Things To Keep In Mind While Buying A Used Phone

As the smartphone technology improves year after years, the most cutting edge phones are getting increasingly expensive. At such a time, purchasing a used phone can be a great way of obtaining a relatively recent model of a smartphone without breaking the bank.

With that said, it is important to keep in mind that smartphones go through all kinds of experiences. From being stolen to being handled roughly to software related issues, there can be a number of things that can be wrong with a used phone that you are eyeing.

In this article, we will be discussing things you, as a buyer, can keep in mind or look out for, to avoid getting a bad deal while purchasing a used phone.

Let us begin:

If It Looks Like It’s Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is

As for every other purchase, it is also true for used smartphones that you get what you pay for. 

If you find a deal that is incredibly more lucrative that every other deal you have come across, then there is a good chance that something is wrong.

More often than not, used smartphones that are being sold at dirt cheap prices are usually stolen or broken or have some issue with their OS or operating system.

That’s why, if you come across a deal that seems too good to be true, it is better to walk away or conduct a thorough inspection before finalising the purchase.

Check Your IMEI

Take out your current phone, dial *#06# into the dial paid and you will see a 15 digit number appear on the screen. This number is the IMEI number of your phone.

Now, check your IMEI by entering it into a free IMEI checker tool. You will be presented with all the basic information about your phone, including its make, model, and year of manufacture. Moreover, you can confirm that your IMEI number is not ‘blacklisted’.

A blacklisted IMEI indicates that the phone was reported stolen or lost and blacklisted phones don’t work with most carriers.

Hence, it is important to perform a similar check on any phone that you may be thinking about purchasing. If the seller is hesitant about sharing the IMEI number, it is better to move on to the next seller.

Perform An Exhaustive Usage Test

This step is very important if you want to avoid unpleasant surprises later. For this, you will have to meet the seller before completing the purchase. We don’t recommend purchasing a used phone after a virtual conversation with a stranger.

Once you meet the seller, take the phone from them and test out all the features you can think about. From making a call to playing music (with and without headphones) to clicking photographs and everything in between.

Conduct this test for at least a period of twenty minutes. This way, you can also see how the battery is performing. 

By conducting these tests, you can gauge the kind of performance you can expect from the device and negotiate the price based on this information. If you are offering the seller a lower price than their asking price, you can justify it with the issues you may find in their smartphone.

Conclusion

Making the most economical decision is not always easy. While purchasing a used phone is certainly cheaper than purchasing a new one, buyers have to put in extensive efforts to ensure their interests are protected and they don’t fall for any scams.

Have you purchased a used phone in the past? How was your experience? Share with us in the comment section below.