Facts you need to know about refurbished phones

What is a refurbished phone?

A refurbished phone is a recycled phone used once or more times since its manufacture. In contrast, a new phone is a phone that has never been officially used since its manufacture and is in its original, sealed package. Refurbished phones traded in Kenya are mainly slightly used devices diagnosed through a rigorous multi-point check, done by recycling and refurbishing entities. It is recommended to mark reconditioned or remade phones as refurbished. It is unconventional to present a used phone to a buyer as a new phone and price it the same as its counterpart.

Some manufacturers have set down guidelines on processing, diagnosing, repairing, and presenting their aftermarket used devices. Big manufacturers like Apple are better concerned about their brand and will not freely allow a trader to sell their phones without following their set guidelines.

The main determinants of the quality of a refurbished phone are:

1. Physical Appearance: Although some refurbished phones have lesser defects such as scratches, they are usually squeaky clean with no defects
2. Hardware: Each component in a refurbished phone should have no chance of failing before its designed lifetime ends
3. Functionality: It is normal to come across a refurbished phone with a software problem. Hence, it is standard that refurbished phones have reliable systems that can withstand the usage patterns of an average buyer
4. Originality: Replaced parts must be original. A refurbished phone should have an original battery with over 90% health

What to look for when buying a refurbished phone

When buying a refurbished phone, there are several pointers you should look out for to ensure you are getting a good deal. Some of the factors to consider include;

• Price

Price can be the main factor to consider. Not all deals are perfect. Sometimes you lose when buying a refurbished phone. It happens when you are not sure if you will regret purchasing the phone. The goal is to minimize the intensity of the regret, just in case. Confirm the market price on platforms like Telefon or other online sellers before settling on a price with a particular seller.

• Brand

Quality is much preferred when the phone is old. Different manufacturers have varied tiers of phones. When choosing a refurbished phone, buy one that is high quality. It generates confidence that the device will serve you more than lesser brands. Well, the better the quality, the higher the price, in most cases. Purchasing a good quality refurbished phone saves more compared to a new one.

• Device health

Some smartphones have inbuilt ways to monitor device health. Device health encompasses the ability of the refurbished phone to undertake tasks as designed by its manufacturer. A part that deteriorates in health after use is the battery. There are physical and digital ways to diagnose battery health for most smartphones. A good battery should be over 90% healthy.

• Readiness for use

Some sellers might present you with a refurbished phone that either has a defect or is generally unusable. Some problems include software issues such as being modified or hardware issues that limit the phone's usage. Such details might be easy to overlook, assuming they can be fixed later on, only to know you won't get more value out of repairing it yourself. Any refurbished phone you buy must be ready to use immediately after purchase.

• Legitimacy

The best phones to buy are legally acquired by the seller. Different phones have different ways of proving legitimacy or ownership. Apple phones are secure and the easiest to prove ownership. Online ownership-checking tools can help, and some are free of charge. Selling an Apple device with a logged-in Apple ID is impossible. The lack of an Apple ID attached to it means it is probably legit. Some Android phones also have this security feature.

Types of phones sold as refurbished

Any used phone can be recycled and refurbished. After all, if it can still serve a purpose, it has value. It is easy to choose a brand as each is known for a specific advantage. For instance, some low-budget phones can be preferred due to their affordability, while iPhones are due to their high quality. Hence, the type of phone that you buy is mainly up to your interest. I suggest quality be a determining factor for the refurbished phone you consider buying.

Buying a good quality phone has many advantages:

• Ability to serve you for long
• A phone is a companion, and who doesn't want a good companion?
• Ability to sell the phone for any reason later
• Minimizing the risk of losing your money on a poor-quality phone

Top 5 online refurbished phone sellers in Kenya

Phones have been around for many years to date. They have evolved from less-featured to more advanced gadgets. The industry has grown considerably over the years, and traders are astonishingly many. However, different traders have different levels of professionalism in their trades, with some of the best having well-streamlined trading processes. Some traders you can consider when buying a refurbished phone in Kenya include:

