Used. There’s just something about this word that
seems to have a negative connotation, as in “we've used it up, and it’s no
longer good”. That’s probably why so many retailers that sell used products
(games, hardware, cars, etc.) tend to use the word pre-owned as an alternative.
Scary word aside, buying used doesn’t have to be a bad experience. The below tips should help
you through the buying experience, and while written primarily with phones in
mind, most steps should also apply to tablets.
Know What You Want
Start by deciding the
minimum specs you are looking for, the minimum Android OS you're willing to
live with, what sizes you are looking for, and the maximum budget you have to
spend. This should give you an idea of what to look for and should help you
narrow it down to just a small handful of handsets. How do you know how much
you should be paying for a used phone? Research! You'll want to hit Swappa,
Ebay, Craiglist, Amazon and just about any online source you can think of where
they have used phones for sale. Pay careful attention to condition, not the
median price. Compare mints to mints, goods to goods, etc.
Time your buys with the release
of new iterations of the device. If your heart desires a used Galaxy S5, wait
until the Galaxy S6 has been announced, or better yet until it’s been on retail
shelves for a few weeks.
Swappa
Swappa is absolute favorite place to
go when looking for used phones, or even offloading ones you do not want. Swappa
requires sellers to verify that the phone in their pictures is really in their
possession by requiring them to put a piece of paper with an identification
number on it within the photos. They run ESN checks and personally approve
every listing before a seller’s item can be bought. Swappa tends to have pricer
phones than sources like Craiglist and Ebay,
Ebay
Ebay can actually be a
great place to get a phone and tends to have some of the cheapest pricing
around. Like Swappa, there’s Paypal protection that can help you get your money
back if you get scammed. Buying from Ebay is also pretty easy, as long as you
do some research on the phones and seller before you commit.
Stuff to bring with you
for the inspection:
·
Bring a battery
pack or a laptop, as well as a charging cable
·
A MicroSD card if
the phone has a slot for it
·
Headphones
·
An active SIM
card that is compatible with the phone you are testing
·
A flashlight
Before you even boot the
phone up, give it a visual examination. Start with the screen, how scratched up
is? If the phone has physical keys, are they in good condition (press in okay, etc.).
Is the front camera’s glass cracked or damaged in any way? Next, move to
the sides, checking for scratches and dents, testing the buttons out for how
well they click and press. Finally move to the back, checking the camera for
scratches or a broken lens, as well as scratches and other damage to the back.
All phones should offer a
water damage indicator sticker somewhere, sometimes within the headphone jack,
the SIM slot or somewhere behind the back plate on phones with removable backs.
You’ll want to research where the sticker is found for the phone you are
looking for before meeting up. Seeing the sticker can sometimes be hard, and
that’s where a small flashlight comes in handy.
Now it is time to put in
the SIM card and micro SD, and turn it on. Be sure to mess around with the
phone’s software, get a feel for how fast it is, how the UI layout is (if it isn't stock, etc.).
Use an online tool to check the ESN. Swappa has a
good free one, even if you aren't using Swappa to buy the phone. Also be sure
to run a few service codes, which give access to hidden testing menus for the
phone. You’ll need to use Google to search for exactly what the code is, as it
differs from device to device. For example, using
*#*#4636#*#* on Nexus 5 brings up a menu that lets me look at detailed Phone
Info, Battery Info and more. There are also tests for checking sensors and
more.
Wrap Up
Inspect the phones (in
pics, in person, or both) and are firm on what you are looking for. Okay, so
that’s not true. There are no guarantees in buying used, and it’s important to
remember that. Even with protections in place, there’s a small chance you’ll
get scammed and never get your money back.
Hopefully the above gives
you a good idea of what to look for and where to buy. Did I miss some important
hints or tips? Let our readers know about your own suggestions in the comments
below.
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