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Samsung Plans To Sell Refurbished High-End Smartphones In 2017 (reuters.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd plans to launch a program to sell refurbished used versions of its premium smartphones as early as next year, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The world's top smartphone maker will refurbish high-end phones returned to the company by users who signed up for one-year upgrade programs in markets such as South Korea and the United States. Samsung would then re-sell these phones at a lower price, the person said, declining to be identified as the plan was not yet public. The person declined to say how big a discount the refurbished phones would be sold at, which markets the phones would be sold in or how many refurbished devices Samsung could sell. It was not clear to what extent the phones would be altered, but refurbished phones typically are fitted with parts such as a new casing or battery. Refurbished phones could help vendors such as Samsung boost their presence in emerging markets such as India, where high-end devices costing $800 or so are beyond most buyers. Samsung's refurbishment program, details of which the person said could be finalized as early as 2017, could help the firm generate revenue from dated high-end smartphones returned by users upgrading to newer versions.
. . . the success of this program will depend on the models sold, and the price. I already see refurbed Samsung S3's, S4's, and S5's for a reasonable price. If they stay competitive with the market, and I'm thinking Refurbed S6's at a ~$350. price point, this could be successful. But they're going to have to leverage some added value: say, a decent warranty and perhaps the latest build of Android to differentiate themselves from the existing refurbished markets. . .
They should sell refurbished products for cheaper elsewhere too. It's not like less wealthy people only exist in asia.
"where high-end devices costing $800 or so are beyond most buyers"
You could say this about most of eastern europe, including the states in the EU. The average salary in my country is around 7000 USD / year so not many people can afford even 400 phones.
Yeah!
I mean, there definitely isn't an industry for used underwear or anything.
Sounds ok if the price is right and they replace the batteries since the battery is both sealed and glued down tight inside the chassis. There is no hard case around the battery so if you try to wedge it up, it is very easy to snap it apart releasing the gel inside. They also have to disinfect the phone with UV light or something since people hold the phone close to their face coughing and spitting into the handset and taking it to the toilet with them.
We have cell phone shops that already did this for ages. They have trade-in deals on new phones, and sell the old phones on as "refurbished", wiped, tested, and with some form of warranty. Perhaps the manufacturers thought they could not compete well enough with this setup, or they did not want to tarnish their reputation as a premium brand. Apple might be sensitive to that, though presumably they are also gearing up for the refurb market with their yearly upgrade program. Maybe they will sell refurbed phones in bulk to retailers...
If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
Spot on, this could/should mean they'll offer OS updates for a couple of years more.
"The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
Will Samsung 'update' the software in the refurbished phones so they can push ads to them, the way they did with their 'smart' TV's?
'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.
First order citizens are the ones with the new smartphones, second order citizens are the ones with once refurbished phones, third order citizens are the ones with twice refurbished and so on. Smartphone voting and banking is only possible with the latest security updates installed, leaving the second order citizens and beyond increasingly without the rights and basic services. All Hail to the Glorious Nation of Smartphonya!
But only if they'd start releasing OS updates for their older hardware. Given that Samsung drops support after just 18 months, I don't think I'd want to buy a refurb since it is going to get updates for, at most 6 more months. If I am going to get something with no updates, I'd want it for actual used market prices, which is to say really cheap.
It'll be another opportunity for Samsung to ignore the warranty they supposedly provide on refurbished products.
Invalid Checksum. Retrying.
Yep, reselling phones is super common in SE Asia. Tons and tons of little stores and kiosks everywhere selling refurbished phones alongside the new ones. I've bought several there and never had a problem. Practically every single street in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam has these resellers, and of course they also sell the SIMs and SD cards as well.
Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
This would be a good thing - if Samsung were going to commit to security updates on their official refurbs for a reasonable lifetime based on the purchase of the refurb as a 'new' device for its purchaser. While a year old Samsung flagship might compare favorably with a new 'flagship killer' from OnePlus or ZTE or Asus, the new mid-ranger would at least offer a reasonable chance of keeping up with vital updates.
Posted from my Android phone. Oh, I can change this? There, that's better...