Certified Refurbished: What does it all mean?
Today’s technology seems to update very fast, and devices that seemed new yesterday are already obsolete today. Most people try to hold on to their phone for as long as they can; but even though it can do the most basic functions a phone is required to have, there can be some disadvantages and dangers with using obsolete phones, especially if you own a smartphone, as the device can start to lag, and may actually end up crashing when you need to open the phone up in a hurry.
Deciding to get a new smartphone is a decision on its own, and once you’ve mustered up the courage to drop a few hundred dollars, the options are almost endless. What’s the point of upgrading if I don’t get the features that I want, you say? Generally, the more features and higher specs a phone has, the more expensive it is; and if you truly want to save a lot of money, then there’s no other choice but to go into the second-hand market. This is where things get confusing. Well let us help you!
Buying refurbished smartphones are one of the best bang for your buck in terms of getting the particular device that you want without having to dish out the same amount of money. However, there are many outlets and shops wherein you can buy second-hand or refurbished items. You can get them from private sellers, say, from Kijiji or Craigslist, or a repair shop. You can even get them from your local pawn shop when it comes down to it; but what does it all really mean?
Simply, refurbished cellphones generally refer to phones that have been used, or second hand if you will. These phones are usually the ones that people trade-in with their carrier, and, after being checked thoroughly, gets resold to wholesalers. When does a refurbished phone become certified? The phone becomes certified when an experienced specialist inspects the device, repair any issues it might have, and give their approval. Here at Wireless Warehouse, we use a 30-point inspection system to make sure that the phone gets categorized correctly.
Certified refurbished devices are then placed into categories, depending on their cosmetic and functional appearance. Although some places sell “Call function only” phones, Wireless Warehouse Shop only sells guaranteed, fully functional devices. These categories have many names, depending on which seller you decide to go to. Wireless Warehouse uses the industry standard terms, namely: Like New, Good Condition, and Average.
Refurbished Like New Devices are devices that are in pristine condition. There are no visible scratches, dents, or other cosmetic damages. These look like you have bought them brand new, out of the box. As explained earlier, these devices also have their full function, making them a great bargain.
Refurbished Good Condition devices on the other hand are devices that have barely visible scratches, smudges, or dents. These cosmetic damages are so little that you might need to use a magnifying glass just to check them out. You may leave them as is or you can also use a cellphone case to cover the scratches, regardless, no one else will notice if you don’t point it out.
Lastly, we have Refurbished Average devices. These devices have apparent cosmetic flaws, such as significant scratches, bumps on the bezel, and dents. No need to worry though, all of our devices are fully functional regardless of its category. They have never had water damages, nor come with a cracked screen. In this category, however, you can expect a few scratches on the screen. A good case and a screen protector can effectively hide away these flaws.
Now that you know how to distinguish the differences between refurbished phones, the question that follows is that: why should I buy a certified refurbished phone? Well aside from being economically smarter and helping you save money, buying certified devices are much safer than buying them from private resellers, as they often come from reputable shops and sellers. Wireless Warehouse devices come with a 7-day return/refund policy, and a 30-day warranty, so you can buy devices with ease. We even have an extended warranty for more security.
All-in-all it is all up to you to decide whether you want to buy brand new devices, or refurbished one. However, if you end up deciding that you want to upgrade your phone and save money while doing so, why not give the refurbished market a try? If you get it from a trusted source, and end up not liking it, you can always return it within their policy, so there really isn’t much of a loss.
