Andrew Martonik is from the Android Central.
The cost of a phone has gone up over the last few years. It is no longer uncommon to see phones being sold for $1,000 or more, making the decision to buy a new device quite the investment. It is easy to take the sting out of increased prices thanks to the growing used smartphone market.
If you know where to buy used phones, the used phone marketplace is a great way to save money. If you have old devices lying around that you aren't using anymore, selling them allows others to use them while simultaneously putting extra money in your pocket, making it much easier to get your hands on one of the best Android phones.
We talked about how to sell or trade-in your phone to get the most money, and you can keep that in mind when buying a used phone. If you want to know if the phone you are buying has been given the care you would have given your own phone to sell, go through the same sort of checklist. There is a loose thought process.
The first thing you need to do is find a used phone.
You can get the best deal by buying directly from someone else, but you also risk the phone having issues that the naked eye cannot see. If you know what you want and know what to look for, you can buy a used phone from a direct marketplace like eBay, or one of the many buy/sell forums.
If you don't want to take any chances with the quality but still want a bit of wear and tear, buying through a marketplace like Gazelle could be a good option. The phones often come with limited warranties and money-back guarantees, which make them more attractive to buyers than the average 7-Eleven deal.
Buying a certified refurbished phone is the safest bet, but comes with the least discount. Carriers, retailers, and third parties all sell used devices with varying levels of discount and inventory options. Yes, these phones are used, but they have gone through a set of checks to verify their condition and details before being cleaned up and passed on to you. There is a cost associated with buying refurbished, but there is also a peace of mind associated with it. There are many places to buy a refurbished phone if you want to go this route.
Along with that, there is something else to consider.
Buying a phone that has been used by someone else might be something you think twice about. It is normal to have some apprehension about used phones, seeing how germs can stick to them if not properly cleaned.
We want to assure you that the risk of contracting a virus from a used phone is very low. If you want to minimize the chances of that happening, we recommend taking some precautions.
This is not a comprehensive list. You can buy a used phone on the internet. This list may not be applicable to your country, and we tried to highlight international marketplaces as much as possible.
The source is Gazelle.
One of the oldest players in the game is Gazelle. It is still selling used devices through its own online store, even though it stopped allowing anyone to trade in used phones online.
If you choose to buy something, the experience is pretty good, even though it is slower to sell newer phones on its website. Not only can you choose what condition your phone is in, but you can also have it checked out by Gazelle to make sure everything is in tip-top shape. If you get a phone that isn't a good fit for you, you can return it within 30 days.
Financing options are available with no interest, if you want to go with a monthly plan. Adding a device protection plan for a fee will provide accidental damage protection or pay for the repair of the device if it is damaged by mechanical or electrical failure.
It's a good thing that all phones come with a charger and are guaranteed to work, as well as a 30-day money-back return policy.
It can be more expensive than person-to-person marketplaces, and doesn't sell every type of phone.
You can find it in the source: Craigslist.
Depending on how well you know how to spot a scam, it can be hit-or-miss when you go to meet with someone on the site.
The main thing that makes it different from other sites is its size and scale, which means that it's practically everywhere and has communities for almost every city in the world. You will be able to find a used phone on the internet, but the problem is sifting through thousands of listings to find something worth pursuing and ensuring that the phone you decide on does not have underlying damage or a unique number.
Good: good prices, good availability, and plenty of choices, with the option of buying local to check condition.
It was difficult to verify the quality of the phones.
You can find it on eBay.
One of the top places to buy a used phone is on eBay. It has the biggest advantage of the site, which is that it scales, with few disadvantages, especially since it uses a payment processor.
You can search for exactly what you want, with filters for price, carrier, condition, storage capacity, lock status, and even color, on eBay. You can look for vintage phones. eBay still has its roots as an auction house, and that is how some used phones are still sold, but far more of them are sold at set prices. If you find a good deal at the right time, you can use the Best Offer filter, which can save you money.
The Money- Back Guarantee is eBay's best feature and it makes it easy to buy with confidence. If there is an issue with the device or the shipment, you can apply to get your money back, and if it is already gone through, eBay will either cancel the transaction or refund you. You can use seller profiles to find potential purchases based on trusted sellers that have been around the block many times.
Good: Lots of selection with sellers who have a money-back guarantee.
You won't be able to see the device before you buy it, because of the high cost of shipping.
The source is Swappa.
Since it began as a small community of phone buyers and sellers, swappa has expanded to include other mobile devices.
The buyer pays the fee, which is important because the fee is very different from other platforms. Most will pay $20 or less for the privilege, which is not bad at all, and all payments are made over the internet using the internet payment service, PayPal. Why is a buyer fee better than a seller's? Adding inventory to a service that relies heavily on participation is a result of it.
All listings are verified by a human, who makes sure that the IMEI is valid and can be activated, in order to ensure that the buyer is getting what they pay for. The quality of the photos should match the photos in the listings. The shipping cost is included in the price of the listing. Buyers have recourse to get their money back if a device doesn't arrive as advertised, because all listings are protected.
If you want to get a fair price for the phone in the current market, you should look at the sale history of the phone on swappa.
There are lots of listings with good prices.
The buyer pays the fee and there is no warranty or guaranteed accessories.
UpTrade
If you want to keep the process of buying or selling a used phone simple, UpTrade is a good choice. If you are a buyer, you can just search for the phone you want, and UpTrade will show you what it has in stock. Every listing has pictures of the phone being sold, as well as the UpTrade employee that inspected it and any inspection notes they made. All phones sold on UpTrade are UpTrade Certified, meaning they go through a 50+ point inspection check and are sanitized by UpTrade before being shipped to you.
UpTrade makes it easy to sell a phone. Tell me the model you are selling, its configuration, and what kind of condition it is in. You can get the full amount 14 days after the inspection or 1-2 days after the inspection for a 10% reduction in your payment if you use UpTrade. You can get a free shipping label if you provide your own box for shipping the phone. If you change your mind about sending the phone to UpTrade, they will send it back for free.
The website is easy to use for both buyers and sellers.
It can take a while to get paid. You have to make your own shipping box.
Back market.
Back Market sells used and refurbished phones because it believes in prolonging the useful life of older devices to reduce the growing global e-waste problem and provide more affordable options to more people. The company is committed to challenging people to rethink their technology consumption. The process of buying a refurbished or used device is referred to as adoption.
Back Market's review system considers the appearance and technical condition of the devices it receives and issues grades as Fair, Good, or Excellent. Back Market takes user feedback very seriously and requires sellers to pass their Back Label certification program to assure their devices conform to high standards. It has a variety of payment methods, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and a 12-month warranty. You will see how much e-waste you have saved by buying it, which is a nice touch.
Back Market has a wide range of phones from many brands. If you are looking for a quality used device from a company with an admirable mission, Back Market may be just the place for you.
Excellent: Excellent selection, rigorous review process, and admirable social mission.
Not available in all markets and the selection is slim.
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