With the current economic crisis upon us, many of us are desperately looking for ways to cut back on our spending. From minimising retail therapy to shopping more savvily in the supermarket – there are tonnes of ways in which we can be more careful with our purchases.
One way to do this is to consider buying a second-hand phone instead of upgrading to the newest model which can be considerably more expensive.
If you’re interested in doing so, but aren’t sure where to begin, here are a few top tips on how to buy a refurbished or second-hand mobile phone.
What’s the difference between a refurbished model and a second-hand phone?
Lots of people mistake second-hand mobiles and refurbs to be the same thing – however, this isn’t the case. There are a couple of differences when it comes to both of these options.
Second-hand phones are exactly what they say on the tin. They’re simply mobile devices that once belonged to somebody else. These are only typically sold on if they’re in great condition with no major defects.
Refurbs are devices that were previously faulty and have been restored back to good working order. This repair work can include anything from replacing screens, speakers, and batteries, to rewiring the internal mechanics of the phone. Despite once being broken, refurbished mobiles can work just like new ones once fixed.
Benefits of purchasing a second-hand or refurbished phone
The main advantage of purchasing a second-hand or refurbished phone is that you’ll save heaps of money in the process. The price of the latest iPhone 13 series can be up to £1,049 to buy outright – and contacts amount to the same, if not more, over the agreed subscription. Preloved phones can be bought with one simple payment for significantly less. You can buy these from trusted retailers, such as Mazuma Mobile. Here you have the added benefit of being able to trade in your old device to get money off your new one in the process.
Another huge advantage of buying a second-hand or refurbished phone is that it is more environmentally friendly. E-waste has become a huge problem across the globe in recent years. This is the term used for electrical waste that ends up in landfills. According to recent government reports, the UK produces a whopping 43 million tonnes of e-waste every year. By recycling and purchasing old mobile phones we can help to make the planet a greener place, by collectively helping to combat the ongoing e-waste crisis one and for all.
