To buy a secondhand phone?

[HellloBambinos]

My iphone has given up the ghost after 3 years so I need a new one. However I’m bloody gobsmacked at both the monthly and upfront costs of the current models, and by the length of the contracts (36 months!). I also know that constantly manufacturering is electronics is awful for the environment.

So I’m looking at the secondhand market instead, but is this a bad idea? Music Maggie seems to have some reasonably older models in pristine condition but I’ve never bought from them before so I’m nervous.

Has anyone had any experiences with them, or could recommend me somewhere else?

[HellloBambinos]

*reasonably priced.

[FourEyesGood]

I’ve bought second-hand before. The only problem I’ve had is that the battery life isn’t as good as it would have been if I’d bought it new.

[Lockheart]

If you want one buy one, it's not unreasonable.

[Hingeandbracket]

I bought my iPhone from Cex a few years back. Worth every penny, still in use.

[Toomanycats99]

If you go for an older model you could get a new one for non much more than. Good condition refurbished plus sim only. My daughter had an iPhone 6s on a £22 a month contract from EE. That started 18 mo this ago so you could get higher mode than that for same price now.

[Toomanycats99]

If you go the second hand route cex is good I think - come with warranty's.

[goose1964]

I'd do it, I recently found out that our touchscreens use a mineral which is only found in the Congo ( can't remember which ) and the area is ruled by gangs who are in charge of this mineral. These gangs are more like mini armies and include the recruiting of child soldiers.

[DoraemonDingDong]

We only buy second hand, usually via ebay. We buy unlocked, older models and have been really lucky with them - they've been good items and have lasted well. Samsung models though, not iphones.

[grafittiartist]

I was really happy with music magpie. Just needed an new phone- I don't care about it- just that it works!

[redwoodmazza]

Apple sell refurbished ones, I think?

[Annabk]

Refurbished phones from GiffGaff are good and come with a warranty.

[TheFairyCaravan]

I bought a refurbished iPhone from here a few years ago.

Last year I bought a brand Huawei P20 pro from eBay, just after the P30 came out, for less than £200. I'd never go back to an iPhone.

[CorianderLord]

I'd just buy refurbished from Cex or something

[HellloBambinos]

Thanks all

That is awful @goose1964

[Ughmaybenot]

That’s all I’ve ever done 🤷🏼‍♀️ Normally via Facebook, it’s never been a bad buy yet.

[FlamingoAndJohn]

Twice I’ve bought from CEX and both times they have suddenly stopped working because the original owner had got them on contract, sold them before the contact ran out and then stopped paying.

[Destroyedpeople]

Yes definitely.

[RiftGibbon]

Mine is refurbished from Giffgaff. Before that I had one from eBay. Don't see the point of spending hundreds of pounds in a phone.

[Zigz]

I got mine from Envirophone refurbished last year and I've been really impressed. Much cheaper and haven't had any problems. They come with a warranty just in case.

[rosiejaune]

I always buy electronics secondhand. I had an issue with one laptop from Ebay (have bought others from there with no problem) but sent it back and got refunded.

My phone network does refurbished phones, which is where I got my current one. It's in excellent condition.

[Purpletigers]

Could you ask in Facebook first . Perhaps some of your friends have recently upgraded and would seek their phone to you instead of sending it to one of the second hand retailers mentioned .

[Purpletigers]

If you could stretch to a new phone but perhaps not the latest model I’d recommend mobile phones direct . They offer some excellent deals , you often have to apply for cashback but it only takes 10 minutes once you know what you’re doing .

[SciFiScream]

We buy almost all of our tech secondhand and go to CEX.

The phones I've had from there have been awful though. Never, ever again.

We now try and buy secondhand phones from friends or family.

Secondhand or refurbished is always an option. Just trust who you buy from and/or make sure there's a decent warranty.

CEX have a rigorous testing scheme and we've sold to them, but once I was surprised they bought our phone because I was convinced it would fail the battery test. We certainly weren't happy with the battery.

[Figmentofimagination]

My current phone I am using is from giffgaff. So is my husbands. Not had any problems so far and been about 18months for mine and 2 years for his.

[slashlover]

I got my Samsung from CEX. It stopped working that night so I took it back to the store.They took a few hours to check it over, decided it was knackered and replaced it immediately. I couldn't fault their service.