price comparison
In recent months, the demand for used equipment has increased in Russia. Yes, end of March. reportedUsed smartphone demand in Russia increased by 44%, while supply fell by 46%. At the same time, the average price of used smartphones increased by 10%.
The emergence of the possibility of buying used devices by MTS, Svyaznoy, Yandex.Market and other large sites has increased the supply. However, when comparing the cost of new appliances to the cost of used appliances, the difference becomes small.
For example, in the MTS online store you can buy a used version of the Honor 50 smartphone popular in Russia for 31.6 thousand rubles, while in Beeline stores a new one is offered for 35 thousand rubles. At the same time, when buying a used smartphone, the user only gets a 90-day warranty, while a new smartphone comes with a one-year warranty.
In the case of the Honor 50, the overpayment for a new device seems small. Things are different on more expensive devices.
For example, in the Svyaznoy online store, the new 256 GB flagship Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra from last year is presented at a price of 93 thousand rubles. At the same time, the average cost of a used S21 Ultra on Avito is about 65 thousand rubles. For this money, the buyer will receive a version with an increased storage to 512 GB. For the same money you can find new “gray” 512 GB models, for example, from the UAE.
There are hundreds of stores selling used gadgets on AliExpress. The cost of some devices is similar to Avito prices – the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra in a 512 GB modification also costs an average of 65 thousand rubles there.
However, a used folding smartphone Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 will cost 49 thousand rubles on AliExpress, 74 thousand rubles on Avito and 76 thousand rubles on the Svyaznoy website. At the same time, the cost of a new device on TMall with delivery from Russia is 85 thousand rubles, and an average of 90 thousand rubles in Russian retail.
Used market issues
Mobile Research Group principal analyst Eldar Murtazin said in an interview with socialbites.ca that the main problem with used smartphones is the lack of long-term warranty and the consequences of a device failure.
“There are a few issues with the sale of used smartphones today. First, where can we get these smartphones? The swap initiated with the support of the manufacturer used to work. Thus, buyers who delivered smartphones under this program received a rather significant discount when purchasing a new smartphone. In fact, we had several levels: the ‘buy’ price or the barter price subsidized by the manufacturer, ”explained the expert.
According to Murtazin, today it is difficult to buy devices from the population under the exchange program, because on Avito and other sites you can sell a smartphone at a higher price.
“Take, for example, MTS, which buys smartphones in foreign markets – these are not Rostest devices. And if you look at the “Used / Used” section on the MTS website, it turns out that used smartphones are extremely expensive – like new ones. Also, such devices have a limited warranty for a shorter period, not one year. And most importantly, when such a device fails, the user is left alone with their problems.”
additional appendices
Alexander Myasnikov, author of YouTube channel Polza NET, said in an interview with socialbites.ca that buyers of used smartphones should be prepared for additional costs.
“The first and foremost thing a person should understand when buying is that a smartphone may need to be finalized and repaired in some way. If you take it to Avito, you need to check the smartphone, you need to warn the seller that it will take about half an hour, ”said the author.
A used smartphone can be completely different from a new device. So, for example, in a used smartphone, the battery may wear out, some details may deteriorate, there may be “broken pixels” on the screen that cannot always be detected during an external examination. In addition, dust accumulates inside the device used, which may cause overheating and malfunction in the future.
Therefore, when buying a used smartphone, you should be prepared to pay for independent diagnostics and, possibly, repair.
Myasnikov believes that buying a used smartphone in Yandex.Market, Svyaznoy, MTS and other networks is not worth it, because department stores are not as respectful of generating feedback as sellers in Avito, where the resale of gadgets is a business. .
Alternative
On the market of used smartphones there are also refurbished models – these are used devices that have gone through the process of checking and replacing non-working parts. In such gadgets, as a rule, the whole body is replaced, even in the case of imperceptible scratches. They are often indistinguishable from new ones and even come with original accessories.
Refurbished smartphones on AliExpress are much cheaper than new ones. But the difference from a used smartphone is that these are mostly old models. So, for example, Google Pixel 4, the flagship of 2019, will cost an average of 13 thousand rubles. The cost of a used model on Avito will be at least 20 thousand rubles.
“The best alternative to a used smartphone from China is a refurbished smartphone,” Myasnikov says.
In his opinion, this is better than buying a used smartphone from AliExpress, since refurbished devices are still assembled from new parts and polished. Both ensure stable operation of the device.
“But if the main purpose of buying is to save money, it’s best to look at new models on a budget. In this case, the buyer will receive a 100% working device and a guarantee that refurbished or used devices cannot offer.”