Cellphone prices are increasing day by day. The rate at which the prices are rising, buying a new smartphone will soon become out of reach for many people. But that does not mean you cannot upgrade your current phone. Buying a used phone can be the answer to your problems as it allows you to upgrade to a newer model without burning a hole in your wallet.
With every other phone coming out at over $1,000, finding used phones for sale can be a blessing. But how to buy refurbished or used phones for sale in New York?
In this article, we have shared everything you need to know about before buying a used phone from an online or brick-and-mortar store. Knowing these details can help you avoid getting scammed by fake sellers selling stolen or replica phones.
So, let’s find out what factors you need to consider before buying a used phone.
Factors to Consider Before Buying Used Cell Phones
Below, we have shared the essential factors you need to take into account before purchasing a used cell phone from any website or store. Please continue reading to find out more about buying refurbished or used phones:
Make Sure the Phone is not Blacklisted
Buying a used or refurbished phone can be tricky, especially if purchased from non-authentic sellers. Unfortunately, the internet is filled with scammers and fraud sellers who sell stolen phones. When these phones are reported as stolen, they are blacklisted by their carriers. As a result, the phone you bought with your money stops working.
When a carrier blacklists a phone, it not only stops working, it cannot be activated on any carrier. So, you will only be left with a useless piece of metal and plastic.
In order to avoid these scams, you should not pay in cash. Instead, use a form of payment that offers some sort of buyer protection policies, like PayPal. It provides 180 days of purchase protection, and buyers can return the device if it gets blacklisted after purchase.
However, to avoid going through all this hassle, it is better to verify the phone’s status before purchase. Some companies list the IMEI numbers for their devices on their sites. Besides, you can ask the seller for the IMEI if you are buying through marketplaces like Amazon.
The IMEI number has all the information about a handset. It will let you know if the phone is blacklisted, stolen, or still under financing.
Buy the Correct Model for Your Carrier
Typically, cheap used phones for sale come in both locked and unlocked statuses. However, it depends on where you purchase the phone. For instance, if you buy a phone directly from a carrier, it will be carrier-locked. It means you cannot switch carriers unless allowed by the current carrier.
So, when looking for used cell phones for sale in New York, make sure you pay attention to the carrier. The phone should not be locked to a carrier other than your own, or you won’t be able to use your SIM card on the phone.
This information is usually listed on the website by the seller. If it is not clearly mentioned, you can ask the seller if the phone is carrier locked or not. Besides, the IMEI number also has this detail if you put it on your carrier’s website.
Sometimes phones are locked to a carrier of your choice, and if you want to use a locked phone, you can get it at a lower price.
In order to know which models are compatible with your network, you can check the manufacturer’s website. If you cannot find the information there, try searching for some general models sold by your carrier and look for those on the marketplace.
Check the Phone Carefully
When you look for cheap used phones for sale in New York, make sure you check and inspect them properly. You can set up a meeting with the seller beforehand to see if the phone has any scratches or scuff marks.
Make sure you meet the seller during the daytime to perform a better inspection. Moreover, if the screen has any protectors on, ask the seller to remove those so you can see the phone’s actual condition.
You should also check if the headphone jack works, and putting the charger in the charging port starts instant charging.
Although physical checking is possible with an individual seller, companies may not offer it. In such cases, you should look for the company’s grading criteria, where they clearly list phones according to their condition. For instance, phones can be in average, good, or excellent condition, and each device will be listed according to its condition.
Buy from an Authentic Company
Nowadays, you can find every other person selling something on online marketplaces, including cell phones. While they may be selling authentic devices, there is no way to be entirely sure. Moreover, the risk of getting scammed is relatively higher with inauthentic sellers.
In order to avoid scammers, make sure you buy from an authentic seller or a legitimate company website. They have real-life customer testimonials, ratings, and reviews to show whether they can be trusted or not.
When you buy from an authentic company, like Phone Daddy, they will provide all the essential information about the product before purchase. Moreover, they also offer warranty and guarantee about their products. So, the chances of getting stuck with a stolen or blacklisted phone are zero.
