Refurbished Cell Phones

Most cell phone contracts are 2 year commitments. Cell phone companies get customers to agree to these long term contracts by offering them discounts on new phones. While this turns out to be a good deal at first, being locked in to a long term contract can be expensive when you need to switch carriers down the road. Cell phone companies take the phones that people trade in (or even returns that are 2 days old), refurbish them to like-new condition, and resell them - either directly to customers or to third party vendors who then sell them. Next time you're looking for a new phone, consider a refurbished phone instead of a new one since you can usually get the phone you want for much cheaper.

Here are a few reasons why purchasing refurbished cell phones is a good idea:

1. Refurbished cell phones are simply more affordable. They give you the ability to get the technology that you want at a fraction of the price.

2. Refurbished cell phones are also environmentally friendly. Each phone that is reused is one less phone that gets sent to landfills, where they have been known to leak toxic chemicals.

3. Purchasing a refurbished cell phone and activating it with your provider is a way to avoid signing a new contract...or is a much, much cheaper to upgrade your phone before your current contract expires.

A number of third parties sell refurbished cell phones, so you're not limited to buying one from your cellular provider. The only advice to be given here is "buyer beware." Most third parties are reputable dealers and you should have no concerns, but do your research to prevent being hung out to dry.

Here are a few things to check for:

1. Has the phone been completely restored and reconditioned to factory settings?

2. Has the phone been tested? Does everything work?

3. What kind of warranty is there? Most refurbished phones come with a 30 or 90 day guarantee. If your vendor doesn't offer one, you're probably better off buying elsewhere.

As with any technological purchase, there are some potential pitfalls to be aware of. The biggest thing you should be concerned about is whether or not the phone is locked to a particular network. If you buy the phone from your provider, you can be almost certain that it will be locked to their network. This will create problems if you decide to switch networks as you won't be able to take the phone and use it on another network. Also, remember that you are buying a product that has been used before, so there may be some scratches on the surface and other age-related issues.

Beyond that, purchasing a refurbished cell phone is an excellent way to get top-of-the-line technology at a fraction of the cost. Shop around, you'll be surprised what you can find in the used cell phones market.