The resale market is expanding, and consumers are using it to buy items at lower costs. Most individuals are grateful for this opportunity. Purchasing a used phone can be an intelligent move to save money.
If you purchase a used phone within a few months, you can typically find it for 10-15% less than a new one, and if you wait a few years, you can save up to 50%. Used phones are becoming increasingly appealing to purchase as phone features, energy efficiency, and storage capacities get better.
You must take a few essential measures when purchasing a secondhand smartphone, including the physical condition, serial number, and IMEI check, to prevent you from buying a defective or stolen device. Therefore, below are some factors you should consider before parting with your hard-earned money.
Conduct Adequate Research
Doing your homework is the first thing you should do before purchasing a phone, new or old. Consider your needs when choosing a phone, including why you need it and what kind will work best. Next, you must take price reality into account.
For example, you may consider getting a more premium phone with more sophisticated capabilities if you require your phone for work. However, if your smartphone’s only use is routine and you are on a tight budget, you may find something less feature-rich for less money.
Research the brand, model, specifications, cost, and appropriate platform to purchase a secondhand phone. Hence, you will have enough knowledge to inspect the phone correctly or identify what you need when ready to buy.
Analyze the Physical Condition
The state of the phone’s appearance frequently indicates how well it has been maintained.
The phone’s hardware is the next item you should inspect. Although it is a used phone, you should not purchase one that appears to have been taken straight out of a landfill. Examine the phone for wear and tear, marks, and cracked body parts or screens. Additionally, you want to test the system and look for rust on every port. Also, the side buttons, including the volume and power buttons, must be examined.
Next, you need to examine the battery. Assess for corrosion or rust on the battery by opening the removable rear panel. Additionally, you must confirm that it is not swollen, as this could indicate damage to the battery. If the battery is built-in, verify that no extension at the back would suggest a swollen battery. Plug it in for a few minutes to ensure it charges well and does not get too hot.
Even if the phone appears to be in fine condition in pictures, you might be able to spot damage that indicates repairs have been undertaken, such as an unsecured screen or unusual screws. An excellent test to look for screen scratches that might not be as noticeable is to increase the brightness to 100%.
Ask the seller for more close-up pictures or a thorough video of the phone turned on if buying online. Should they be a legitimate vendor, they should have no trouble offering this.
Obtain Purchase Proof
Is the purchase bill valid with the vendor? Does the phone come from another country or region? Is the phone lost or stolen?
First, you need to request the device’s bill receipt from the seller. You can locate sufficient evidence that the phone wasn’t stolen in a legitimate purchase receipt. When it comes to online bills, you need to ensure the vendor did not change the device in any way by checking with the platform where the seller ordered them.
By examining the name on the invoice, you may determine whether the phone is already used, and it will also allow you to negotiate more. Check your iPhone FMI status to get lost and stolen status here.
If the bill is unavailable, the device may be imported or stolen. It is not ideal to buy stolen phones, no matter how good the bargain is. Also, you may bargain further based on the lack of a receipt if it is a legitimate phone and the seller possesses the original box.
Check IMEI and Serial Number
Request the cellphone’s original box and verify that the phone, box, and invoice have the same serial and IMEI number. All of them must include the same information. To find the phone’s IMEI number, take the following actions:
- Slide open the cellphone’s dialer.
- Enter *#06#.
- The IMEI and serial numbers of the phone will now appear in a pop-up box.
- Either write it down or take photographs.
Use an internet verification tool to confirm the IMEI number after that. This should assist you in verifying the phone’s IMEI number and the information about it. Below is how you do it:
- Launch your browser, then navigate here.
- Enter the 15-digit IMEI number from your phone here.
- Once the captcha verification is complete, click Check.
All the phone’s details, such as the model name, product, and release date, are available here. The website also allows you to see if the phone is blocked from being used. It is an authentic device if every detail is in order and matches what’s inside.
Examine the ports, SIM card, accessories, speakers, microphone, and camera
You are ready to test the phone’s packed charging wire now. Take out your power bank, insert the phone’s cord, and verify that it is charging satisfactorily. If accessible, you can use the included charger to measure the charging speed.
After that, see if the phone can call by inserting a SIM card. Also, verify that the phone is compatible with other attachments like earbuds and the microSD card connector, if it has one.
Furthermore, test the device’s vital features, including the speakers, earpiece, microphone, vibration, front and rear cameras, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, display, call function, proximity, ambient light sensor, and compass.
Purchasing a Working Used Phone
Used phones sell for an excellent price, and outstanding deals are available. However, purchasing used gadgets always has the risk of being taken advantage of. Therefore, be cautious, buy from a reliable vendor, and use good phone manners when negotiating.
Be wary and follow your gut if something seems suspicious or too good to be true. Move on and look for another chance if you have any concerns about the seller, the condition of the phone, or the deal in general.
