The Korea Consumer Agency has reported a sharp rise in complaints from consumers who purchased used smartphones online but never received their devices. According to the agency, the spike appears tied to one major online used phone seller that continued taking orders but failed to ship products on time. Customers also reported significant delays in securing refunds. On its website, the company attributed the disruption to tighter customs clearance standards, claiming that shipments had since stabilised. It stated that sales were scaled back or temporarily halted, around 2,600 orders were refunded over the past three months and operations are expected to normalise within the month.
Regulators demand corrective action
To prevent further financial damage, the Korea Consumer Agency notified the relevant local government about the alleged illegal business practices and formally requested corrective measures. The case underlines the increasing attention regulators are placing on consumer protection in the used smartphone sector, especially as e-commerce channels grow and cross-border logistics become more complex.
Three-year trend shows steady rise
Applications related to used smartphones filed with the Korea Consumer Agency over the past three years totalled 349 cases, showing a consistent year-on-year increase. Quality issues, including defective displays or malfunctions, accounted for 44.7% of all cases. Contract-related issues, including non-delivery or rejection of withdrawal requests, represented 41%. Notably, contract-related complaints climbed to 51 this year, a 50% rise compared with the same period last year when 34 cases were recorded.
Consumers in their 40s most affected
People in their 40s accounted for the largest share of complaints with 94 cases, representing 28% of the total. E-commerce platforms were the most common point of purchase with 215 cases lodged. The average purchase value was about € 340, reflecting the mid-range price for a used device such as an Apple iPhone or a similar premium smartphone in the secondary market.
Agency urges greater caution
The Korea Consumer Agency is advising consumers to verify seller identity before purchasing a used smartphone, to opt for credit card payments instead of cash or bank transfers and to keep all transaction documents for potential dispute resolution. With rising complaint volumes and unpredictable logistics, the agency stresses that buyers should remain vigilant when engaging with online sellers.
Via: ChosunBiz
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