The second-hand mobile phone market, and especially the refurbished smartphone segment, is attracting more and more attention among consumers.
According to figures from Persistence Market Research, the size of the refurbished (refurbished) market in Latin America amounts to US$2.9 billion. When segmented by country, Colombia appears in fourth place With a market capitalization of US$103 million after Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.
Regarding the shipment of this equipment, the consultant points out that the region has received 10.5 million refurbished mobile phones so far this year. In the case of Colombia, 373,000 arrived, In countries such as Mexico and Argentina, it reaches approximately 3.5 million and 1.6 million, respectively.
Data from Statista shows that buying second-hand items has become a “persistent trend”. So much so that in 2020, worldwide sales of used and refurbished phones were over 225.5 million units, which is 11.2 percent more than in 2019.Expects the 350 million threshold to be crossed by 2024 Number of units sold” reflects the market research firm.
According to Jorge Palacio, president of Clevercel, a platform focused on the sale of second-hand mobile phones, this market is gaining more importance in consumers’ decision-making processes.both for the price issue and for the impact on the environment”.
“Although the percentage of second-hand mobile phones in the total number of mobile phones sold is low (we’re talking about 4 percent in the local market), this participation is expected to grow to near double digits in the coming years,” Palacio said.
Likewise, the executive says the platform has sold 120,000 mobile phones in the last three years (Colombia, Mexico, and Peru) in countries where it is present, despite the lack of confidence in the sale of second-hand mobile phones. The bet for this year is to exceed the 100,000 device target.
“The biggest obstacle is user distrust, and this trust allows the market to evolve to the extent that there are players who come up with a promise of value regarding quality, warranty, legality, price and portfolio diversity,” Palacio emphasizes.
Palacio, which is among the most sought-after devices by consumers, emphasizes that “in the secondary market, the iPhone brand represents almost 50 percent of worldwide sales. Devices like the iPhone 11 and 12 Pro Max are in high demand, followed by Samsung devices like the Galaxy S22. Another of the most sought after brands by consumers is Xiaomi,” he confirms.
However, if you’re one of those consumers who want to delve deeper into the topic or are interested in buying a second-hand or refurbished cell phone, know that there are differences, though not obvious, that are big factors that can influence the buying decision.
Sebastián Jiménez, founder and managing director of Refurbi, a Colombian company specializing in device refurbishment, said that a second-hand mobile phone It is refurbished equipment that has not undergone any changes and is only transferred from one receiver to another.For their part, they go through processes of replacing defective parts and even replacing their batteries.
“These devices definitely need to go through an inspection process, tests are carried out to determine which parts need to be changed. It is important to replace these parts with the originals. In our case, we put Refurbi brand batteries made in China with the same capacity as the original batteries, so that the device can remain in the same conditions and can be put on the market again. Jiménez states that the lifespan of these mobile phones is between two and three years.
Likewise, the director of Refurbi says that this market is gaining more consumers, so they already have a refurbishment factory in Funza, Cundinamarca and they are working hand in hand with big companies. Marketplaces such as Éxito, Mercado Libre and Linio, among others. “Access to high-end equipment is getting more and more expensive. That’s why the refurbished market is a great alternative. We’ve been in business for four years and our bills are increasing.
We expect to sell more than 30,000 refurbished units in the country this year.
The Woden firm, which focused on circular economy models in the telecommunications sector when purchasing this equipment, recommends verification of five key points such as warranty given, battery capacity, storage capacity, Verify cosmetic condition (how the equipment looks) and free of bumps or scratches. Finally, check out the complementary accessories.
Source: Exame
