Where would you (and would you?) by a 2nd hand iphone

[fasterthanthewind]

DS has eaten my phone (perfectly functional old Nokia, VERY not-smart).

So I need a new one. I don't NEED a smart phone, but there are several small things that would be simpler if I did have one.

I can't possibly buy a new iPhone, so I can either

• buy a reconditioned one; or
  
• buy something else
  

I'm leaning towards the reconditioned one, because it feels a greener thing to do, because it's cheaper, and because our other home computer stuff is Apple.

Is this a bad idea?

Any advice on where to get a reliable unlocked iPhone? Happy to pay a bit more and get it from a reputable place where I'll have some comeback if it all goes wrong.

[Pagwatch]

Kexx.

Dd had to have an iPad for school. We got her a second hand one from kexx

[Pagwatch]

Gah - Cex

[TurquoiseCat]

Ooh. I was just coming on to say cex.

You'll get a one year warranty with it, and it will have been reconditioned to as good as it can be!

Try the website, there's a lot more choice than in the shops!

[Dumpylump]

Dp got one from CEX here at the weekend. They grade them, so his is an "A" and to me, looks brand new. He turned down a "B" that had a couple of wee scratches on the casing, but was cheaper.
As pp have said, they check them all, and you get a year warranty.

[fasterthanthewind]

Brilliant thank you SO much.
I found one last night called www.refurbiphones.co.uk but I'd rather go with somewhere recommended.
Anyone have horror stories about Cex?

[beachywaves]

We bought an iPhone 4s from smartfonestore which was recommended on here. They have 3 categories A,B and C - A being the highest quality. They have a 60 day warranty. We ordered on Friday and it arrived on Saturday. It was in perfect condition - not a mark/scratch on it. Thoroughly recommend.

[Fairylea]

Another vote for cex.

Also consider a Samsung galaxy or note. If you got a new one on contact samsung products have a 2 year warranty which is very useful. They don't advertise it but if you look in the small print etc it will be there. May be an alternative.... dh has had untold problems with his iphones and they can be difficult about repair - my Samsung just gets whizzed off and sent back no questions asked.

[fasterthanthewind]

Isn't a Samsung galaxy big? I'm used to the teeny tiny Nokias of 4-5 years ago, and most smartphones seem crazily un-pocket-sized.

Have done a bit more digging, and rather surprisingly, there currently doesn't seem to be that much of a difference in price between CEX and Apple for the 5s.

Is there a strong reason why I wouldn't be perfectly happy with a good condition iPhone 4? Generally I don't think it's a great idea to buy tech kit that's already out of date, as it 'lasts' so much less long that it's not a good saving - but maybe that's not the case with a phone?

[TotallyOuted]

I bought my only second hand phone from ebay, but it was a really old model that imloved and cried when i dropped it down the loo.

If it was a remotely modern phone i wouldn't buy second hand as i hate the idea of buying stolen goods.

[NetworkGuy]

Can understand your concern, TO, but various Ebay sellers are running businesses, the competition is pretty hot, and feedback if it ever mentioned "stolen goods", would be a killer for them, so I expect the vast majority of sellers (showing 'Registered as a Business' and with contact details shown) would never risk it. After all, the IMEI (unique reference number on each mobile) can be used to block a stolen phone from all UK networks, so it's not worth handling stolen goods. CEX and others do run checks.

On the subject of CEX - they have quite significant mark up from what you would get if you were selling and what you pay when buying. Can understand with so many shops and lots of staff to pay, but it looks a teeny bit unfair on the public whichever category they are in...

As for iPhone 5S, my guess is that a lot of people are hanging on to them, perhaps they started their contracts in November or December and still have a while to run before they consider an upgrade or replacement. One neighbour was looking on Thursday and there are few offers from anywhere on the iPhone 5S or 6... prices for cash purchase or on most contracts seem very steep. Bit of a luxury, I think, personally. (Not an Apple hater - I have a few {but old} iMac systems here, but do hate prices for new from Apple.)

[fasterthanthewind]

Network guy, I wish I'd read your point about contracts on Sat - am sure you're right about that. So there should be lots more floating about from Nov/Dec onwards.

I have ordered one from smartfonewarehouse or whatever it's called. I decided (like NG) that the cex markup was far too great - prices not significantly below brand new, for a good quality one. Hasn't arrived yet.

Maybe ebay would have been a good idea. When I looked (again before reading your message) it looked as if it'd have been about £70 cheaper, but I was also worried about the 'what-ifs'. Smartfonewarehouse guarantee they've checked the goods they sell aren't on any of the lists, and they also guarantee to refund/replace if the phone ever does get blocked in the future - that was what swung it for me in the end.

[NetworkGuy]

Print a copy of their web page/ e-mail promise on replacements, just on the off-chance you need to follow-up on that one day. Depending on what computer type you use, you may be able to "print" a PDF file of the web page (and then e-mail it to yourself).

It's a timed+dated "snapshot" of their website (and if your print options in the browser allow it, include web link {aka URL} and date time, so it's information saved inside the PDF document). That way, if ever there was a dispute, it should be easier to state that you are confident they made that promise as you have a saved "snapshot" (which could be printed and used in a small claim case, for example).

I hope you're happy with what you bought, and when it has arrived, perhaps you'd update this thread with a full web link for the site, in case others do a similar search over the next few months.

[MarriedDadOneSonOneDaughter]

I have an iPhone 4 (hand me down) and it works fine unless your going to fill it with social network apps (facebook, twitter, whatsapp etc) in which case it grinds to a halt.

I bought my parents Moto Gs from Vodafone for £100, sim free no contract brand new. They seem to be amazing phones and really hit home the point that Apple stuff is a HUGE premium, even at second hand prices.

That said, iPhones are well crafted software and hardware.

[NetworkGuy]

Yes, must admit I'm very tempted by the Moto G (the newer model with 4G) and while I've a few (old, bought on Ebay for under 200 quid) iMac systems which work fine, I do feel the massive mark-up on Apple gear, when new, is difficult to justify.

It's rather like a 'designer' brand handbag, shoes, or clothing, except in the case of Apple, it's going to be made in tens of millions (for relative peanuts) yet still sold for as much as possible, despite not being a very "select" product in reality.

I heard that in China the iPhone 6 will cost an extra US$ 200 on top of already 'significant' prices. Don't know if part of the extra is used to pay "red tape" importation fees (a bit odd, if whole phone is fabricated in China anyway, but Chinese government have been reluctant to allow iPhones to be sold, legally, at least up to now), or a design, by Apple, to keep the number of buyers down (as if 500 million have US$800 to pay for one the day it launches there).