MAN Magazine Winter 2019

TECH
the battery charges (and how quickly).
Other checks include ensuring the phone
connects to Wi-Fi and 3G/4G as well as
verifying audio quality. Some sellers even
update the phone to include the latest
operating system, so you’ll be starting
afresh, with up-to-the-minute software too.
PHONE
REFURBS
With so much talk around
how to reduce our impact
on the changing climate
it makes sense to look to
tech and to optimise our
choices and save a few
quid while we’re at it.
Up to 80% of a mobile phone handset
is recyclable, so what’s the point of
leaving your old phone to rot on a shelf
when you’re shiny new i11 finally arrives?
Phone refurbishing is a growing global
market and boasts benefits for sellers and
resellers alike.
What’s a refurbished phone?
A phone that is still fully-functional
but not in use can be refurbished or
reconditioned and work as well as any
new device on the market.
Second-hand tech?
Not the tech that’s second hand but the
hardware that’s being re-used. If a phone
has been sent and repaired then it’s fully
functional without the price tag of a new
device. Much like a second hand motor
that has a scrape on the bumper and only
few thousand miles on the clock. Not
quite ready for the scrap heap and still
plenty of life in the ol’ girl yet.
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Where do all the good phones go
In the UK, 39% of old phones end up in
a drawer and never see the light of day
again. 34% are sold or given away. The
rest are dumped and end up on e-rubbish
sites. According to Green Alliance, reusing
phones is more sustainable with a 33%
global impact reduction in C02 over
opting for a new phone. Most of the
hardware can be used again and breaking
down to recycle is not always the most
viable option; even where possible, it
can cost as much in carbon footprint as
buying a new device, so it just makes
sense to use components and refurbish or
recondition.
Companies like CTL in Holland are
buying and refurbishing old phones,
two thirds of which are being sold to
developing countries. Check this out
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-
ImumkeRsiw. And if your phone is really
on its last legs then you can pass it onto a
charity, which will raise funds by selling it
to a company that can salvage scrap parts
for a refurbished model. Some models
can raise up to 70 quid. Waste not,
want not and all.
What you can expect
When phones come in for refurbishing,
sellers typically go through a series of
quality checks to ensure all phone functions
are doing their job – camera, touchscreen
and key responsiveness; checking whether
What about your data
You might be wondering what happens to all
the data that has been stored on the sim or
on the phone when you give it up for resale?
And can anyone access the phone now that
it’s yours? No. Just like getting a brandnew
phone: all the old data is wiped and
the phone is set up with all the necessary
configurations and software – much like
buying a nearly new computer that has its
hard drive wiped and reconfigured for use
by someone else (as per the Data protection
Act). Be sure to check all your data is wiped
before committing to selling your phone.
If you’re looking to buy
You can get refurbished phones on a
contract from any reputable retailer –
Carphone Warehouse, for example. And
if you’re wanting to buy a phone outright
then there are plenty of options on Amazon
and eBay. Check the small print on the
condition of the phone so you know what
you’re paying for. Check you’re getting a
refurbished model and source directly from
the manufacturer or a reputable seller /
retailer if you can.
Some sellers will send you a certified preowned
(CPO) device in its original packaging
and some manufacturers offer a form of
guarantee or a full warranty for refurbished
phones while third parties typically won’t.
Look into a part exchange on your old
model – that’s cash or in-store credit (for
example, T-Mobile do this if you’re buying a
new device). Do your homework and shop
around for the best deal.
UP TO 80% OF
A MOBILE PHONE
HANDSET IS
RECYCLABLE
MAN MAGAZINE WINTER 2019
sevenstarmedia.co.uk