A major survey has shed some light on the best places to buy second-hand tech.
Which? – who we’ve teamed up with to tell you some do’s and don’ts later in this post – asked 2,495 people to share their experiences of buying preloved smartphones, laptops, tablets and smartwatches from 18 shops.
Here are the scores based on customer service, product range and availability, product quality, accuracy of descriptions, communicating, delivery, amount of original packaging, ease of website and value for money…
“We were pleasantly surprised by the results – 10 retailers received a customer score of 80% or more,” said Which.
For an idea of how much you could save, Which? offered these examples…
- Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (2023): £679.99 (Amazon Renewed, “Excellent” grade), compared to £1,129 new – a £449 saving.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: £139 (eBay Certified Refurbished, “Excellent” grade), £239 new – a £100 saving.
- iPhone 16 (128GB): £649.99 or £609.99 (iOutlet, Grade A+ or A), £699 new – a £49-£89 saving.
Which? tech expert Andrew Laughlin told the Money blog: “Not only is buying second-hand tech better for the planet, it can also be substantially better for your wallet with hundreds of pounds to be saved compared to buying new.
“It’s important to go into it with eyes wide open. Buying from a reputable source, checking how long software updates will last and choosing a refurbished device with at least 80% battery health will ensure you’re not left disappointed.”
Andrew Laughlin
We’ve teamed up with Which? to bring you these essential do’s and don’ts…
Do – Check software update support periods
One of the most important things to consider when buying a second-hand or refurbished phone is how long the device will be supported with security updates. Apple iPhones tend to…
