Why you shouldn't buy a Refurbished iPhone 8 from Coles

You may have heard a lot about refurbished phones and why everyone wants to get their hands on them. Like many others I was a bit shocked when I found out Coles has started selling Refurbished phones and I feel that may not be a good idea. It could potentially affect them negatively in the long term and here’s why I think that.
So, before we discuss why you shouldn’t go for a refurbished iPhone 8 from Coles, let's discuss what are Refurbished phones and why you should always buy from reputable/experienced retailers?

Refurbished Phones

These are pre-owned devices that were sent back due to some minor problems, which are then tested extensively and the faulty parts are replaced according to OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) standards. Not all refurbished devices are repaired, devices that are sent back due to the change of mind policy of the store are also sold as refurbished since these devices can’t be sold as new. There are grades of a refurbished device that represents the condition the device is in. A reputable retailer like Phonebot offers its refurbished devices in 4 grades. The price varies according to the Grade and storage capacity, a refurbished iPhone 8 64gb price might be a bit lower than the iPhone 8 256gb one.

Why should you go for a Refurbished Phone?

They offer insane value as simple as that. Why pay $1500+ for a new phone when you can get the same phone at half the price? Consumers are now realizing the value the refurbished phones offer and there has been a boom in demand for them. You can buy a refurbished iPhone 8 Plus 64gb for $429 which offers incredible value for money.

Do retailers matter?

When going for a refurbished phone, you should make sure you are buying from a reputable retailer and an expert in the industry. There have been instances where consumers have bought a refurbished phone only for it to stop working in a week or two. Here are a few reasons why you should avoid buying a refurbished iPhone 8 from Coles.

Warranty Hassles

The staff at Coles is very helpful, friendly and can help you with your groceries but they may not be well equipped nor trained to answer your tech or smartphone related queries. This problem is amplified when you have a problem with the Coles bought refurbished iPhone 8 but no one to guide or assist you. Whereas, if you buy a refurbished iPhone 8 from a reputable refurbished phone retailer, you're in safe hands. You can call the retailer up or visit them and they can help you troubleshoot the problem and offer solutions without wasting your precious time. 

Cosmetic Problems

Buying a refurbished iPhone 8 from Coles can be seriously risky as refurbished phones are usually offered in various grades and Coles is the new kid on the block. Grading a device is a tedious task and if done wrong, the customer ends up paying the price, whereas, if you buy from a reputable retailer, industry veterans assess the condition of the device and grade it accordingly. If you buy from Coles, you might get a scuffed up, beat up device when you've actually paid for a 'Grade A' or a 'Like New' one. 

Phonebot offers refurbished phones in the following Grades:

Open Box

Unused, unactivated and spotless device. Comes with a charger + cable.

Like New

The name says it all, it is a scratchless device with no signs of use. Comes with a charger + cable.

Grade A

Grade A devices have minor scratches or scuffs. They could easily be rated 9/10. Comes with a charger + cable.

Grade B

They offer great value for money, they have scratches or scuffs but they work 100%. Comes with a charger + cable.

Battery Woes

The battery percentage of a refurbished iPhone 8 may vary according to the Grade you're going for and this is the case with all refurbished phones. If you buy a refurbished iPhone 8 from Coles, you might get an iPhone 8 with sub-par battery life compared to the industry standards. This and all other problem combined makes buying a refurbished iPhone 8 or any refurbished phone from Coles very risky.

Expertise

You know what they say, Jack of all, master of none. Refurbishing phones is a complicated task, one that requires expertise and experience. When going for a refurbished phone, you should put your faith in industry experts, not supermarket ones.

Replacement Parts

Unlike the newer iPhones, which tell you if the part replaced is not according to OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) standards. When it comes to iPhone 8 there's no way to tell (without opening it up) if the replacement part used is up to the standard or not. The phone could stop functioning and you could end up with a non-functioning phone.

It should raise a few eyebrows if the price is good to be true. You know what they say if it's too good to be true then it probably is. This is why you should always buy from an expert in the industry who has invested years in perfecting their craft.

Software related / iCloud/ Data transfer issues

iPhones purchased from a supermarket are great as long as they are working. However, small tasks such as data transfer from one iPhone to another or corrupt IOS updates can sometimes bring your life to a standstill and unfortunately, Coles staff are not trained to reliably troubleshoot such problems.

Warranty Support

Let's face it, it takes time to set up a phone and sync your iPhone with your iCloud account. All those apps take hours to download and the last thing you want is to erase and empty it out to return under warranty, well that's exactly what will happen If your refurbished iPhone has a charging port problem or a muffled earpiece 3 months or 3 weeks down the track, you'll have to erase everything and return it for a refund or a replacement. However, at Phonebot we are well equipped to handle such queries and can fix your iPhone in no time without needing to erase it (We do highly recommend backing up your data regularly though!)

Broken Promises

Coles introduced a policy back in 2019, promising customers a free hot roast chicken if they were unable to buy one between 11 am and the store’s closing. However, one disappointed customer complained when this promise wasn’t honoured, Coles then revealed a special condition that invalidated its policy. It was that “If the oven is broken, the promise doesn’t stand”.

I believe a promise between the seller and a consumer is sacred. The promises and policies should be clear and not vague.

Wrapping Up

So, these were some of the reasons why I feel why you shouldn’t go for a refurbished iPhone 8 or any other refurbished device from Coles. It’s important that we let the industry experts do the refurbishing to avoid broken promises and unsatisfied customers. Check out our refurbished iPhone 8 and 8 Plus offerings in various grades and best prices.