Second, you need to ensure everything is working correctly. And finally, based On these, you have to get the right price.
- Research for the Right Price
To get the best deal, you need to see how many people are selling that smartphone right now and at what price. Do that, search for the handset on eBay, Craigslist and Swappa. You will come across across listings, but there are a few things to note:
- Make sure it’s unlocked. Craigslist and eBay have plenty of people selling locked smartphones, which cost a little less than what you would look for.
- On eBay, check only the Buy It Now prices, not the current bids. Bids can tell you how much people might be willing to pay, but I have found it a better way to go by what sellers look for.
- Used smartphones come in various levels of condition, so you need not actually click these links and read the description to know what the condition meets what you are looking for for Once you find such items, note their prices as that’s what your reference is, not items which are better or worse condition.
- If you are buying a one-year-old smartphone for a price where you can get a similar new phone, the deal is not worth it for you lose out on warranty .
- Make sure all the accessories are intact. If they are not, find out what it would cost you to buy each accessory and use that a bargaining chip to reduce the price.
- Where to Buy
Personally, I only buy in-person, since I want to inspect the phone-but you’ll get a much better selection Buying online. Here are some tips for each.
- Try a Social Network
I’ve personally bought or helped friends buy over 20 used smartphones at this point and the best source, in my opinion, is to find someone selling it on a social network. That’s not to say you will not get a great deal on Craigslist , EBay or Swappa. But for used smartphones, having some sort of link with that person helps a great deal in establishing trust. And this works both ways. Remember, a good seller wants a clean and fair transaction too, he does not want want You to be unhappy nor get caught up in the hassle of you trying to reclaim money.
- Buy Online at Swappa
That Does Not If Work For You, Then I’D Go With Swappa Over The Others. Why? It Has A System In Place Where You Can Report Someone For Selling A Stolen Phone, A Phone With An Altered ESN, A Damaged Screen, Or water damage. You can do many things to ensure you do not buy anything, you can get get money back through PayPal. Plus, Swappa also verifies each listing so there’s a lower chance of someone trying to con you. A stolen phone , but if you do, good luck getting your money back on eBay, Facebook and Craigslist!
Not only does this give you a room to return it if the phone is n ‘ T as described, but it also is the mark of a good seller who is confident in their product.
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- If Possible, Meet In Person
I’d strongly advise against picking it up online and insist on an in person meeting. For me personally, it’s a dealbreaker.
Whatever photos you see, even if the other party is willing to do a video There are enough scammers on eBay and Craigslist who know just how to word their item descriptions so that on paper, they are in the clear. And once that Happens, eBay and Craigslist will was their hands off the matter with no chance for a refund.
Also, I have a good enough selection on social networks or Craigslist, insist on meeting in person. Apart from the safety of the matter, this is also important since You get inspect the phone carefully and thoroughly, so you do not miss out on details that might not be as visible in a dimly lit bar.
- Negotiating The Deal
In general, cosmetics take a back seat to function in such negotiations. So “faint scratches on sides” won ‘ T reduce your price much, but “scratches on screen” can let you negotiate a bigger price drop.
I have found this to be the easiest way to weed out an honest seller from someone who’s trying to pull a fast one. The more detailed you get about the checks you are going to run, the better-the scammer usually runs away at this point while the honest seller is fine with everything.
It’s easier to energize with this negotiation, make sure you tell them that it is the price. This is just a precaution though, I do not have it as an excuse to be an ass and bargain just because you think you can a better price than what you negotiated. No one likes that guy.
- How To Inspect a Used Smartphone
At the meeting (or when you get the phone in the mail), you need to bring a few things with you:
- Your own charging cable (if you do not have the compatible one, borrow from a friend)
- A laptop
- Your SIM card or a friend’s, which can fit into the phone. Read up what type of SIM the used phone needs so you are not stuck with microSIM card when the phone uses a nanoSIM.
- Headphones
- A microSD card (if the phone has a slot for it)
Once the seller hands you the phone, you should run a bunch of checks.
- Physically inspect the phone . Like dents and scratches, as well as water damage. Take your time with this, do not rush If you are buying a unibody phone where the battery can not be removed, the water damage indicator Is usually placed in the SIM card slot. The best way to find out the place of the indicator on your model is to google it.
- If It Opens, Open It . Any flap, cover, port that can be opened – like a push – pin slot for SIM or microSD cards – needs to be tested so open it and check that it’s fine.
- Check All The Ports. Pop Your Own Headphones Into The Handset And Check If They Are Working. Connect The Charger Cable You Got To Your Laptop And See If It’S Charging By That Port. If It Charges By Laptop, I’M Going To Charge By Wall Socket . Then run these checks with the packaged accessories too.
- Pop In Your SIM Card. Make A Call, Send A Text, And Browse To Your Favorite Website. It’S The Best Way To Check Those Parts Of The Phone Are Working Well. If The Phone Is Locked To A Network And Your SIM Is Not From that carrier, you’ll find out immediately with this simple test.
- Run The Service Code Test. Each Smartphone Has A Service Code That You Can Use To Access A Special Menu To Check Whether Different Parts Of The Phone Are Running. Google It To Find The One For Your Device. For Example, Typing “* # 0 Go through each test to make (by the Samsung Galaxy S3 will start the LCD test to check different checks like your touch screen, dimming, speaker, cameras, receiver, vibration, RGB, sensors, and more. Sure the components of the phone are working fine.
