Are you considering buying a refurbished smartphone or other device? Refurbished phones have become a very popular option in recent years, with more and more people opting to buy refurbished over a new or used smartphone. Before you jump the gun and hit “buy” on that refurbished device, there are things you need to consider. In this article, SmartphonesPLUS will tell you four important things you need to consider before you purchase a refurbished device.

Warranty and Return Policy

It’s very important to confirm warranty information from the dealer you plan on buying a refurbished device from to avoid any funny business after you’ve completed your purchase. Most refurbished phone stores offer at least a 30-day warranty period, with some sellers offering up to a year of warranty coverage and others promising as little as 7 days of coverage. So it’s best to confirm the details about your warranty coverages and also inquire about any incidents that can void your warranty.

Another important detail to confirm with your refurbished phone vendor is the return policy. This is in case of a device malfunction or you aren’t satisfied with your purchase later on. Most of the time, the return item window is usually shorter than the warranty period, and usually lasts about a week or two.

Ideally, a small booklet containing your warranty info should be shipped with your refurbished device. In cases where it isn’t, the best thing to do is to ask your seller.

When you buy from SmartphonePLUS, you get a 30-day warranty period and also a 30-day return window. So if anything comes up within the 30 days, just contact us and we’ll get everything done as fast as we can. We have also recently partnered with Upsie Warranties to offer you an extended device protection option at a low cost.

Trustworthy Seller

Another thing to consider when buying refurbished smartphones is where you’re purchasing it from. Avoid buying from shady and questionable resale stores. Check the store’s online rating and read some of the reviews left by customers. If you notice too many bad reviews or red flags, it’s best to find a more trustworthy refurbished phone vendor.

By avoiding sketchy refurbished phone stores, you’ll eliminate the possibility of becoming the main character in a story where a customer buys stolen, faulty, or blacklisted phones, and is then denied a replacement or refund from the seller.

So, it’s best to buy your refurbished phone from a trustworthy seller like SmartphonesPLUS. They’ll sell you genuine refurbished phones at cheap prices and will be happy to help if you have any issues with your device in the future.

 The Refurbishing Process

The refurbishing process is another important thing to take note of when buying a refurbished device. It’s always better to buy from stores that are transparent and let consumers in on the restoration process. With info on the refurbishing process, you’ll be able to find out if genuine parts were used to fix faulty phones and how well devices are tested before going on store shelves as refurbished phones. Refurbishing process info is usually found in the FAQ section of the seller’s website.

At SmartphonesPLUS, every device we sell has been through a 30+ point inspection to test every component for functionality and cosmetic appearance. If a device passes inspection with a 100% score, it is SmartphonesPLUS Certified. We only sell certified devices so that you can be sure to receive a quality device.

The Condition of the Device

Refurbished devices are classified into different categories or grades depending on their cosmetic condition. Most refurbished phones use terms like “Grade A,” “Grade B,” “good,” “excellent,” etc. The higher the term used, the better looking the device. And the lower the grade, the less expensive the refurbished phone will be.

Note: lower cosmetic condition doesn’t mean the refurbished device is working worse than higher-graded devices.

So make sure to confirm which category the refurbished device you’re eyeing falls in. Optimally, it’s best to go for the best condition or grade.

 Here at SmartphonesPLUS, we have three device conditions when purchasing:

• Excellent — virtually no scuffs, scratches, or marks.is in full working condition.
• Good — Has minor signs of wear. May contain a few light scratches or marks. Is in full working condition.
• Fair– It contains moderate signs of wear, scratches, marks, or dents. Is in full working condition.

 So, when you shop with us, you get a 100% working device regardless of the cosmetic condition. To learn more about refurbished devices, what exactly that means and what to consider when purchasing, check out our blog linked above!