Refurbished phones

The best translation of refurbished is “refreshed,” but by now the term “refurbished” itself has become sufficiently established to be recognized. Refurbished products are often viewed as secondhand, but that’s not actually the case. Refurbished products must meet strict criteria. We’ll explain exactly what those are below.

What is refurbished?

Refurbished phones are used phones that are given a new lease on life. They’re inspected, cleaned, data is erased, and minor repairs are made if necessary. A new battery, for example. This way, the product is ready to go again. Not only are refurbished products better for the environment, but they also save you a lot of money. New phones are expensive, especially the latest flagship models.

Not all refurbished phones are created equal. For instance, a phone that was kept in a case will look better. To distinguish between the different levels of wear and tear, there are three different grades:

• Grade A: Like new
• Grade B: Lightly used
• Grade C: Visibly used

Generally, the better the refurbished product looks, the higher the price. Where we have this information, we display it, and you can filter by it. In all other cases, we label them as “refurbished.”

Refurbished Quality Seal

Sellers of refurbished products can display the Refurbished Quality Seal. This lets you, the consumer, know that you’re buying a reliable, high-quality product. Products are inspected on 50 points, and you receive a 2-year warranty, which also covers the battery. The quality mark was established by Techniek Nederland, and the inspections are carried out by TÜV Nederland. Companies that use the quality mark include:

• Fixje
• Renewd
• Leapp
• Forza
• iUsed
• Swoop

Other secondhand items

Online stores also often sell non-new products, but under a different name. Think of products that have been returned. Perhaps the product didn’t meet expectations or was the wrong color. Each store uses a different term for these items. Think of terms like “outlet” or “second chance,” as Coolblue does. We display all these items with a custom description such as “opened packaging,” “used,” or “second chance.”