Nearly new – refurbished cell phones are booming among the older generation

There are many concerns that keep buyers away from refurbished smartphones: «The battery’s sure to be at its end,» «It’s got to have water damage,» or, «I don’t want to pay the piper for buying a phone that’s bound to die on me in two weeks,» to name just a few. Still, more and more smartphone users are taking refurbished phones into consideration when making a purchase thanks to tests showing that only devices with at least 80 to 85 per cent battery capacity (linked page in German) are sold. What’s more, providers of refurbished phones perform a complete tech checkup and typically offer twelve months of warranty.

Galaxus and Digitec have already carried refurbished smartphones in their range for several years, with sales increasing significantly in the last one to two years. In the last twelve months, customers bought 43% more refurbished smartphones than in the same period last year. Demand from January to April 2024 was over twice as high as in the same period the previous year. «One driving factor is word getting around that refurbished smartphones are, in fact, better than their reputation and more sustainable,» says Antonio Manduca, Junior Portfolio Development Manager at Galaxus. «Another is the devices’ low prices, with marketplace merchants creating further attractive offers.» According to calculations, refurbished smartphones save 70 to 100 kilogrammes of CO₂ compared to a new device, in turn promoting the circular economy.

Most refurbished smartphones are ordered by customers between the ages of 35 and 44. Customers ages 45 to 54 years follow closely behind. Many devices are also sold to people over the age of 55; more than to those under 25, in fact. Of course, it’s important to note that there are also more online shoppers in the older age group. What’s interesting is that more and more corporate customers are opting for refurbished smartphones, with almost one in five devices going to a corporate rather than private customer.

Differences in quality

But not all refurbishments are the same. «Suppliers classify devices into different quality grades. Some suppliers have four grades ranging from almost new to heavy signs of use, while others only have two.» Galaxus and Digitec use a four-tier grading system spanning from «Like new» to «Acceptable». «This filter is very useful for customers,» explains Sebastian Haut, Junior Category Business Manager at Galaxus.

*Galaxus offers not only refurbished smartphones, but also tablets, smartwatches, notebooks and PCs. According to the German consumer association, 91 per cent of buyers are satisfied (linked page in German) with secondary market products. What’s your experience with refurbished products?»