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Used cell phones can be an excellent alternative to new smartphones. Reason: you not only protect your walletas they are up to 50 percent cheaper (depending on model, manufacturer, condition and age), but also the environment. This is done by reusing previously used cell phones Electronic waste avoided. In addition, this allows Greenhouse gases, which arise during the production of a new smartphone, can be saved. Finally it is too more resource-efficientto use a cell phone for longer. But which providers of used cell phones are there? And more importantly: which of them are reliable?
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Shops for refurbished smartphones tested at Stiftung Warentest
As is often the case, the answer to this question can be found in “Test” magazine Stiftung Warentest find (March 2023 edition). So has the consumer organization four retailers and five platforms that offer refurbished smartphones were tested. The various shops were evaluated based on the following criteria:
shopping experience
Quality of smartphones
Price savings
Defects in the terms and conditions (General terms and conditions of business)
Stiftung Warentest pays particular attention to this Quality of the smartphones purchased and that shopping experience placed. The quality of the used cell phones was weighted at 65 percent in the test and the shopping experience at 35 percent.
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Stiftung Warentest: The best providers for used cell phones
Of the nine providers examined, six received the quality rating “good”.. The other three providers were at least satisfactory. The best dealer for used, refurbished cell phones was Rebuy*, while Back Market was the best online sales platform for second-hand smartphones. What should you know about the two test winners? Also: Which provider are you with? the cheapest used smartphones buys.
1. Best used cell phone dealer: Rebuy
Information about Rebuy
With more than five million customers Rebuy* European market leader in used electronics and used media. You can choose from cell phones, tablets, e-book readers, laptops, cameras, wearables, consoles and audio products. Stiftung Warentest has contacted Rebuy for this Overall grade 2.2 rated – especially the high quality of used cell phones convinced.
2. Best platform for selling refurbished smartphones: Back Market
Information about Back Market
Refurbished devices were provided by Back Market extensively checked and revised in 40 work steps. The selection of used technology available includes smartphones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches and headphones. There are also kitchen and household appliances and gaming hardware. There were those in the test Overall grade 1.8 – No other shop has been rated as good.
3. Cheapest provider for used cell phones: Celevertronic
Information about Clevertronic
Clevertronic* specializes in the purchase and sale of used cell phones, tablets and smartwatches. There are also offers for MacBooks from Apple. The provider is being tested by Stiftung Warentest particularly noticed because of its affordable prices. This is what the used cell phones were like at Clevertronic on average 50 percent cheaper as new goods. That was the highest price savings among all providers in the test.
You can buy, download and read the entire test report with six other shops for used cell phones (including Amazon) at “Test.de”.
Update in January 2024: Content checked, example offers exchanged and internal links added
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