Is it worth the risk buying refurbished gadgets on AliExpress

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Do you want to buy a branded smartphone with a big discount? One option is to buy a refurbished gadget on AliExpress. The quality of large companies at reduced prices - what could be more relevant with the growing dollar rate? But you should be careful.

Despite the fact that AliExpress is positioned as an exclusively Chinese online store, in its vastness you can find a lot of interesting things from other countries. For example, branded smartphones from Japan, Korea and Taiwan. In particular, Sony, Samsung, HTC, Nokia, Motorola. You can also buy Apple products, such as the fifth generation iPhone. Of course, thoughts of various fakes immediately come to mind, but we'll talk about them some other time. Today we will talk about refurbished smartphones, or, as they are also called, refurbished devices that have undergone certified (or not so) repairs and are back on sale.

In the past, such devices consisted of broken smartphones handed over under warranty to official service centers. Alternatively, it can be gadgets that were sold by a telecom operator in civilized countries and were exchanged with a surcharge for newer devices - a kind of trade-in. Such devices are bought in bulk by large companies and sent to China for restoration.

In all devices undergoing restoration, a complete replacement of components requiring repair or simply bearing traces of operation is carried out. The body must be changed. Such operations are carried out both in official factories and in large service centers, where a complete restoration of devices with original components is carried out in proper conditions, and in illegal workshops, where “gray” or counterfeit components can be supplied. On the other hand, in any case, the gadget is fully operational and takes on a neat look (however, accessories may be missing or replaced with non-original ones).

The purchase turns into a lottery: either the device will live happily ever after, or it will be recycled again due to too serious malfunctions received in the past. Be that as it may, the cost of such smartphones can be very attractive, and in case of an unsuccessful purchase, you can either return the money if the smartphone broke down in the first days, or carry out additional repairs and continue using the gadget. And there is always a chance to purchase a device that has just been updated in appearance.

Discounts for such smartphones can be up to 50%, but you should be careful when buying. Among the mass of offers, you need to choose a seller with a good rating and detailed reviews. There are even a few major remanufacturers on AliExpress. First of all, it is worth considering their proposals:

• K-unique;
• NONSTOP - Original Brand Mobile Phone Store;
• Summer Technology;
• Sunshine Technology.

With a careful approach to the choice of a seller, possible troubles are minimized. The chance of getting a low-quality product, losing money, is about the same as when buying at offline points of sale (many stores in Russia and the CIS sell refurbished devices without additional markings). By the way, do not forget to check even Chinese equipment when buying: the description of a product with a tasty price may indicate "Updated" or Refurbished, or may not be indicated.

The topic of refurbished gadgets is, in fact, almost inexhaustible. Next time we will talk about buying similar devices in Russian chain stores and Amazon.