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A refurbished phone is a handset that has been purchased and then returned to us. These are mostly change-of-mind situations whereby a phone is returned within the cooling off period. In other cases, a phone may be returned due to a technical fault, and then reconditioned by expert technicians to ensure its fit for resale.
You might be wary of ordering a refurbished phone, but there’s no need to worry. Our stock is provided directly from mobile manufacturers, who have expertly inspected the goods to ensure they’re in top working order. This gives you peace of mind, as well as great savings.
As well as being kind on your wallet, ordering a refurbished phone is also great news for the environment. With components being re-used, this means less of an environmental footprint than a newly-manufactured phone.
Want to browse second hand iPhones? See our full range of refurbished iPhone deals?
Most refurbished stock is due to change-of-mind returns, where a customer has sent the phone back during their cooling off period. Returned items cannot be sold as new, so we offer these as refurbs. Occasionally of course, handsets may be returned to us due to a slight manufacturer’s fault. In these cases, the phones will be inspected by qualified technicians, who carry out extensive checks and tests until all faults are fixed.
If a handset is returned due to a fault, it will only be resold as refurbished once the technicians are satisfied that any issues have been fully reconditioned. We have the highest grading process on the market, as we ensure that all refurbished stock is Grade-A rated. This means that the item is “good as new”, and we don’t offer handsets for sale that are rated any lower. This gives you peace of mind that your refurbished smartphone will reach you in immaculate working condition.
Yes, we offer the same protection as we do on our brand new handsets. As with our new handsets, all refurbished phones are covered for 12 months. In fact, if your phone develops a fault in the first month, we’ll send a pre-paid DPD label for its free return to our warehouse. If your area isn't covered by DPD, we'll refund your return postage costs. Once we've received the faulty item, we'll swap it for a replacement, and send this out on next-day delivery so you don’t have to wait ages without a working phone.
Outside of the first month, you’re covered by free fixes at your local Carphone Warehouse store, should the phone develop a fault during the first year.
Due to the nature of refurbished mobile phones, the original accessories can’t be guaranteed. As the item may have been handled already, we don’t include accessories such as earphones for hygiene reasons. However, it’s worth remembering that the amount of cash you’re saving on a refurbished phone is a lot more than the value of a pair of headphones, so even if you pick up an accessory or two separately, you’ll still be in pocket in the long run.
The handset may also come in plain packaging, as opposed to the original branded box, but who stops to look at the box anyway? Once you’ve impatiently flung it into the corner you’re still left with a cracking piece of tech in the palm of your hand. In all cases, you can be guaranteed to receive a charger, so you won’t lose any time in getting your handset juiced up and ready to go.
When sat side-by-side, there’s not much that would separate a cheap refurbished phone from a new phone. Other than a cheaper price-tag and a non-branded box, you still get a fully working handset, full warranty, the excitement of receiving a great bit of tech, and complete piece of mind.
The difference between a refurbished phone and a used phone is that you know what you're getting when you order a refurb. All our refurbished stock is reconditioned by experts to ensure it's in perfect working order, and is protected by the usual cooling-off period and warranty.
New phones arrive in their original box, with all accessories included. However, they’re listed at our regular prices, so you don’t get the extra savings. You’re covered by a warranty to protect against manufacturer faults, which is included when you buy refurbished phones too.
Buying a used phone from an online marketplace means there are more variables to consider. These phones may suffer from cosmetic damage, wear-and-tear, battery deterioration, and any other factors that can arise from set period of ownership. When buying a used phone, you'd need to enquire thoroughly beforehand, as well as trust the description provided by the seller.
So if you’re looking for the latest tech without forking out the usual price-tag, a refurbished smartphone might be the perfect option for you. Other than receiving a plain box and fewer accessories, you get a great handset in top working order with full warranty protection, all for a significantly reduced price. What’s not to love?
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The handset you've just selected is refurbished stock, which means this deal is offered at a reduced cost.
Due to the nature of refurbished mobile phones, the original accessories can't be guaranteed. We don't include accessories such as earphones for hygiene reasons.
