If you're shopping around for a new cell phone, what would you say to the idea of being able to get a great phone that is an upgrade from your current phone and at the same time being able to save enough money on the purchase to pay your cellular bill for the next few months? This is not crazy talk. It's the reality of buying used and refurbished cell phones instead of buying brand new phones.
The internet is full of articles, blogs, and other content that praises used cell phones for their cost savings, but few if any of these sites get specific and talk about real numbers. Saying that you can "save some money" doesn't mean much if the savings are minimal and, frankly, are not worth it. So, here I'll present you with some hard facts that will help you see the true cost savings associated with buying used phones.
For the sake of this article, let's assume that I'm a normal cell phone consumer who wants to upgrade the phone I'm using. My current contract is not expired, so I won't be able to take advantage of the deals that my cellular service provider is offering unless I want to extend my contract even further, which I don't. So, I've decided that a Blackberry is the right phone for me as I need mobile access to my email and the internet in a handy device. Since a trip to my local service provider's store will only result in me having to pay full retail price, I've decided that looking around for a used phone that I can activate on my plan is the best plan of action.
There are countless different models of Blackberry phones on the market today. Let's say I'm a Sprint customer and have decided that the 8830 is the model that is the best fit for me. According to the Sprint site, the retial price for a new Blackberry 8830 without any new-customer bonuses or savings is $549.99. Wow. $550? That price alone probably has me thinking that the upgrade is not worth it and that I can wait. If I do have that kind of disposable income to spend on a new Blackberry, that's great for me, but is still an expensive phone.
On the other hand, a quick search online for "used Blackberry" lands me on a site that sells used Blackberry 8830 phones for Sprint's network. I find one that is in "Excellent" condition (minimal signs of use, fully functional, etc.) for $99.95. That is much more affordable and in my price range. This is the exact same phone offered on the Sprint site, only it's been used a bit. However, it comes with a warranty. Perfect. If I'm a smart shopper (which I am), I pull the trigger on this purchase and pat myself on the back for saving a small fortune.
Don't bother reaching for a calculator or pulling one up on your PC - I'll do the math for you. Full Retail Price: $550. Used price: $100.
Total savings gained from purchasing the same phone from a used vendor instead of a service provider: $450
$400 is a lot of money to save. Since I get a warranty with this particular used phone, there is no need to worry about having to pay out of pocket for any repairs, which shouldn't be expected in the first place. Instead, I have an extra $400 in my pocket. Looking at my monthly cellular bills, this $400 could easily pay my bill for the next 4 or 5 months. Sounds like a great deal to me!
The Bottom Line:
New Blackberry 8830 from Sprint: $550
Used Blackberry 8830: $100
Savings: $400 - enough to pay my cell phone bill for the next few months, but some cool accessories, upgrade my plan, etc.
You can try some good deals on used cell phones at replaceyourcell.com. They buy phones from large wholesalers who distribute phones from cell phone companies such as Sprint, T-Mobile, Cingular, and more in large quantities and pass the savings to customers.
You can try some good deals on used cell phones at replaceyourcell.com. They buy phones from large wholesalers who distribute phones from cell phone companies such as Sprint, T-Mobile, Cingular, and more in large quantities and pass the savings to customers.