Hannover Numerous service providers and also more and more manufacturers of furniture used equipment again. Refurbished devices, so-called refurbished smartphones, can be found on marketplace and classifieds pages, portals on the net and at retailers.
A worthwhile thing – especially for the environment. For Björn Bischoff of the Federal Environment Agency, the following applies to highly technical devices such as smartphones in terms of sustainability: “As a rule, prolonged use is always advantageous.”
However, there is no rule of thumb for how much money can be saved when buying upgraded smartphones. “It always depends on the age and the condition,” says Robin Brand from the trade magazine “c’t”. In addition, the longer updates are still available for the device, the more stable the price of the devices remains even in the remanufactured state. According to Brand, a one-and-a-half-year-old smartphone can sometimes be found for about half of the original new price.
In any case, it is worth comparing the price of the desired model with several providers. “The differences are sometimes enormous depending on the model and platform,” says Brand. So here it is: click through. Or search via common comparison portals.
However, if you are interested in a refurbished smartphone, you should inform yourself well when comparing the price, in which condition the desired device is. Because: “Refurbished, as good as new or almost as new are not legally clearly defined terms,” says Kathrin Körber from the Consumer Center Lower Saxony.
“As a rule, refurbished means: the dealers buy the smartphones from companies, from telecommunications companies and also from private individuals and prepare them,” says Robin Brand. “That is, you reset the devices, clean them, replace defective parts, and then offer them for sale again.”
But what exactly is done, whether the display or the battery of the device is replaced, can vary from case to case. Many common platforms promise, for example, that the capacity of the batteries of offered devices is still over 80 percent of the original capacity. Or offer as an additional option to use a new battery for an additional fee.
In addition, the providers usually indicate the optical condition of the device divided into different categories, for example as “as new”, “very good” or “good”. “And then you can see in the description what new or good or very good or neat means for the respective platform,” says Robin Brand. Because: Not all providers understand the same thing under the respective terms.
Brand also recommends that when buying a refurbished smartphone, make sure that the manufacturer will provide security updates for the device for a long time to come. “If you buy a smartphone that is two years old, which was already not expensive when it appeared, then you will save even more money if you buy it today. But you may not get any more updates at all.”
Especially recommended: try the new device. Because anyone who buys on a commercial online platform or from an online retailer has a 14-day right of withdrawal. “In these 14 days I should test, test, test,” says Kathrin Körber from the Consumer Center Lower Saxony.
“During use, you will then find out: if the battery runs long enough, you like the display,” says Robin Brandt. If the smartphone does not meet your own expectations, it can be returned without giving reasons. Some providers also voluntarily grant a longer test phase. Here, too, it is worth comparing.
In stationary retail, on the other hand, the 14-day right of withdrawal does not apply. In order to still be able to assess the performance of the battery, for example, Körber advises to agree with the provider a corresponding test time, after which the device can still be returned. “And I have this confirmed on the receipt with date and signature.”
Good to know: Even with used devices such as refurbished smartphones, a warranty of at least one year applies to commercial suppliers.
