The importance of small print when selling an old phone
Wednesday, May 4, 2016 - 09:54:16
A recent Guardian investigation into the world of mobile phone recycling has highlighted the need for consumers to check the terms and conditions laid out by the firms offering to buy outdated devices for cash.
It pinpoints the issue of re-quoting, which occurs when recycling companies offer an initial price for a device based on its condition as described by the owner, only to adjust this downwards once they take receipt of it.
This is common across the industry and is a built-in protection that recycling firms use to make sure that they do not over-pay for faulty devices which were sold to them as being in full working order.
The biggest issue is not that initial quotes may be revised, but that in some cases there are companies which offer a second, lower quote and then force the mobile owner to pay a shipping fee to have their handset returned if they are not happy with this.
The good news is that the most reputable mobile phone recycling companies on the market, including Mazuma and EnviroFone, do not charge to return devices to customers who have been re-quoted.
Furthermore Mazuma spokesperson, Charlo Carabott, said that just six per cent of the handsets that the firm receives need to be re-quoted because they do not match the initial description provided by the owner. This means that the vast majority of customers do indeed receive the full amount they were originally offered.
Carabott went on to say that the company only re-quotes handsets which have damage to important components, such as the screen or camera, while ignoring minor aesthetic issues, such as scratches on the body.
Ultimately, it remains sensible for consumers to check terms and conditions closely and only do business with well established mobile phone recycling companies.
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