Smartphones are an integral part of our everyday life. According to one smartphone usage survey, 20% of respondents said they would rather go without shoes for a week than be without their phone.
However, the pandemic has hit everyone hard. As a result, around 55% of people said they wouldn’t be upgrading their smartphone amid the economic crisis, while 2% will buy a used phone instead.
However, one report suggests that the global refurbished mobile phone market plummeted 9% in 2020 amid the pandemic.
Now the question is whether you should keep refurbished devices after a pandemic in your cell phone repair store? The short answer, yes. But why? Let’s understand this in detail.
Challenges faced in the pandemic by the cell phone repair industry
During the pandemic, people avoid going out, even if it is to get their phones repaired. Instead, many of them are using online channels to send their phone for repair, and some are even buying refurbished devices.
Some key challenges faced by the cell phone repair industry in the pandemic are:
- Since the coronavirus outbreak began in China, where a large share of mobile parts (screens, batteries, etc.) are made, mobile technicians are facing an acute shortage of them.
- Due to the shortage of parts, many cell phone repair stores have to return customers or refer them to their competitors.
- In many places, the government is forcing all non-essential businesses to shut down temporarily. As a result, cell phone repair shop owners are struggling to get customers. Also, in many shops, repair technicians (staff) are taking time off to be with their family in these tough times, resulting in increased delivery time.
- Finding quality parts at reasonable rates is another challenge the cell phone repair industry faces right now. Due to disruptions in the supply chain, many repair store owners have to look for new suppliers who don’t provide quality products at competitive prices.
Reasons for surge in demand for refurbished devices after the pandemic
In the Worldwide Used Smartphone Forecast, 2020-2024, IDC expects the global used smartphones market shipment to have reached 225.4 million units by the end of 2020. That’s a 9.2% increase from 2019 (206.5 million units).
Here are some reasons the refurbished devices after the pandemic are growing.
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Refurbished mobile phones are more affordable
At a time of economic crisis, people don’t want to spend $999 on an iPhone. Instead, they are looking for a more feasible option that provides similar features and performance. This is where refurbished devices can help. They go through a stringent testing procedure to ensure the best possible performance.
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Warranty
Just like brand new phones, certified refurbished devices come with a warranty of 6-12 months. This instills trust in customers and encourages them to buy refurbished phones instead of new ones.
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No Real Upgrades between a Phone’s Generations
The tech gap between two generations’ phones is not wide. Consider Samsung S20 and S21, for example. The latter retains many of the old phone’s features with no new groundbreaking functionalities. In this case, buying a refurbished phone satisfies the owners’ needs without making them feel like they are missing out on anything.
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Environment-Friendly
In just 2021, the world has thrown over 18,557,300+ tons of electronic waste. Refurbished devices are a great option to save the environment while still getting the gadget of your choice.
Offering refurbished services in the time of pandemic can make you stand out from the crowd and attract more customers.
Best of the refurbished devices you can invest in:
Refurbished phones are more affordable and offer the very same features and performances as brand new smartphones. Certified refurbished devices go through a stringent testing process to ensure it offers a performance similar to new phones.
Here are the top refurbished devices you can purchase now:
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iPhone
One of the most popular phone series globally, Apple releases a new iPhone almost every year. However, the new iPhones have pretty much the same features as the older ones. Instead of buying a new one at $999, you can choose a refurbished phone of the same model at a much lower rate ($250-$500).
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Samsung
It is yet another popular smartphone brand in the world. By purchasing refurbished Samsung phones, you can save significantly, even on the flagship models. Also, most refurbished device retailers offer 6-12 months of warranty on Samsung phones.
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Google Pixel
Google Pixel is growing in popularity these days. However, if you are not willing to spend hundreds of dollars on a Google phone, you can choose a refurbished device that provides the same features and performance.
By stocking the top refurbished devices after pandemic, you increase your chances of selling, thereby boosting your profits.
Conclusion
People have started considering refurbished devices as an alternative to expensive flagship devices due to better cost savings, environmental concerns, and a similar warranty period.
Injured Gadgets is a leading provider of refurbished services in the US. If you are looking to stock refurbished mobile phones at reasonable rates, Injured Gadgets can help. We even provide same-day shipping facilities so you can get the devices as quickly as possible.