TECHNOTES: Where Can I Buy A Used Cellphone?

Thinking of buying a used cellphone?  Not sure where to start?  There are a lot of places you can buy a used cellphone, but some carry higher risks than others.

Buying the latest cellphone every year is not feasible for most.  And with the latest and hottest cellphones by Apple and Samsung touting a near $1,000 price tag, consumers are looking for other options to get newer features without paying such a high price.

Used cellphone sales are building.   The used cellphone market is predicted to reach $38.9 billion in sales in 2025, which is double the growth of used cellphone sales in 2017 (Persistence Marketing Research).

There are three ways you can buy a used cellphone:

1. Through the manufacturer or cellular company like Verizon, T-Mobile, Apple, Samsung, etc.
2. Through a “middleman” company which buys used cellphones, verifies their condition, and sells them like Gazelle, Best Buy, etc.
3. Directly from the seller through Craigslist, Swappa, sometimes eBay, etc.

Each way to buy a used cellphone has its inherent pros and cons.  For instance, buying directly from a seller on Craigslist allows you to see the phone before you buy it (assuming you meet in person) but doesn’t carry any guarantee that it will work long-term.  

Buying the same phone through a middleman company or a cellular company or manufacturer can give you a guarantee for a little longer.

Questions to ask before you buy

Is it unlocked and if not, which carrier is the phone locked into?

What is the serial number?  Getting the phone’s ESN or IMEI serial number allows you to verify that the phone belongs to a certain carrier as well as ensure the phone hasn’t been registered as stolen.

What is the condition of the phone?  Ask if there has been any water damage, if it has scratches, is the screen cracked, if it’s been dropped (are the corners undented), etc.

Does the used cellphone come with the box, manual, charger, and earphones?  Often times, third-party sellers do not include these items.

Is the cellphone under contract?  You won’t be able to use the cellphone until the contract has ended, so be sure to ask.

Where to buy a used cellphone online.

With the latest Samsung and Apple cellphones just released, there is a deluge of used cellphones up for sale right now.  Everyone wants to upgrade to the latest and greatest phone.  This means the greatest variety of features and prices are available now.

Amazon – offers used cellphones from third-party sellers as well as from phone manufacturers. Certified refurbished phones sold through Amazon come with a 90-day warranty.  Used cellphones sold by other sellers offer various warranties.  Risk is reduced as sellers are rated and reviewed by other buyers.  Free shipping is included in most cases.

Decluttr – offers guaranteed refurbished quality devices, 14-day returns, free tracked shipping, and 12-months limited warranty on their tech products.  However, their prices tend to be a little higher to accommodate these benefits.

eBay – offers a large variety of used cellphones and has individual sellers and third-party sellers with pictures and often detailed descriptions of their phones.  You can ask questions of sellers before purchasing.  eBay offers a 30-day return if the cellphone that comes is not what you expected.  In most cases, shipping is free or comes with shipment tracking.  Reviewing the seller’s ratings and comments can give you the assurance you are buying from someone reputable.  

Gazelle – offers a 30-day return policy and they certify every cellphone for quality by ensuring each used cellphone they sell passes a rigorous 30-point quality inspection.  Although the devices are inspected, they are not refurbished.

Glyde – acts as a middleman and communicator between the buyer and the seller.  Glyde offers a 72 hours full-return policy so if the used cellphone is not what you expected you can return it and get your money back.  All shipments are insured, if the used cellphone is lost in transit, you do not lose money.  There is no buyer fee.

Swappa – sellers upload pictures of the phone, turned on, with serial numbers clearly visible (usually written).  Selling phones are free but there is a fee for purchasing, usually under $20.  Although Swapp does not inspect the used cellphone, a person actually ensures each one has an IMEI serial number and that it is not stolen.  They check all uploaded pictures to make sure they are clear and helpful to show the condition listed on the phone.  The cost of shipping is already included in the sales price.  Prices are set by the seller and all purchases go through PayPal for extra protection.

Manufacturers and wireless carriers – you can purchase reduced cost certified used cellphones directly from your carrier or a manufacturer and often times you can trade-in your current cellphone to receive money off towards your purchase.  In most cases, you’ll end up with the phone, box, chargers, and headphones along with a limited guarantee.  The trade-off is that their prices are typically much higher than the websites mentioned above.

Regardless of where you buy your used cellphone, use your credit card or PayPal to ensure you have built-in protections.  Make sure that you can easily get a refund should the cellphone never show up or come in a less desirable condition than advertised.