When buying a used smartphone, consumers should be careful not to be ripped off.
The old smartphone is broken or is it time for a newer device? For financial and environmental reasons, it can make perfect sense to buy a used cell phone. When it comes to devices bought in stores, consumers usually hardly have to worry. On the one hand, dealers have a reputation to lose; on the other hand, buyers receive an invoice and warranty. On the other hand, the devices are usually a bit more expensive than if they were bought second-hand from a private person. However, if you want to buy a smartphone on eBay classifieds, on comparable platforms or via an Internet forum, things can look very different.
Bad pictures, no reviews
On platforms such as eBay or Amazon, interested parties still have a certain level of protection, but in other places, such as in the forums already mentioned, in extreme cases, you are the junked. That is why you should first check the trustworthiness of a provider – if this is feasible. In special exchange and sales forums, users can check how long a seller has been registered there and whether he or she has already been rated well by other members. If a provider has been with us for years and has been given more and more good references, the risk of being scammed when buying is usually lower. However, this is not a fixed insurance.
At best, it is possible for a buyer to view a device directly on site. This does not rule out invisible defects in the device, but at least you can make sure that the display is not too scratched, for example. At the same time, an initial function test can be carried out: does the device even turn on? Is it easy to use? Are all connections working? Are the side buttons functional? Can the battery be replaced and any water damage detected? (Many manufacturers use small stickers here. If these – mostly reddish – are discolored, there is damage.) However, if you buy a used cell phone over the Internet, you usually cannot check these points.
You should be suspicious of the description and pictures of an offer, in particular. Consumers should always read carefully what is on offer. A long description of functions and co. May be nice, but it could also be hidden somewhere in the torrent of words that the smartphone is defective. On the other hand, it is of no use to interested parties if the entire description consists of one "functional". This does not exclude possible defects. The same goes for photos from a device. Are they very blurry or dark? Ask for better pictures that show the external condition more precisely. If a user refuses to send better photos and is looking for excuses, this is a good reason to look elsewhere.
Too good to be true
In general, interested parties should be careful with all offers that sound too good to actually be true – because, as a rule, they are. It could be a defective device, a stolen smartphone or a counterfeit cell phone. For example, if you want to buy a used iPhone, you should first check with Apple whether it is actually a real device. On the tech giant's homepage, you can use the serial number to check the warranty status of a smartphone. If the number entered there is not found in the first place, it is probably a fake.
Consumers should also limit themselves to looking for newer smartphone models. On the one hand, this ensures that the device is still supplied with Android or iOS security updates, and on the other hand, the battery is supposedly not as worn out as after several years of use. Buyers should therefore also prefer a device in which the battery can be replaced by themselves. For example, if a provider sells a smartphone only because the battery is no longer working properly, it can be worthwhile to buy the cell phone and a new battery from the manufacturer, as the smartphone may otherwise work properly.
Prices should also be compared. If the new device costs around 400 euros in retail, for example, the used version is completely overpriced for 390 euros. Then you can grab new goods straight away. Bargains can also be made. If the successor to a smartphone has just appeared, the older model is often on offer. A completely new cell phone could be within your own budget.