Buying A Used iPhone 8 Plus or Samsung GS9+

A couple of weeks  I wrote about Where to Buy a Used Cellphone.  I decided to follow-up on that article with some actual prices so you could get an idea of what it would cost you to buy either a used iPhone 8 Plus (64 GB, Gold, Unlocked) or a Samsung Galaxy S9+ (64 GB, Black, Unlocked).

As many people are selling their phones right now to buy the newest iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones, this is the best time to shop for a used phone.  Besides, Christmas is around the corner and used cellphones make great gifts for your kids, spouse, aging parents…or even for yourself!

Here are the prices (averaged)…

A Mom’s Perspective

I spent a good amount of time researching each of these websites because I actually wanted to buy a used iPhone 8. 

The most important things to me were that I felt good that I would actually receive the item I bought, that there was a guarantee, and that I would absolutely know what was coming with the phone.  Since it’s a gift for my daughter, I wanted the original box and accessories.

Here are my recommendations and thoughts for each website…

Amazon– Not recommended.  Finding what you want can vary greatly on how you search for a phone and it’s characteristics (ie. 64 GB, gold, unlocked, etc.).  Amazon also throws in a lot of other iPhones that are not a used iPhone 8 plus phone into your iPhone search, which gets confusing.

I like Amazon’s certified refurbished phone program with its 90-day warranty, but it’s very hard to identify if a phone is new, used, or refurbished, and in very few cases are the listings personalized to the actual phone itself, as many are generic about the phone overall.  Most do not list if the original box and accessories are included.

Also, although there are comments and questions, many of them don’t necessarily pertain to the listing.  Most sellers are companies that buy used phones, refurbish them, and sell them on Amazon.  So the questions and comments are on the phones of this type they are selling or have sold.

Decluttr – Not recommended.  I like the 14-day return policy and that Decluttr has inspected each phone.  However, there is no personal touch from the previous owner and now way to tell if the phone comes with its original box and accessories.

Gazelle – Recommended, but… They simply do not have enough popular cellphones in “excellent” condition to sell.  They do their own 60-day inspections on every phone and offer a 30-day guarantee.  Each listing tells you what’s included with the phone.  Often times it is just the charger.  They had a lot of used iPhone 8 Plus’ and Samsung Galaxy S9+’s for sale.

Glyde – Not Recommended.  Currently, they are “pausing all transactions,” until their new website is complete in December.  Bad timing.

eBay – Recommended.  eBay has an excellent filtering system to help you fine-tune your search.   They do not waste your time with previous versions of the phone you are looking for.  Most listings will tell you what’s included with the phone and you can view each seller’s rating to get a good idea of whether they are reputable.  eBay also offers a 30-day return if the cellphone is not what you expected.  I bought my daughter’s phone from eBay.

Swappa – Recommended.  Swappa unites actual sellers with buyers.  Many are the original owners, not a company that refurbishes and sells phones (you’ll see many of these on Amazon and eBay).  Swappa researches each phones serial number, or IMEI, to ensure it is not blacklisted or stolen.  They also check all uploaded pictures to ensure they are clear and helpful.

You can interact with each seller and request additional information or pictures.  You can also review other people’s comments to the seller and even request (publicly) a lower price.

So you may be wondering, how much did I pay for the unlocked used iPhone 8 Plus? 

I spent $554 including shipping.  The listing said it is in MINT condition and includes the original box and all accessories.  It has a 30-day return and since Christmas is 28 days away, I should be in good shape.  Of course, I’m going to open it and test it once it arrives.

How about you, are you in the market for a used phone?