Buying a used mobile phone
1.
Physically
inspect the phone. Watch
for damage to the body, like dents and scratches, as well as water damage. Be
especially mindful of scratches on the phone and on the camera lens at the
back. Take your time with this, don't rush it.. If you are buying a unibody
phone where the battery can't be removed, the water damage indicator is usually
placed in the SIM card slot.
2.
If It
Opens, Open It. Any
flap, cover, port that can be opened—like a push-pin slot for SIM or micro SD
cards—needs to be tested so open it and check that it's fine.
3.
Check
all the ports. Pop
your own headphones into the handset and check if they are working. Connect the
charger cable you got to your laptop and see if it's charging by that port. If
it charges by laptop, it's going to charge by wall socket. Then run these
checks with the packaged accessories too.
4.
Pop in
your SIM card. Make
a call, send a text, and browse to your favorite website. It's the best way to
check those parts of the phone are working well. If the phone is locked to a
network and your SIM isn't from that carrier, you'll find out immediately with
this simple test.
5.
Run the
service code test. Each
smartphone has a service code that you can use to access a special menu to
check whether different parts of the phone are running. Google it to find the
one for your device. For example, typing "*#0*#" (without the quotes)
on the Samsung Galaxy S3 will start the LCD Test to check different
aspects like your touch screen, dimming, speaker, cameras, receiver, vibration,
RGB, sensors, and more. Go through each test to make sure the components of the
phone are working fine.
Negotiating the deal
For those buying online, you’ll only have one
chance at negotiations. For those that are buying in person, before setting up
the meeting you’ll want to mention the price you are willing to pay — provided
the phone meets set expectations when you see it.
To figure out this price, you’ll want to look
at the description in detail, as well as all pictures. Factor in their online
rating (if applicable) as well into your pricing decision. Keep in mind that
little tiny scratches won’t affect pricing much but bigger dings and scratches
on the display are bigger negotiating points. Biggest point, make sure it meets
the quality you are looking for, and not just the price.
Feel the person isn’t being reasonable? Walk
away. There are plenty of phones online, so take your time. Buying too quickly
or settling “because you need a phone” are sure fire ways to end up with a raw
deal in the long run.
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