There is no doubt that buying refurbished iPhones and smartphones, in general, is an easy way to save a lot of money without sacrificing a lot of quality. And, of course, the same applies to refurbished iPhone 6s Plus devices!
However, at the same time, there is also no doubt that buying from the used market is something that brings inherent risks with it. Broken phones, hidden fees, bad or no warranty system, and more. That’s why we wrote this article for you! So, without any further ado, let’s get right into it!
Refurbished iPhone 6s vs Used: What’s the Difference?
“Used” and “Refurbished” are very common terms when looking at second-hand smartphones and the same goes for tablets or laptops. And while they both actually refer to second-hand smartphones, the exact meaning is hidden in the details.
A used smartphone could be in any condition from brand-new to basically dead. That’s sellers often use a grading system to describe the overall condition of the device that they are selling. But, more on that later.
Refurbished iPhone 6s Plus devices, on the other hand, should generally be sold in a brand-new condition. The main difference that separates used from refurbished phones is the overall treatment and condition.
Refurbished phones receive special treatment from professionals or the seller with the purpose of improving their overall condition. That treatment could be anything from cleaning the device to remove fingerprints and marks to even replacing hardware parts with new ones (Battery, display, etc).
So, refurbished phones are generally a safe bet. That said, do keep in mind that sellers can claim whatever they want. It’s not unusual for some of them to falsely advertise their product as a refurbished one just to sell more pieces. So, should we take the risk?
Reasons to Buy a Refurbished iPhone 6s Plus (Or Used)
As we mentioned above, buying a used device can be risky. There are quite a few things that can go wrong. However, there are also some benefits that make this risk worth taking.
The most obvious reason is the price. It’s always cheaper to buy a used phone rather than a new one. Depending on how old it is, you may be able to find it in half its launch price and in some cases even a third.
Also, let us not forget that older devices such as the iPhone 6s Plus right here can be quite tough to find brand-new anyway. The further back you go in time, the harder that it becomes to find a phone of that era.
Other than that, since used smartphones are so much cheaper, they also make for great backup devices. Especially for professionals who can’t afford to wait for a few days until their daily driver is replaced.
Last, but not least, you always have the option of getting a used phone unlocked out of the box. This is something that can be particularly hard and sometimes even expensive for specific phones.
Refurbished iPhone 6s Plus Buying Guide
Now that you know the basics about refurbished and used smartphones, all you need is to arm yourself with some knowledge and you’re ready for buying. These are the different types of information that can come in handy:
- Hidden fees
- Condition grading
- Information about your seller
- Locked VS unlocked phones
1: Hidden Fees
The very first thing that many people don’t know about is the fact that if you’re not careful, you may end up paying extra fees upon delivery. And while there are a few different reasons that this may happen to you, import charges are the most common hidden fee.
Certain websites such as Amazon may show you how much needs to be paid in fees during the checkout process. However, many others, such as eBay or Swappa, aren’t that good at determining when we need to worry about such things.
In most cases, if you’re ordering something from outside of your region and its cost is above a certain threshold, then you’ll probably have to pay extra fees/import charges.
The exact value and the overall rules generally differ from country to country. So, make your research on that subject before buying from outside of your region.
If memory serves right, most regions of the EU only allow you to import items that cost less than 22-24 euros. But, again, make your own research on that.
2: Condition Grading
Sellers will generally grade the condition of the device that they are selling starting from “A”, which usually describes a phone that’s basically brand-new, all the way to “D”, which usually describes a device that’s only good for parts or repairs. To be more specific:
- Refurbished/Brand-new/Grade A: This refers to a device that’s basically in a brand-new-like condition (Keep in mind that the battery isn’t always a factor, though)
- Mint, Grade B/Grade C: A grade B or grade C device usually doesn’t have any issues – just cosmetic damage. Things like scratches or anything that harmed the exterior of the phone without affecting the overall usability
- Only for repairs, Grade D: A grade D device could be anything from a phone that suffers damage on a specific part (Display, earpiece, etc), to something that’s basically scrap metal
At this point, let us not forget to mention that there is no universal grading system. Each seller uses his own terms. One seller’s grade C could be someone else’s grade D. So, always read the small letters.
3: Information About your Seller
It’s important to only buy from reputable sellers who are trustworthy and who know what they are doing. Especially when it comes to used devices. Not only to play it safe but also to take advantage of things like warranty and RMA policies.
Some of the most reputable online platforms include:
Ideally, everyone would be able to buy a refurbished phone directly from Apple. After all, that’s the manufacturer. But the truth is that Apple will only pay attention to some of its latest devices. At the time of writing this article, only the iPhone X and XR are available as refurbished devices.
So, your next best bet is usually Swappa. They are professionals who specialize at selling used/refurbished devices. So, it’s hard to go wrong with them. Amazon is great too. But, admittedly, buying renewed devices from them feels a bit more chaotic.
That said, don’t assume that you’re safe just because you picked a trustworthy platform. You need to pay attention to the individual seller as well. More specifically, on their ratings.
These green stars refer to the overall seller rating and feedback that buyers have left behind. If a seller has less than 4 stars on average, maybe you shouldn’t trust him.
4: Locked VS Unlocked Phones
In case you’re not familiar with them, locked phones are made so that they’ll only work with a very specific carrier. Be it Verizon, AT&T, or anything else.
This is most common in the US and Canada – but it’s a trend that can be found in other regions as well. If you’re planning on using your phone with that very specific carrier that it is locked down to, then good, you’ve got no reason to look for an unlocked model.
However, if there is even the slightest chance of using different carriers, then you’d probably want to look for an unlocked refurbished iPhone 6S Plus instead. Just keep in mind that there are times when an unlocked phone will refuse to work with a specific carrier that it was previously locked to.
Refurbished iPhone 6S Plus Guide: Wrapping Up
This concludes our buying guide. That’s more or less all you need to know before buying any used phone, laptop, tablet, or anything like that. If you’ve got any questions, feel free to let us know about them in the comments section down below!
George Kasiouras
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-k-8246a1169/
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