GADGET GIZMO SPECIAL.......................... How to buy a used smartphone

How to buy a used smartphone

Forego the ‘cutting edge’ and get a great deal

    Buying a used smartphone can save you some money, but it obviously involves a few risks —like making sure it’s in good condition and that it isn’t stolen. Smartphone makers release new models every year. Since people always have the itch to upgrade, you can get a fantastic deal on a used smartphone as long as you’re willing to forego the cutting edge. The “latest and greatest” is not always all it’s cracked up to be any way.
Still, buying a used smartphone means you have to do your due diligence. For one, warranty is usually out of the question, or it will at least be significantly reduced. Second, you need to ensure everything is working correctly. And finally, based on these, you have to get the right price. Here are some tips.
Research for the right price
To get the best deal, you need to see how many people are selling that smartphone right now and at what price. Search for the handset on eBay, Craigslist and Swappa. You will come across enough listings, but there are a few things to note:
. Make sure it’s unlocked. Craigslist and eBay have plenty of people selling locked smartphones, which cost a little less than what you would look for.
. On eBay, check only the Buy It Now prices, not the current bids.
. Don’t note the median price, note the prices of what you are looking for. Used smartphones come in various levels of condition, so you need to actually click those links and read the description to know whether the condition meets what you are looking for. 4. Check the price of what a new phone costs with similar specifications. If you’re buying a one-yearold smartphone for a price where you can get a similar new phone, the deal isn’t worth it because you     lose out on warranty. Make sure all the accessories are intact. If they aren’t, find out what     it would cost you to buy each accessory and use that as a bargaining  chip to reduce the price.
Think like a smartphone seller when you are looking to buy one. Consider things like product cycles, location, age and condition to figure out the price of a device. The same things hold true for the buyer.
Where to buy
When you buy in person, you can inspect the phone— but you’ll get a much better selection buying online. Here are some tips for each.
Try a social network
The best source is to find someone selling it on a social network. That’s not to say you won’t get a great deal online, having some sort of link with the seller helps in establishing trust. And this works both ways. A good seller wants a clean and fair transaction too.
Buy online
If you’re buying online and can’t meet in person, make sure you buy from someone with a return policy in place. A good seller who is confident in their product will allow it. That said, don’t pick it up online. Whatever photos you see, even if the other party is willing to do a video call, are not a guarantee of what you are finally going to receive in the mail.  There are enough online scammers. So insist on meeting in person.
Negotiating the deal
Before you meet the seller, negotiate the price based on your research and how the seller has described the phone. Cosmetics take a back seat to functionality in such negotiations. So “faint scratches on sides” won’t reduce your price much, but “scratches on screen” can let you negotiate a bigger price drop. Also let the person know that you plan to thoroughly check the phone first, inserting your SIM, checking the cables, etc. I have found this to be the easiest way to weed out an honest seller from someone who’s trying to pull a fast one. At the end of this negotiation, make sure you tell them this is the price based only on description, and that it might change once you actually inspect the device.
Lifehacker.com