The best places to buy used tech - but go armed with these do's and don'ts

3 days ago 5

A large survey has shed immoderate airy connected the champion places to bargain second-hand tech.

Which? - who we've teamed up with to archer you immoderate do's and don'ts aboriginal successful this station - asked 2,495 radical to stock their experiences of buying preloved smartphones, laptops, tablets and smartwatches from 18 shops.

Here are the scores based connected lawsuit service, merchandise scope and availability, merchandise quality, accuracy of descriptions, communicating, delivery, magnitude of archetypal packaging, easiness of website and worth for money...

"We were pleasantly amazed by the results - 10 retailers received a lawsuit people of 80% oregon more," said Which.

For an thought of however overmuch you could save, Which? offered these examples...

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2023): £679.99 (Amazon Renewed, "Excellent" grade), compared to £1,129 caller - a £449 saving.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: £139 (eBay Certified Refurbished, "Excellent" grade), £239 caller - a £100 saving.
iPhone 16 (128GB): £649.99 oregon £609.99 (iOutlet, Grade A+ oregon A), £699 caller - a £49-£89 saving.

Which? tech adept Andrew Laughlin told the Money blog: "Not lone is buying second-hand tech amended for the planet, it tin besides beryllium substantially amended for your wallet with hundreds of pounds to beryllium saved compared to buying new.

"It's important to spell into it with eyes wide open. Buying from a reputable source, checking however agelong bundle updates volition past and choosing a refurbished instrumentality with astatine slightest 80% artillery wellness volition guarantee you're not near disappointed."

We've teamed up with Which? to bring you these indispensable do's and don'ts...

Do - Check bundle update enactment periods

One of the astir important things to see erstwhile buying a second-hand oregon refurbished telephone is however agelong the instrumentality volition beryllium supported with information updates. Apple iPhones thin to person information updates from the shaper for astatine slightest 5 oregon six years from the phone's launch. For Android phones, this tin alteration from 2 to 8 years.

Once a telephone stops receiving important information updates, it'll beryllium much susceptible to attacks from data-grabbing hackers.

Do - Wait until aft caller merchandise launches

There's usually an influx of last-generation products to second-hand retailers soon aft a caller launch, arsenic radical merchantability aged devices to rise wealth for the caller model.

Do - Buy from Reputable Sellers

Stick to trusted sources and debar random sellers oregon unverified marketplaces.

Do - Check the returns policy

You person 14 days to notify the store that you privation to instrumentality an item, and a further 14 days to really instrumentality it. But for bid of mind, it's worthy checking if determination is an extended returns period, and what the shop's faulty goods argumentation is.

Don't - Buy a instrumentality with little than 80% artillery health

Batteries degrade implicit time; ideally, refurbished devices should person a caller oregon certified artillery with astatine slightest 80-90% health.

Don't - Ignore the grading system

Every second-hand instrumentality has had a antithetic archetypal life, which means you're not guaranteed a circumstantial level of performance. Refurbished items are often labelled Grade A, B oregon C (or similar):

Grade A: Looks new, minimal oregon nary cosmetic flaws.
Grade B: Some disposable wear, but afloat functional.
Grade C: Noticeable cosmetic damage, but works.

Don't - Confuse "refurbished" with second-hand

Refurbished phones, usually sold by manufacturers oregon retailers, often travel with warranties and person been professionally repaired oregon inspected, portion second-hand phones are typically sold by erstwhile owners and whitethorn not see warranties.

Refurbished phones should look 'as new' oregon beryllium graded by quality, truthful you cognize what information the telephone volition beryllium successful earlier you buy.

The terms of a refurbished telephone is often higher than a second-hand one, due to the fact that the telephone volition (in theory) person been checked implicit by professionals to guarantee it's successful apical moving bid and successful bully carnal condition. You should besides get a warrant oregon warranty of immoderate sort, arsenic refurbished phones are usually sold by a nonrecreational retailer.

Don't - Assume accessories are included

Refurbished products whitethorn not see archetypal accessories oregon packaging. Verify whether a charger, cable, oregon stylus is included.

Don't - Forget to execute thorough checks

Carry retired these checks successful the shop, oregon arsenic soon arsenic you get your hands connected your second-hand device, to marque definite it's moving arsenic it should and matches what you expected based connected the grading and description.

Second-hand devices usually travel with a warranty of 12-24 months, which should screen method faults. If thing connected your tech isn't moving arsenic it should, interaction the retailer for a replacement, repair oregon refund.