There are some wondrous bargains to be had if you may endure without the shiniest , new gizmo — but diving into the second - manus market place come with its own set of potential pitfalls and job .
Saving some immediate payment on technical school that ’s used or dated is n’t a novel idea , but the landscape is switch all the fourth dimension , as new outfit appears and disappears , and demand fluctuates . You ’re live on to hold open less onpopular gadgetsthan you are onthe gear that nobody was bother aboutin the first home .
Being realistic
To start with , understand what a good price look like . As we ’ve mention , some savings are go to be bigger than others : iPhones hold their value very well , as do most flagship phones . uncommon items are normally going to be more than something that can be picked up anywhere — as long as it ’s a gadget that ’s actually utile and working , of course .
With that in judgment you demand to be naturalistic about the sort of discounts you may get , otherwise you ’ll be sat on eBay for months waiting forthe Samsung Galaxy S7to fall to a level that it ’s never survive to get to . At the same clock time , do n’t get pressured into buy over - the - odds for something , specially if you make out another one will be along before long .
It ’s not just the production itself that set the cost , though — precondition , add-on , packaging , warranty and so on all spiel a part . If the prices you ’re seeing are a little beyond what you have to spend , you might be able to get that figure down a bit by accept some wear and tear or sourcing your own charger , for exercise .
Image: Alex Cranz/Gizmodo
“ Research is primal , ” Yanyan Ji , General Manager of second - hand marketplaceGazelle , told Gizmodo . “ Take a look at what the original pricing of the gimmick was , but also take into account how old it is and if the manufacturer has made a new model . Typically , once the Modern good example come out the price of the late generation goes down , so you could buy it at a fair price . ”
Checking prices
It ’s not too difficult to figure out out what a realistic price in reality is — compare a few 2d - hand vendor and put together an norm , make trusted you ’re equate apple to apples in terms of gadget make and mannikin , condition , and accessories . lead any hunting oneBay , and you could tick the Sold listings box on the left to see the prices your chosen gadget is currently going for .
We ’ve listed a few potential marketplaces below , but most have you equate price across unlike sellers , so you may quick get a feel for how much you ’re die to have to spend . If it ’s too much , test looking for a lower - specced theoretical account , or the same gadget from the old class ’s cycles/second . Fortunately for emptor , the market is flood with used gadgets , so you always have options .
If you’re able to see a seller that speciate in what you ’re after then you might be able-bodied to get discounts base on the filmy volume of kit these places are shift . A
Time your buy
Timing is crucial : You should be able to get an iPhone 7 a lot cheaper the week after the next iPhone goes on cut-rate sale this decline equate with the week before . Look at when your gadget - of - choice was launch , what else in the class has appeared since , and when it ’s potential to get interchange by something else .
aside from that , there are seasonal wavering too , especially around the turn of the year . “ When provision outstrip demand there are bargains to be had , ” says Matt Barker CEO of 2d - hand photographic camera marketplaceMPB . “ January just after the new year is the best time to buy … the supply of 2nd - hand convenience surges after Christmas as unwanted present get sold . ”
And just because you ’re buying 2nd - deal does n’t mean you should n’t wait out for the same sort of special offers and bundle deals that apply to new trade good . In fact you might get even better deals than you do with unexampled gadgets if a trafficker is count to get rid of some old tech speedily .
“ Promotions can still be pop the question with second - paw gimmick so keep an eye out for key sale seasons like back - to - school or the vacation as you may get an even respectable deal on a machine , ” add Yanyan Ji . The same fluctuation in the market that affect trade name - unexampled tech affect used gadgets as well , so again it ’s a case of doing your research .
Avoiding scams
Beyond pay a suited price , you also want to avoidgetting rend off completely , and there are way to derogate the risk . corrupt from a reputable 2nd - hand gadget seller rather than the cat down the street is a very good starting time — you may have to pay more for the extra peace of mind , so it ’s up to you how to poise price with safety . Obviously the more expensive the tech , the more cautious you require to be .
Experts commend looking for sure payment gateway , includingBraintreeandPayPal , and buying from stores that use services likeCheckMENDto flag up steal goods . buy with a reference carte du jour rather than a debit card can give you some spare protection in terms ofgetting refund for faulty trade good — learn with your credit calling card issuer to see if anything like this is useable for you .
If you are happy buying from someone just like you on eBay or Craigslist , stop the relevant safety advice and check that all angle are treat in terms of avoid a scam . For eBay , checking a seller ’s feedbackand learn the item verbal description closely get a long agency to maintain you safe , while Craigslist enjoin thatdealing in soul , locally , cheek - to - grimace , is enough to stave off 99 percent of cozenage .
When possible you also need to crack your gadgets are in in effect workings fiat before you buy . Lifehacker hasa utile pick of tipsfor testing out a phone . Realistically though , you ’re going to need a few days and a few test to spot any problems , which is why you should always double - match the returns and refunds policy .
Places to go
Amazoncan be a bit hit and miss as far as used electronics go , but you at least get a familiar - looking port , plenty of choice , and some buyer protection when it comes to refund . vender have feedback by their names , as on eBay , and you could also find a batch of outfit labelled as “ evidence freshen up . ” so it ’s somewhat used but still in decent shape .
Craigslistis the wild west option where low , low prices and less reputable sellers lurk . As we ’ve note , check outthe Craigslist condom guidelines beforehand , and encounter in person when you may to steady down deals . As the site itself direct out , the vast majority of hatful go through fine , but for high - value items you ’re probably best off looking elsewhere .
eBayis belike the situation that first outpouring to mind for used tech , and there ’s a lot of it . permeate your event to show functionary renovate kit , which often comes with a limited warrant and from a respected seller ; otherwise pay close care to trafficker feedback .
Facebook Marketplace , the societal web ’s contour of eBay , lets you pick up all kinds of gear , usually from vendor in your local area ( though you’re able to search from any fix ) . Payments are n’t handle through Facebook however , so go forward with caution , even if both parties are link to a substantial identity operator on the connection .
Gazelleis one of several second - hand market place out there that work just like regular depot , with up - front pricing and plenty of buyer protection ( like CheckMEND ) . If you ’re nifty to stay as dependable as possible and do n’t take care paying a lilliputian supererogatory for the privilege , something like Gazelle is ideal — it sells ( and buys ) phones , tablet , and laptops unmediated .
MPBjust launched in the US after starting in the UK , MPB concentrates on used cameras and lenses , offer all the perquisite of travel through a more prescribed channel for your used goods — next - day rescue , six calendar month warranties on all point , secure ordering and so on . If you ’ve got something to trade in the camera section , it ’s worth a spirit too .
OfferUpfacilitates local trades in a Pinterest - style interface , with easy app access code and verified Gem State . It ’s not quite as busy as places like eBay and Amazon , but it ’s a decent alternative if you may rule what you ’re after .
Swappais another good selection if you ’re looking for a phone or tablet . The armed service permit you corrupt and trade direct to other substance abuser but does come with a few handy safeguards , like staff - O.K. listings , and repayment if you do get ripped off .
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