Refurbished Gadgets Are A Smart And Eco-friendly Choice - Why Do Consumers Prefer New Ones Over Them?

By Author: Angelika Muderris
Total Articles: 13
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Refurbished electronics are becoming popular these days. And even more so since there are more reputable resellers of refurbished products emerging in the market.

Research shows that consumers prefer refurbished phones more than brand new ones. The reason is not only because they can save money, but also because they understand that buying refurbished is environmentally friendly.

What does refurbished mean in electronics? Refurbished products mean that they are cheaper options for people looking for mobile phones without breaking the bank. Refurbished are often referred to as renewed, pre-owned, or reconditioned.

Are you confused about refurbished versus second-hand? The second hand is not what you call refurbished. There are differences between refurbished versus second-hand.

Refurbished electronics are checked and overhauled by the manufacturer or seller. They are also thoroughly tested for quality and function. And in some cases, the parts are replaced or repaired. Moreover, the manufacturer or seller cleans the refurbished devices and deletes the data on them. The software is updated to the ...
... latest version too.

Are refurbished phones good for the environment?

You will find that mobile phones contain cobalt, gold, silver, palladium, tin, and other minerals. There are massive amounts of energy needed to procure these materials and to create usable versions of these materials.

The minerals contained in smartphones cause tremendous damage to the environment. The damage is more noticeable during the mining and manufacturing stages. The damage caused by the mining process includes land and agricultural degradation, heavy metal, pollution of water, soil, and air.

Now, some of you might be wondering and asking questions like, "is refurbished good or bad to use?" and "Are refurbished phones good for the environment or not?"

Here are some of the reasons why you may want to consider buying refurbished phones:

* Reduce environmental impact. Refurbished phones are good for the environment. Refurbished electronics are essentially discarded items. Despite that, they are perfectly functional. By purchasing refurbished phones, you can reduce the demand for brand new smartphones.

In addition, refurbished phones can reduce the amount of electronic waste or e-waste. By buying a refurbished phone, you can create 80 percent less waste than purchasing a new smartphone.

Save money on the price. Research shows that some of the most popular smartphone models of 2016 lost an average of 70 percent of their value in the first few weeks after launch. It means that if you are buying refurbished, you could bag a real bargain.

You can see savings of between 30 to 50 percent for mobile phones when you compare them to the same products that are brand new.

* No expensive contracts. Switching to a SIM-only deal could shave you off lots of money from your monthly bill. If you take out a mobile contract with a handset included, you will be spending an enormous amount of money paying off your phone rather than on your texts, minutes, and data. You will only be paying for your tariff, rather than for that expensive brand new mobile phone.

* Similar deals as brand-new phones. Refurbished phones sold by reputable retailers for refurbished electronics come with the same deals as brand-new smartphones. An example is the refurbished phones from QwikFone.

All refurbished phones at QwikFone are in pristine and unlocked condition. They include free shipping, free brand new accessories, a 12-month warranty, and support, as well as a 30-day return period with a full refund guarantee. You check these devices over here at this website: https://qwikfone.com/.

Why do people still want brand-new phones?

Despite having an old phone that functions well, people still want to buy a brand new one, even though there are affordable refurbished versions of the said mobile phone model. Here's why?

*Mobile phone upgrade. People thought that when trying to save money, they would end up with an underperforming mobile device. They find that shortly after they have purchased their new mobile phone, the said device starts showing its weaknesses.

You may find that second-hand, used, or refurbished phones are slow to load the latest games or videos. Or perhaps they are not capable of holding a battery charge all day for what you need. As such, you will find yourself purchasing a brand new smartphone despite the old one still working the basic features.

It doesn't mean that all second-hand, used, or refurbished phones are slow performing. If you buy your refurbished phones from a reputable retailer, you will get a phone that looks and works as well as new.

*Phone manufacturer slowed your device. Did you know that Apple got in trouble for slowing down older smartphones to allow them to run the newest updates? It was a controversial solution to their problem.

Everyone knows that mobile phones get slower. It is to some extent due to the devices getting outdated. Newer hardware is capable of doing more. However, old phones stay the same. And because of that, it forces a phone manufacturer to choose between letting old mobile phones update or only offering new features to new mobile devices.

Keep in mind that smartphones can accomplish a lot. But they are only as good as the software they have. Because of that, some companies choose to implement new features while slowing down your mobile phone.

You see, if they didn't do that, your smartphone might not even turn on. Unfortunately, slowing down your phone, you might not be able to use the device like you normally would.

*Phones lose their battery effectiveness. Another fact is that smartphones begin to lose their battery capacity after a year. However, this does not mean that the phone will not last long or won't start losing its capacity sooner.

People use mobile phones for several different tasks. That is the reason their batteries start to fail sooner. Your smartphone might be fine in two years or more, but you will find that you are likely recharging your phone more often. You will notice that at this point, many people decide to upgrade themselves with new mobile devices.

*Get outdated as soon as they are released. Smartphones still perform as well as the day you bought them, but no one can deny that newer ones are better. You will find that newer mobile phones offer more pixels, better battery life, and a vast selection of features. So if you have the money and want to live on the edge of innovation, then purchasing a new phone is good for you.

What are the things to look for when buying refurbished?

If you are among those who are interested in purchasing refurbished phones, you might want to consider the following when shopping for one:

*Brand. It's a rule of thumb that you only purchase refurbished phones from reputable retailers or brands. You see, not every company defines refurbished in the same way. There are some with different refurbishing processes than the others. Apple, for example, has its refurbished iPhones restored with similar replacement parts used in new models. These iPhones come with a new battery, a new outer shell, and new cables and accessories.

Likewise, Samsung uses similar standards for its refurbished phones. It restores the phones to like-new condition, and they come with a one-year warranty.

QwikFone also follows a standard when it comes to refurbishing smartphones. The company ensures that all of its refurbished phones have their original parts in pristine condition. However, if the parts do not meet the almost perfect condition requirements, they are replaced with new components.

However, other companies don't include new batteries. They don't even have the accessories made by the original manufacturer.

*Warranty. Another reason why you should shop for your refurbished phone from reputable retailers is the refurbished products they sell come with a warranty. Warranty is a vital factor when it comes to refurbished products. It is either provided directly from the manufacturer or the reseller. Not only will it guarantee that you will get a product that is safe and of good quality, but it also means that you are protected.

Apple, Samsung, and QwikFone guarantee their refurbished phones for 12 months. Amazon and Best Buy, on the other hand, have a warranty that is good for only 90 days.

*Return policy. Make sure to always keep in mind that technical problems in phones will take time to show up. As such, phone experts recommend that you shop from a retailer that grants you at least a month to return the refurbished phone.

Amazon and QwikFone do that. The Apple Store and Best Buy, on the other hand, give you only two weeks.

*Always read the fine print. Before making the final purchase, you should go through all the details. You see, the fine print might reveal hidden conditions. Conditions like you can't return the phone, or you won't receive any refund after you return the device.

Fortunately, this is not the case if you buy a refurbished mobile phone from reputable retailers like QwikFone. With QwikFone's 30-day cooling period, you can send the phone back in its original packaging for a full refund. No questions asked.

Angelika Muderris is a passionate writer who heads the operations at QwikFone , A UK-based company for refurbished phones.