10 Safety Tips to Keep in Mind When Buying a Refurbished Cell Phones

1. 10 Safety Tips to Keep in Mind When Buying a Refurbished Cell Phones

2. Purchasing a refurbished cell phone is one way to save money when shopping for a cell phone. Refurbished phones are returned or donated from the previous owner and made ready for resale. Although there are plenty of advantages to purchasing a refurbished cell phone, there are also precautions that should be considered. There is a possibility that the phone may have been stolen, or never repaired or properly refurbished, particularly if the seller seems disreputable or the deal seems too good to be true. Evaluating the potential hazards of purchasing a refurbished phone will help you make a safe purchase. Review the following 10 tips to ensure the refurbished phone you want to purchase will pass the safety test. 1. Factory Settings When searching for a refurbished phone, it is important to check to make sure that the phone has been cleared of any evidence of prior ownership. If a phone has been restored to factory settings, the memory should be wiped clean. Factory setting restorations allow the phone to be set to the user's preferences. Should you discover any information stored in the phone prior to your use, it is an indicator that the phone may not be entirely safe and that it was not fully refurbished. If a phone was not reset to factory settings, yet sold as refurbished, this could also be an indication that it was stolen or recovered. Be wary of any information that appears on the phone that is not mentioned in a user manual, looks unfamiliar, or refers to previous usage history.

3. 2. Recurring Charges There are games and applications that can be downloaded and incur monthly charges. Check the phone to ensure that only the factory programs are loaded on the phone. Should you find questionable applications, check your phone bill to ensure that you are not being charged for their use. Any unrecognizable applications or programs are an indicator that the phone was not fully refurbished or that spyware could be installed on the phone. If you discover extra monthly fees or unauthorized charges, contact your provider immediately. 3. Factory-Issued Accessories Are all of the necessary items and accessories, such as the battery and charger, included with your refurbished phone? Are they the correct accessories? Should the incorrect accessories be included, the phone may not operate properly, may not hold a charge, and may react negatively to the improper accessories. Most smartphones require a connection to a computer for an initial use and during regular intervals for syncing and updates. Accessories that are the wrong fit could result in a phone that is permanently damaged, won't be able to hold a charge, or is unable sync with your computer. 4. ESN On the inside of the cell phone, typically underneath the battery, is the electronic serial number (ESN), which is unique to each phone. You can easily contact the phone manufacturer to check on the history of the phone, using the ESN. Since the ESN is unique to every phone, the manufacturer will be able to provide details on previous ownership. If the phone was reported stolen or if it was ever returned to the manufacturer, this will have been recorded by the manufacturer.

4. 5. Warranty from Manufacturer or Provider Inquire about a warranty from the manufacturer or retailer who sold you the phone. Some retailers extend the warranty to a refurbished phone and some do not. Phones endure bumps, bruises, jolts, and even drops into water. Should the refurbished phone be a victim of such abuse, you want to be able to have reassurance that the parts, either repaired or replaced, will still be covered by the manufacturer. If the refurbished phone does not include a warranty, you may want to reconsider purchase. 6. Reputable Retailer or Manufacturer Only purchase a refurbished phone from a reputable dealer, retailer, or manufacturer. Verify the credentials of the seller and the refurbisher. If there are no verifiable details, you may want to reconsider your purchase. Any reputable dealer who is selling refurbished electronics will be able to provide details on the refurbishment and, if available, prior ownership. A phone manufacturer has a vested interest in the success of its brand, and so is not likely to sell refurbished phones that will not stand up to normal wear and tear. 7. Price A refurbished phone should be less expensive than a new phone. If you are finding that the refurbished phone is priced the same as new phones of the same model, you should reconsider your purchase. Refurbished phones are previously used and have been refurbished to replace non-working parts, repair malfunctions, or clear the memory. Likewise, if a refurbished phone seems to be priced too low, the purchase may be too good to be true. A phone that is priced too low may not function properly, or may not have ever been refurbished.

5. 8. Locked or Unlocked Check before making a purchase to ensure that the refurbished phone will work with your provider. If a phone is locked, it will only work with a specific provider. If a phone is unlocked, it will work with any provider. It is important to note that you may have to purchase a SIM to operate the phone if you no longer have a SIM or if the refurbished phone is in addition to your current cell phone. Also, there are phones that may not work with certain networks, depending on the provider. It is a good idea to check with your provider to ensure that there will be not be problems activating the phone after purchase. Your current provider will also be able to confirm which models will work with their network. 9. Model History Some cell phone models may be known to have specific mechanical problems or operating issues that persist even after refurbishing. Research the model's overall performance before you purchase. Problems with the phone may be attributed to a bad design or operating system failure. The more information that you can gather about a specific phone model, the more you will be aware of any malfunctions that you may encounter with use. Be aware that updates to the phone may not work with your refurbished model, as it may not utilize the most recent operating system with the proper bug fixes and updates. This is another aspect to consider when comparing various models for purchase. 10. Return Policy Before purchasing a refurbished phone, check on the dealer's return policy. If no returns are allowed, you need to be cautious about the purchase. Any retailer who is selling a refurbished phone should extend a return policy, the same as if the phone was purchased new. Be wary of any seller who will not accept the return of a refurbished phone.