1. Telefon

   Sorry to blow my own trumpet but based on the plans, designs, and efforts applied to the refurbished smartphone trading experience at Telefon, it is safe to say that it is the best platform to buy refurbished phones. You can choose smartphones from three of the world's best brands: Apple, Samsung, and Huawei. All phones traded through the platform are pre-processed through a 32-point checklist to ensure buyers get the best quality and deals. To buy a refurbished phone from Telefon you will need to follow the steps below:

   1. Access telefon.co.ke/buy
   2. Choose a phone
   3. Click on the specifications button on the card of the phone that interests you. A modal form with the phone's details will pop up on the same page.
   4. Go through the phone's details as you scroll to the bottom of the modal and press/click Next
   5. Enter your contact details and press Next after choosing your preferred method to be contacted
   6. Choose a payment method, then press/click Checkout
   7. That's it. To learn more about Telefon, check out the home page

2. Jiji

Jiji, formerly OLX, is one of the oldest online markets for refurbished goods. It has a database of refurbished phones containing over 5000+ phones, of different models. Buying a refurbished phone in Jiji involves accessing jiji.co.ke and choosing the Mobile Phones option. Although Jiji probably has the largest database of refurbished phones, you should exercise caution when dealing with strangers online. Don't blindly trust every seller because some deals flop terribly. I have bought several phones from Jiji and can guarantee that there are some legit sellers over there. All you need is to be careful to detect a fake deal.

3. Pigiame

Pigiame is another option for finding and buying refurbished phones in Kenya. With offices in Nairobi and almost a decade of operations in Kenya, it is reliable for finding rare deals. However, since Pigiame is not accessed by many (compared to Jiji), the available refurbished phones are fewer and have scanty details. In this context, scanty means the possibility of not finding a straightforward deal, from the unavailability of physical phones to non-serious sellers. It is not a piece of advice but a view from past experiences of using the platform. To counter this, consider buying phones from sellers verified by Pigiame.

4. Kilimall

Kilimall is an e-commerce platform founded by Yang Tao in 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya. The platform facilitates the trade of goods and services by anyone with an Internet connection. All sellers on Kilimall are verified. Buying on Kilimall, like most e-commerce platforms, is safe and convenient thanks to its verification system and delivery options.

Though not the most popular platform to buy a refurbished phone, the site has a section dedicated to refurbished phones. To buy a refurbished phone on Kilimall you can go to the home page, select phones, and search for the one you want or go to kilimall.co.ke and then choose. Kilimall offers delivery services and good customer service. Some phones bought on Kilimall have a warranty though availability depends on the seller.

5. Facebook Market Place

   With established authority worldwide, Facebook recently introduced the Facebook marketplace, a feature that allows the listing and selling of any good, new or used, for free. The Facebook marketplace has many refurbished phones listed for sale due to Facebook being the most popular social media platform in Kenya. The main challenge of buying a phone from the Facebook marketplace is products sold through the platform are not verified. Advertisements are not entirely reliable in terms of availability. The problem is so significant that it feels impossible to find a reliable seller.

   Finding a good deal on the Facebook marketplace can be limited. It is advisable to be patient with your search. A procedure you can follow when buying phones from the Facebook marketplace is as follows:

   1. Launch the Facebook app on a smartphone
   2. Select the Facebook marketplace tab or tap the menu icon (top right corner of the screen), and select Facebook Marketplace
   3. Tap the search icon, then type the phone model you want to buy
   4. Send messages to sellers with refurbished phones that meet your needs. Since some sellers typically don't reply, it is best to try different sellers hoping for a good and successful deal
   5. Remember to ask for photos of the phone and more details. Ability to chat with sellers is an advantage of buying from the Facebook marketplace
   6. Once you have settled on a phone, meet with the seller. Take precautions and use common sense when dealing with online strangers. Sadly, not every marketplace has genuine sellers, and the Facebook marketplace has such personas. For more details on dealing with sellers, consult with relevant authorities before contacting any seller at any location.

Where do refurbished phones come from?

Each seller sources refurbished phones from different places or people. Some sellers may buy directly from users, while others purchase from established suppliers, foreign or local. There are advantages to buying from each respective source. The difference between buying directly from users or established suppliers is mainly price related. Buying directly from users might be expensive as the phone's value might be high, according to the seller's understanding. Buying from established suppliers might be cheaper and can be done in bulk, saving the time needed to refurbish the phones and reducing costs according to economies of scale.

