A used iPhone 6 can be much cheaper while still working like brand new. Obviously, though, despite all the advantages that used products deliver, there are many associated risks as well.
You may get scammed, you may have to pay extra money, or you may get a defective product. If you’re new to buying used electronics online, then there a few stuff that you need to know first. With that being said, let’s get right into it!
Used iPhone 6 Buying Guide
Following these steps should provide you with a safe buying experience:
- Only buy from reputable and trustworthy sellers/websites
- When possible, prefer PayPal over credit/debit cards
- Take into consideration any extra charges that may apply
- Keep an eye out on the condition of the phone or you may end up getting something defective
- Don’t buy a locked device unless you absolutely have to
And that’s all there is to mention as fast as possible. If you want the details, keep on reading! If not, Swappa is our recommended place to purchase a used iPhone.
1: Only Buy From Trustworthy Websites And Sellers
When buying a used iPhone 6 or any iPhone for that matter, you should always only look in trustworthy and reputable websites. And don’t forget to keep an eye out on the ratings of each individual seller under those websites.
The reason is pretty obvious. A very popular platform is much more likely to provide you with a pleasant shopping experience while a less reputable website is more likely to scam you, provide false information about their product, or anything like that.
Do keep in mind that the platform and the individual seller are not the same thing. eBay is a reputable platform, but the guy who uses it to sell a $10 iPhone with no positive ratings isn’t. So, do keep an eye out for that well.
With that being said, some very popular platforms that we recommend are:
From all these choices, Swappa is most likely the best one for buying a used iPhone since their quality control is top-notch. Not to mention that their whole platform is focused on selling used devices. So, kinda hard to go wrong with it.
2: Prefer PayPal When You Can
There are a ton of payment methods out there. But, most websites commonly offer either PayPal or credit card as the two main methods of paying.
When possible, prefer PayPal. Not only it’s safer and easier to use, but it also allows you to get a refund in case that something goes wrong. And if you’re right, the seller can rarely do anything about it!
Creating an account and linking it to your bank or card is fairly easy. So, if you haven’t already, do seriously consider making a PayPal account and start using it as your primary payment solution.
And if you don’t feel threatened, do keep in mind that even some of the most popular websites like Wish and eBay are hosting scams.
Take this and this as an example. The GTX 1060, a card that normally costs at least 300 euros, is being sold brand new for 65 and 55. Under the hood, it’s obviously something much, much worse, and this has actually been tested by numerous YouTubers.
If something like that happens on two of the most popular shopping websites in the whole world, imagine how bad the situation can get with less popular platforms that nobody knows.
So, again, when buying something relatively expensive like a used iPhone 6, do try to use PayPal. And if something goes wrong, you’ll at least be able to make a refund claim.
3: Keep An Eye Out For Any Extra (Sometimes Hidden) Charges
Depending on the region that you currently live in and the website’s location, you may have to pay extra charges. Sometimes they show up on the checkout page and sometimes they don’t.
Amazon does that really well. As you can see in the image above, it almost always tells you how much extra money you need to pay for import fees and shipping charges.
However, other websites like eBay almost never do that. So, if you don’t know about it, you may end up having to pay quite a lot of extra money when your used iPhone 6 gets delivered.
More often than not, these extra charges are just import taxes that need to be paid when you buy something from outside of your country. For example, if you’re living in Europe and you buy something expensive from the US, there’s a good chance that you’ll have to pay import fees upon delivery.
Again, some websites like Amazon will recognize that and will allow you to pay everything upon checkout. The only issue is that it doesn’t work with all of them.
Chinese-based websites like Gearbest, Wish, and Ali-Express are often the ones that are most prone to this. The solution? Look for websites that have warehouses on your region.
Do keep in mind that Swappa is based in the US.
4: Don’t Forget About The Condition Of Your Used iPhone 6
When shopping for a used iPhone 6 or any used electronic, always keep an eye out for its condition. It can make the difference between receiving something that’s almost brand new and a broken phone.
First things first, it’s best to look in places where the seller is forced to mention the exact condition of the device. Platforms like Amazon are supposedly only listing items that have passed certain tests and are like brand new, but there are lots of times where this hasn’t exactly worked well.
Platforms like eBay, on the other hand, completely leave everything up to the seller to decide. So, again, look for someone who is trustworthy and mentions the exact condition of the phone.
Swappa is one of the very few websites that actually force all of their sellers to be very specific about the product’s condition. So, they win this round as well.
Now, the exact description differs from website to website. But, generally, this is what you can expect:
- Good/Refurbished/Like New/Grade A: These terms are often used to describe a phone that’s almost brand new without scratches or marks
- Mint/Fair/Grade B/C: Scratches and other signs of wear/use may be present, but the device works normally
- Bad/Damaged/Parts and Repairs only/Grade D: The phone is damaged to the point where normal operation is tough or impossible
5: Prefer Unlocked Devices
A locked iPhone will only work with the carrier that it has been locked down too. For example, if you get a used iPhone 6 that’s locked to Verizon, then you can only use it with a Verizon SIM. Period.
In order to avoid that, either look for an unlocked model or at least get one which is locked down to the carrier of your choice. You can always unlock it later on. But, that costs extra money. So, choose carefully.
Most reputable sellers, including Swappa, clearly mention if a phone is unlocked or not, and which carrier it is locked down to. All you have to do is keep an eye out for that.
Get Refurbished iPhone from Swappa
Safely Buying A Used iPhone 6: Wrapping Up
Overall, when buying a used iPhone 6, look for reputable sellers, prefer PayPal when you can, be careful with extra fees, charges, and taxes, careful with the condition of your phone, and make sure to either choose an unlocked model or one that is locked down to the carrier of your choice.
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