What are the Opportunities and Risks of Refurbished Phones?

Research shows that more and more consumers are choosing refurbished phones because of the attractive benefits, such as lower costs and environmental friendliness. In this blog, we explore the meaning of "refurbished," its pros and cons, and how it presents opportunities for cell phone repair businesses like yours.

The meaning of refurbished appliances

Refurbished phones are previously used devices that have been completely refurbished to their original condition. This refurbishing process includes testing, cleaning and repairing any defects or problems. The device gets a second life, so to speak, with the highest quality possible. The main difference with used phones is that refurbished ones go through a thorough testing process, which means they have a guarantee of quality and functionality. In contrast, no such guarantee exists with pre-owned phones, which means the chances of complications are higher.

The rising popularity of Refurbished cell phones

The study "The Great Refurbished Barometer 2022" shows that the use of refurbished products has significantly increased in popularity. The figures show an increase of more than 130% between 2020 and 2022 among consumers choosing a refurbished device. This is a significant increase, but it must be remembered that this was during the COVID period and may have played a role. Another survey (by Vodafone) found that more than 52% of Europeans are willing to buy a refurbished smartphone in the future.

The most sought-after refurbished devices in recent years were:

• iPhone 11
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 Mini

This growing popularity presents opportunities for repairers to offer refurbished phones to appeal to a wider audience. It is important to ensure that the refurbished phones are equipped with the right parts and have as few defects as possible.

The Opportunities of Refurbished Phones

Refurbished phones have a lot of advantages when you purchase them from a reliable party or develop them yourself with repair parts. In addition, you are also making a positive contribution to the environment by offering these refurbished phones to your customers. So it is not only smart business, but also a way to be sustainable.

1. Cost-saving

A major advantage of refurbished devices is their attractive price. For people who would like to purchase a new device, but do not have the budget for a brand new one, a reliable refurbished phone offers an excellent alternative.

2. Sustainability

Another plus is environmental friendliness. Offering refurbished phones encourages the reuse of phones and helps reduce environmental pollution, as electronics often contain harmful substances that are difficult to degrade. Choosing refurbished instead of buying a new phone reduces the demand for manufacturing new devices.

3. Old models in demand

Older models are often no longer marketed new, but specific older devices remain in demand. Take the iPhone SE, for example; many long for an Apple smartphone, but find the new sizes too big and/or too expensive. This opens up opportunities for your repair store to obtain refurbished copies of the iPhone SE so you can offer consumers the product they want. Below are the parts we offer for this model: iPhone SE parts, iPhone SE 2020 parts, iPhone SE 2022 parts.

4. Quality Assurance

Refurbished phones and repair parts are thoroughly tested to ensure they function optimally. They undergo the same rigorous quality checks as new devices, with any defects repaired or replaced.

5. Refurbished Hallmark

If you decide to purchase refurbished phones, it is important to do so from reliable suppliers. This way you avoid disappointing your customers by offering poor quality refurbished phones. Reliable refurbished companies can be recognized, for example, by the refurbished quality mark. These are companies that have to pass annual inspections, apply strict quality standards to their refurbished phones and offer a minimum of 2 years warranty.

The risks of refurbished phones

Although refurbished products offer many advantages, they also carry some risks. For example, they are often more fragile than original products.

1. Greater risk of earlier failure than a new phone

Although reliable refurbished phones and parts undergo a thorough testing process to ensure that they are in good condition, there is still a risk that these devices may break down sooner than new phones. This is because the device has been used before and may have experienced wear and tear. This is something to keep in mind when purchasing these products as a mobile repair store.

2. Limited technology

If you offer refurbished phones from older models, it is important to understand that sometimes these devices may not be able to take advantage of the latest features and updates. While refurbished phones may be technically in good condition, they may not always be able to be updated to the latest software versions. This may mean that your customers have to settle for older features.

Developing refurbished phones yourself?

Offering Refurbished phones can be done in several ways. You can buy Refurbished phones from reliable parties, or you can develop Refurbished phones yourself. If you choose the latter, it is important to have the right parts of the best quality. Here are some important parts needed for developing Refurbished phones.

1. LCD Display’s

Screens are one of the most important parts of a phone, as they provide a clear and sharp viewing experience for consumers. Their performance is therefore important when having a phone. What we recommend in terms of display quality is: OEM-Equivalent, Service Pack, Pulled, Refurbished.

2. Battery’s

Good batteries are important to ensure the optimal performance and longevity of a refurbished phone. What we recommend regarding battery quality is: OEM-Equivalent, Service Pack

3. Housing

To give a refurbished phone as new a look as possible, in most cases it is important to replace the casing. This makes the Refurbished phone look almost like new. Durable housings not only offer a renewed look to the refurbished phones, but also provide protection against potential damage. The casing qualities we recommend are: OEM-Equivalent, Service Pack, Pulled, Refurbished 

4. Camera parts

Cameras in a phone are among the important components that convince consumers to make a purchase. Taking photos and videos is also increasingly done with the phone these days. Therefore, well-functioning cameras are indispensable when developing a refurbished phone. Again, we offer the best camera components based on quality: OEM-Equivalent, Service Pack, Pulled

Conclusion

Refurbished phones offer consumers an attractive alternative to new cell phones, with lower costs and more environmentally friendly features. This creates opportunities for cell phone repair stores. However, refurbished products also come with some risks, such as a higher risk of premature failure and limited access to the latest technologies in older models.

If you are a repair store interested in selling refurbished phones, check out reliable providers at keurmerk-refurbished.nl. If you want to develop and sell refurbished phones yourself, find high-quality parts in our online shop.

For questions about refurbished parts, you can always contact us. We are available to help you quickly and to the best of our ability.