Most established suppliers are sourced abroad through business connections or mobile apps like Alibaba or Amazon. Phones bought abroad are usually much cheaper per piece since they have minimal added charges at the source. For instance, buying a refurbished iPhone from a supplier in Dubai might cost 50% less than a supplier in Kenya. Also, foreign used phones are cleaner and more ready for trading since there are more sophisticated ways and conditions for refurbishing phones in developed countries.

Trends in the refurbished phone industry

The refurbished phones industry has improved over the years as options steadily increase and refurbishing processes become more improved and cost-friendly. In Kenya, laws govern the trade of refurbished goods locally.

• Trade-in (also known as barter)

A common way of trading refurbished phones is a trade-in, whereby a buyer's used phone is traded in for a refurbished one. Trade-ins are much more inclusive and affordable as the buyers get to pay much less for a refurbished phone. Trade-in is a historical means of conducting trade which has its pros and cons.

• Pros of phone trade-in

1. The cost of purchase is minimized, sometimes becoming free
2. Convenient for buyers who would like to upgrade their phones but can't afford a better phone
3. Trading-in old phones for new or refurbished phones from established sellers comes with warranty, unlike locally used phones bought from pre-owners and direct sellers
4. There are many phone options for the buyer to choose from
5. A buyer is compensated proportionally according to the market value and condition of their used phone

1. A seller needs to examine every phone brought over for trade-in lest they overvalue it
2. Not so many sellers in Kenya accept trade-ins. It can be a difficult task to find one
3. Not all phone models are eligible for trade-ins
4. A buyer's phone might feel undervalued, whereby the seller appears to try their best to operate at a profit

The demand for refurbished phones has increased over the past few years despite inflation becoming a problem in world economies. A typical buyer tends to hold on to their old device much longer. Buyers who decide to upgrade or need to buy a specific phone model prefer refurbished phones since they are a fraction of the cost of their new counterparts.

As smartphone supplies penetrate every region, developing countries like Kenya continue to grow their demand for refurbished phones in direct proportion to population growth. More people have access to the Internet. The tools to utilize the Internet and consume telecommunication products are much needed. For instance, over 90% of adult Kenyans use MPESA at one point and source information online. With millions of people needing access to such amenities, the demand for refurbished smartphones will remain high for a while.

The smartphone revolutionized many aspects of people's day-to-day lives. Over the years, research and development activities to predict the smartphone's replacement have shown that candidates thought to replace smartphones are wearable devices. There are many types of wearable devices. Examples are smartwatches and virtual reality goggles. These developments have not yet proved to be the ultimate replacements for the dominant smartphones. They are much more futuristic in description but not as effectively used as smartphones. Although research and development of smartwatches and virtual reality devices have grown, it is unlikely that they will replace smartphones soon.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, e-commerce platforms have become the go-to place for buying refurbished smartphones. One advantage of buying refurbished phones through an e-commerce platform is the ability to see inventories and order from anywhere. There are plenty of online sellers of refurbished phones giving many options to choose from.

Reasons why a refurbished phone might be the best option

It is not the wisest decision, but it is okay to purchase a refurbished phone. Buying a used phone directly from a pre-owner should be a last resort because it is far riskier when compared to the benefits of buying a brand-new or refurbished phone. Some reasons why you may consider purchasing a refurbished phone include

1. Refurbished phones are more readily available compared to brand-new and used phones. Older, new phones get replaced by newer and advanced models. Upgrading to the latest models renders many used phones as devices to be sold for refurbishment.
2. Refurbished phones are more affordable because the market value for phones drops over time. A case for consideration is the iPhone 4s. When the iPhone 4s was released, its market value of $399 was the highest of almost all smartphones. Fast forward to today, a refurbished iPhone 4s costs $30, showing that you can get a high-quality refurbished phone at very affordable prices.
3. Refurbished phones have fewer risks to worry about than used phones bought directly from a pre-owner because refurbished phones are quality assessed and repaired before being resold.