When to Take the Plunge for Refurbished Cell Phones

Sometimes what’s old and used breeds new appeal to lovers of all things vintage. The concept of buying used cell phones and refurbished cell phones, though, can either fit you like a glass slipper or evoke unfulfilled feelings of not being hip to the most bleeding-edge whizbang.

Because it’s standard practice today for cell phone carriers to guarantee their products with 30-day return policies with no questions asked, by law they can’t classify a phone as “new” if it’s returned for any reason in that time window. This category of used phones is often coined “buyer’s remorse”.

So when’s it right for you to revive someone else’s previously new cell phone and make it your own refurbished cell phone? When’s it wrong?

What warnings should you heed when making the old-phone plunge? Where should you look to buy one? This is your guide to these questions.