When you start exploring the “refurbished” sphere for the first time, you’ll be met with online debates on social media and forums warning you of the “scam”. You’ll find people saying that they know someone who knows someone who has a friend who bought a refurbished phone, and the battery died within a month.
This misconception stems from stories influenced by the perception that refurbished mobiles and used mobiles are the same thing. This misinformation prevents tech consumers from further exploring the refurbished market and all the benefits it could present to them.
In this article, we’re correcting the misconceptions and debunking myths about refurbished smartphones and electronics in general to help you make smarter choices in your tech purchases.
Myth #1: Refurbished Means Old and Worn-out
The confusion between refurbished and used phones leads people to think a refurbished phone is an old, worn-out, or even broken phone. This myth is easily debunked once you take a look at the refurbishment process and what it means to buy a certified refurbished device.
Certified refurbished electronics from reliable vendors follow strict standards for testing, repairs, and the quality of replacement parts. Once a device has passed the refurbishment process, it is graded as one of three grades. The names of the grades may vary from one vendor to another, but they are essentially grouped into excellent, good, and average, where the first means as good as new and the last means a functioning phone.
With this knowledge and proper research, you can be a part of the growing refurbished electronics market that constitutes 30% of the smartphone sales in the UK.
Myth #2: Refurbished Devices Don’t Last Long
Going back to the first qualm with the refurbished device, which is the battery life, most people claiming this are basing their objection on the assumption that newer smartphones’ batteries cannot be replaced. This is, of course, based on a comparison between older models with removable batteries that a user can replace themselves, and newer smartphones where the batteries are no longer accessible to the user.
Newer smartphones indeed prevent users from getting to the battery to ensure the user’s and phone’s safety, as a lithium battery can be dangerous if handled by a non-professional. However, these batteries can 100% be removed and replaced by a repair professional, which exactly what happens when a phone is being refurbished and the battery does not meet the performance standards of its grade.
Myth #3: There’s No Warranty or Support for Refurbished Devices
Debunking the last myth, we mentioned that the battery is replaced with a new one when needed. But you can’t see the battery, how can you, as the buyer, be sure that it’s been replaced as the seller claims?
Well, this is what the warranty and return policy are for. When you choose the right refurbished seller, you get a long warranty period that covers free repairs and even a replacement of the device if it shows an issue that cannot be repaired. QwikFone, for example, provides a 12-month warranty for all of its refurbished mobile phones with these benefits. The return policy, ideally guaranteeing a full refund, gives you the final factor for your peace of mind.
Myth #4: Refurbished Phones are Risky or Unreliable
Looking into the “something inside a refurbished phone could suddenly break” myth, you’ll find that researching a trusted refurbisher with a reliable history in the business, along with a good warranty and return policy, will protect you from this perceived risk of buying refurbished smartphones.
Another risk people worry about with the refurbished option is the authenticity of the phone. Is it original or a counterfeit claiming to be an iPhone?
This can be easily checked through the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) unique number and by comparing the brand name, model number, OS version, and processor details in the Settings->About page of the phone to an original one.
From the seller’s side, choosing a certified refurbisher saves you a lot of trouble as they follow a strict multi-point inspection process for all devices. Of course, a full-refund return policy guarantees the seller’s transparency about their phones.
Myth #5: Buying Refurbished Doesn’t Make a Difference
The belief that buying refurbished doesn’t have a true tangible impact on the environment is also common in the anti-refurbished mindset.
The truth is, refurbished electronics have a double positive effect on the environment:
- The already manufactured and refurbished phone does not end up in a landfill, leaking toxic chemicals into the earth.
- The lower demand for new electronics lowers the environmental cost and carbon footprint, not to mention mining for non-renewable metals and resources, which is required to create a new device.
Additionally, refurbished electronics contribute to creating and sustaining a circular economy where resources are not wasted and more people are benefiting at the same environmental cost.
An important part of this circular and environmentally-aware economy is QwikFone, a UK landmark that has been operating in the refurbished phones industry for years, building a trustworthy name and conserving the resources of the people and the planet. Ever since its establishment, the brand has been committed to responsibly restoring tech devices to help its customers make sustainable choices.
Conclusion
Most myths you’ll find online about how horrible or unreliable refurbished devices are can quickly be debunked with a simple search. You’ll find that buying refurbished is not a risk, but the smart and more sustainable decision. Let’s activate critical thinking before basing decisions on the misinformed opinions of others. Learn about how phones are refurbished, what goes into the testing, and how to find reliable sellers of refurbished electronics. Verified refurbished options from trusted refurbishers like QwikFone are the future of responsible tech consumption.