Dutch consumer organization: many fake discounts on used and refurbished phones

Half of Dutch webshops selling refurbished phones use misleading discounts. This creates the illusion of higher savings than consumers actually receive, according to the Consumentenbond. Their research shows that real savings average 22% for refurbished and used smartphones. The Consumentenbond is an independent Dutch consumer organization advocating fair markets, protecting consumer rights, and providing product testing, reviews, and research.

For the Consumentenbond, a refurbished or used smartphone is a second-hand device that has been repaired or restored by the seller. Choosing a refurbished Apple iPhone or other device is a more sustainable choice compared to buying new. Most of the environmental impact occurs during production, not during usage. Manufacturing requires rare raw materials and significant energy to produce chips and circuit boards.

Sandra Molenaar, director of the Consumentenbond, said: “Extending the lifespan of a smartphone reduces the need for new devices. It is better for the environment if more consumers choose a second-hand phone.”

Misleading pricing tactics

The Consumentenbond examined prices of refurbished phones across 16 webshops. Eight of them applied misleading tactics. These included inflated discount percentages, fake “before and after” prices, and outdated introductory prices instead of current new prices.

Among the retailers highlighted, Apple Store, Back Market and Forza Refurbished have not yet corrected their pricing. Refurbished.nl and Rebuy indicated they will not change their approach. Fixje and Mobico have adjusted their practices, while iUsed made partial adjustments.

Real savings depend on condition

The study compared 24 popular smartphones at the 16 webshops. The actual discount depends on the phone’s condition. Devices classified as “visibly used” offered an average saving of 27%. Phones in “lightly used” condition showed 25% savings, while “as good as new” models gave consumers an average of 20%.

Older models offer the greatest discounts. A refurbished Apple iPhone 12 (128 GB) in “visibly used” condition costs on average 42% less than new. For the Apple iPhone 14 Pro (128 GB), savings range between 35% and 41%, depending on condition. By contrast, the newer Apple iPhone 15 (128 GB) in “as good as new” condition offers just a 10% price advantage.

How to interpret this study

It is widely understood that buying used devices is more affordable than purchasing new ones. Average savings of around 22%, depending on cosmetic condition and model age, align with findings from other studies. However, the use of “outdated introductory prices instead of current new prices” raises questions. For many models, no new retail price exists, as Apple only sells the Apple iPhone 15 and newer.

At SecondaryMarket.news, the view is that any saving is still a saving, even if it is only 10%. Beyond price, the strongest argument for choosing refurbished remains its positive impact on sustainability.