| companies now offer previously-owned repaired | | | | • The technicians who test repaired or |
| or refurbished mobile phones at a savings off the | | | | refurbished mobile phones may or may not be |
| original price. A refurbished mobile phone is one | | | | certified. The process can also involve original |
| that has been returned by a dealer or customer | | | | equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts, as opposed |
| to the manufacturer due to damage or other | | | | to original parts. It is important to verify the |
| reasons. Refurbished cell phones are checked for | | | | Electronic Serial Number (ESN) when you buy a |
| defects and, if necessary, repaired and cleaned up. | | | | refurbished phone. |
| • A refurbished mobile phone is one that | | | | • The ESN identifies the phone and |
| has been returned to the factory from a cell | | | | determines where the minutes of that phone are |
| phone company and rebuilt, usually to new | | | | billed. With this number, you can also determine |
| specifications. Sometimes, a favorite model will no | | | | whether the phone was stolen or if there was an |
| longer be manufactured new, but a customer can | | | | unpaid balance on the phone. |
| get a refurbished one. | | | | • If you are looking at refurbished mobile |
| • Like it sounds, a repaired mobile phone is | | | | phones, you must determine which phones are |
| one that has had its problems fixed, but it is not | | | | compatible with the carrier you choose. |
| necessarily under warranty and may or may not | | | | Companies that recycle and refurbish cell phones |
| have been cleaned up. Because of the great | | | | often buy, sell and recycle other electronic |
| number of mobile phone models available and the | | | | devices, such as pagers and personal digital |
| speed at which new models are created, it is | | | | assistants. |
| often more time-consuming and expensive to | | | | • Aside from the warranty and the low |
| repair a phone than to replace it. | | | | cost, there are other reasons why refurbished |
| • Some companies also purchase used | | | | mobile phones may be the best choice. Some |
| phones and have them refurbished independently. | | | | organizations sell refurbished mobile phones and |
| In many cases, refurbished mobile phones have | | | | donate the profits for charitable causes. |
| only been used for a short period of time. In the | | | | • Other agencies provide refurbished |
| case of a refurbished mobile phone, you are likely | | | | mobile phones to victims of domestic violence to |
| to receive a warranty. | | | | call for help if necessary. Another popular reason |
| • Other refurbished mobile phones are | | | | for buying refurbished mobile phones is to reduce |
| simply used cell phones that have been subjected | | | | the amount of waste produced by unwanted, |
| to diagnostic and quality assurance tests and then | | | | older model phones. |
| reconditioned to have a new appearance. | | | | |