Refurbished Cell Phones or New Cell Phones?
If you’ve lost or broken your cell phone, or you’re looking to get your first cell phone, you may assume that a new phone directly from the cell phone carrier is the only option. Not necessarily. You may also purchase a used phone from a private party or used phone seller, or a refurbished cell phone from the cell phone carrier or from another company.
Refurbished cell phones make great choices for many people and, truth be told, there are not many instances where paying full retail for a new phone is worth it. If you are signing a new contract with your provider, you can usually get a new phone at a discounted price that is comparable to buying it used, but then you are locked in to a contract. However, if you’re not signing a new contract, the full retail price for a given phone is going to be significanly higher than the price for the same phone in like-new refurbished condition. Many people find that purchasing a used phone is an excellent way to bridge the gap between the end of a contract and the time that they need a replacement for their lost or broken phone. Going this route can also allow you to continue your current service without having to sign a new contract, which will give you the freedom to switch carriers in the future without paying a cancellation fee.
However, if you are an innovator or early adopter that insists on having the latest and greatest technology at your fingertips the instant that it is available, you’ll likely have to buy a new phone. Most phones can be found used shortly after they are released to the market, but sometimes they are difficult to find. If you can manage to wait only a couple of months, you should be able to find a something like a used blackberry in the model of your choice at a discounted price.
You may want to look into buying a new phone if you plan to use it for quite a while. Even though used and refurbished phones have usually been quality-checked and may even include a warranty, you will not know the phone’s history before it reached your hands. Buying a new phone is a lot like buying a new car. You may enjoy buying a new car because you know everything that has happened to it during its lifespan, but it loses a lot of its value as soon as you take it from the dealership. The same is true of buying a new phone, but for some people, this loss in value is worth it.
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