Refurbished Phone--worth the Savings?

Updated on August 13, 2011
D.C. asks from Bowling Green, OH
8 answers

I want to get an iPhone 4, but the price is a little daunting. I was looking at AT&T's website and I saw that they have refurbished phones for about half the price. You can't get insurance on them and they only have a 90 day warranty. The insurance isn't a huge deal since my phones always wear at Otterbox cover. I just don't know if it's worth the gamble.

Thoughts?

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Featured Answers

M..

answers from Detroit on

I ALWAYS buy used phones with no problems. I will never pay that much for a phone.

With a 90 warranty, it will give you enough time to see if it works right. I say go for it.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

Well...we had bad luck with refurbished phones. My husband and I both got one. They both crapped out in 6-7 months. We don't know if it was, because they were refurbished...or because we had bad luck. It just made me really leery of refurbished phones.

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E.T.

answers from Albuquerque on

AT&T told me that a lot of the refurbished phones are ones people return in the 14 day or 30 day trial period. Others are traded in for upgrades, but all have new cases (if there was a scratch). For some reason I couldn't bring myself to buy one, but I think they're generally quite good.

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B.R.

answers from Columbus on

I have had really bad luck with refurbished phones and so has my two adult daughters. Have to keep returning them, up to 4 times each! And it's a real hassle each time.

1 mom found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

It's not worth it to us. We all 3 carry IPhones and the $70 2 yr warranty has been used with all 3. Reasons.... Dropped = cracked = replacement at much lower fee. Daughter ran an update on her software that was flawed unknowingly and she walked out with a new 3GS at the time.

We have the 4's now and love them. The otter box is pretty bulky.. I have one that I never opened because it was "free" but it defeats the purpose of the small phone. I have a good cover and I'm extra careful with the phone.

Good luck... I'm sure it probably works fine. We sold our old ones on craigslist for cash within 12 hrs.

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D.T.

answers from Indianapolis on

I happen to work for AT&T Wireless and only purchase my phones refurbished for the huge discount. Refurbished Phones are pre-owned cell phones and devices that have been returned during the 30-day trial period. Each Refurbished Phone/Device is independently tested and reflashed with the latest software to meet new factory standards.
Plus AT&T now also carries insurance plans for iPhones, both for old iPhones and newly purchased ones and even refurbs you can call Asurion, at 1-888-562-8662 to enroll.

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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

My iPhone 3GS is great! It's been great for over a year and was bought refurbished for quite a savings. I would do it again!

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A.M.

answers from Indianapolis on

I have a refurbished blackberry from Verizon now. My old one had some squiggle marks in one corner of the screen so they said they would send me a new one (I didn't realize they meant refurbished until I got it in the mail). I don't like it and wish I could get my old one back. It locks up all the time and when you push the call or end buttons or even the trackball it makes a weird mark on the screen for a couple of seconds. I can't seem to hear as well out of this one either. I will not be getting any more refurbished phones.

1 mom found this helpful
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