With smartphone prices constantly creeping higher, refurbished devices are starting to look like an appealing alternative to buying new. At least, for those hoping to save a bit of cash. Or a kidney.
Boost Mobile is one provider who's recently entered the second-hand device space, in partnership with local refurber Alegre. We were recently given a chance to check out Alegre's Sydney facility and given a run down on exactly how the company refurbishes smartphones.
Alegre typically buys used smartphones in bulk, purchasing from organisations including banks, airlines, and law firms. Devices are bought in the "thousands" on the assumption that the vast majority will still be working. These are then put through the refurbishment process, and sold on through partners such as Boost Mobile, EB Games, and Leading Edge.
After receiving a device, Alegre holds it for 14 days to check it against the police database, to ensure it wasn't stolen. Following this, every device goes through a refurbishment process that that's partly done by software, and partially by hand.
Alegre also works with authorised repairers to fix up devices with minor issues. If it doesn't make commercial sense to repair a phone locally, Alegre will sell these devices overseas. Phones that are beyond repair get recycled through Mobile Muster. Alegre says only about 5% of the phones it receives fit this criteria.
To start the refurb process, Alegre initially run diagnostics through software called Blancco. In the case of an iPhone, devices need to be activated first. This is done using Apple's enterprise deployment software, pictured below.
These are iPhones awaiting activation.
After activation, Blancco is used to test everything from screen discolouration to Bluetooth to microphones to camera functionality. It takes about three minutes to check a device, and Alegre can test up to 10 phones at a time.
Alegre says that it won't sell a phone with less than 80% of its original battery capacity. In the case of Samsung handsets, it works with repairers to replace these. In the case of iPhones, these Alegre sells devices without enough juice left to repairers and refurbers overseas.
If a phone is in good working order, it then gets buffed and cleaned. The buffing station is used to remove light scratches, but can't do much when it comes to deeper abrasions.
All phones are cleaned and graded based on their appearance.
If a phone looks a bit worn and torn, it will be priced cheaper. Alegre Commercial Director Russell Lornie says there are "a lot of customers who are happy to pay $50 less for a more dinged up phone". While refurbished smartphones may have minor cosmetic damage and scratches, they won't have any cracks.
These phones below are about to get sent out to customers.
They'll be boxed up along with a SIM tool and charger.
For customers like Boost, Alegre has special packaging that also has space for a SIM pack.
Alegre say it sells between 5,000 and 10,000 refurbished devices each month. All Alegre refurbished phones come with a 12-month warranty. The company says it has a 1% return rate for faults.
Boost Mobile's range of refurbished devices includes:
- iPhone SE: From $249
- iPhone 7: From $399
- iPhone 7 Plus: From $549
- iPhone 8: From $659
- iPhone 8 Plus: From $779
- iPhone X: From $999
- Galaxy S7: From $339
- Galaxy S7 Edge: From $389
- Galaxy S8: From $439
- Galaxy S8+: From $479
- Galaxy S9: From $759
- Galaxy Note 8: From $579
- Galaxy S9+: From $649
- Google Pixel 2: From $479
- Google Pixel 2 XL: From $519
Every phone comes with a bonus $30 Boost Mobile SIM card with a 28-day expiry.
Alex Choros
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