What Are Refurbished Phones? Is It Safe To Buy These?

In this article, we will be telling you about what a refurbished phone means. When you open your Amazon or Flipkart page, you might find a smartphone listed with a Refurbished tag in its name. If you are wondering what a refurbished phone means, this article will help you understand it better.

What are Refurbished Phones?

Refurbished phones are cheaper options for old smartphones with minor physical damage, or the box is opened. When buying them, you may find terms like “renewed,” “pre-owned,” or “reconditioned” on the buying page. The words are interchangeable and might mean the same most of the time. 

All these terms actually represent that you are not the original phone owner, and it had previous owners. So the owner might have returned it to the store or the network carrier. The phone might not be broken as many buyers return it after unboxing it because they didn’t like it.

In other cases, the situation can be like where there is some manufacturing defect in the phone, and later it is fixed. Later, the phone is then tagged as “refurbished” and sold again for a lower price tag.

Also read: Smartphone reviews

There is also a category named “manufacturer refurbished,” which is different from repairs made by local repair shops. So this means that the manufacturer repairs the phone with original components & certifies the functioning of the device, and renews the device in “like new” conditions, which the original equipment manufacturers do. Most people look out for this, and buyers prefer these refurbished smartphones.

So here are some of the pricing examples of refurbished smartphones from Cashify’s Refurbished Store:

Why should you go for refurbished smartphones?

Buying a refurbished smartphone also makes the environment better. Let’s see how.

When a smartphone is dismissed, it is thrown into landfills once it has some damage. But instead, if it is refurbished and sold, then it has been given a chance to survive. Basically, when any smartphone with just a few scratches or dents is dumped, it severely affects the environment.

Many smartphones include plastic parts, and we all know how hard it is to destroy those lithium-ion batteries. So it is a good idea to sell your old mobile phone.

Also Read: How You Can Help The Environment By Selling Your Old Phone On Cashify

What to keep in mind when buying refurbished phones?

Here are some points that you can keep in mind while buying the phones

1. Check for warranty

Many of the refurbished smartphones carry a warranty with them for a limited time. The warranty is provided directly from the manufacturer or the reseller platform via which it is being sold. Most trusted resellers perform multiple tests and checks to ensure the smartphone is working perfectly.

Many manufacturers resell the smartphones after being returned from the owners because of some manufacturing defects or other reasons such as logistics issues, damaged boxes, etc. The reseller then fixes the defects and puts them up for sale again.

Many resellers buy these smartphones, perform a quality check on them, renew them and sell these in their online/offline stores. This is the best way to buy refurbished phones, as manufacturers sell them and provide a limited-time warranty. 

Also Read: What To Look Out For Before Buying A Refurbished Phone

2. Always read documents

So reading the fine print might actually reveal hidden conditions like you can’t return the phone or you won’t receive any refund after returning the device. But that’s not the case if you buy a refurbished smartphone from Cashify. There is a six-month warranty; you can even return your smartphone if unsatisfied with the device.

Also Read: The Best Ways To Sell Your Old iPhone In 2020!

Best places to buy Refurbished Smartphones

Here are some of the best places to buy a refurbished smartphone from:

1. Cashify

Cashify is a top-rated platform for refurbished smartphones. The smartphones go through a thorough process of inspections and are later graded as per their condition. Cashify has 32 different checkpoints that phones have to pass through, and later, they are given a grade from 3 different quality grades.

Here are the grades:

PhonePro certified: This is the grading for phones with ‘like new” conditions. It contains phones with open boxes and original accessories. Comparatively, they are just new phones with the box opened. 

PhonePro Refurbished Superb: These contain phones with minimal scratches. The phones are minimally used and restored by Cashify. The phones include not original but compatible accessories in the box. 

PhonePro Refurbished Good: Phones with this grade contain scratches on the body and even a few dents, but they are absolute value for money. The phones include compatible accessories. 

2. Amazon Renewed

The world’s largest online store, Amazon, provides a separate section for refurbished devices. Amazon purchases old smartphones from customers by providing them with a discount on the new device they buy. Basically, the company tests them and makes necessary repairs so they look and work like new ones. And then, these smartphones are sold in the renewed section. They even come with a limited-period warranty by the seller or manufacturer. 

3. OLX

If you feel lucky and are willing to take the risk, then OLX is a great place to buy used and refurbished smartphones. So if you choose this platform, you should be extra careful. Here are a few points to keep in mind:

• Contact the seller through the in-built chat feature only.
• Check the seller profile thoroughly, and you can even search social media to know whether the person selling is authentic or not.
• Buy smartphones if the seller has an authentic bill of purchase.
• Inspect the phone in visible daylight for damages and ensure the battery is in good condition.

Also Read: Dummy’s Guide To Buy A Refurbished Phone – All You Wanted To Know

Cashify has the best range of refurbished mobile phones in India. Depending on your budget and other preferences, you can buy refurbished mobile phones from Cashify!