Following in the footsteps of Three Denmark, Three UK has introduced its new ‘Like New’ smartphones for British consumers. This initiative offers a selection of Apple and Samsung devices—two brands that hold over 85% of the secondary mobile market. According to Three, these refurbished phones are “just Like New” and undergo a rigorous 65-point quality check to ensure they achieve Grade A, or ‘Excellent’ status.
Three supports this offer with an impressive 36-month warranty on 'Like New' phones purchased with a Value or Complete plan, and a 12-month warranty for those who opt for a Lite plan. It’s believed that Three has partnered with Ingram Micro Lifecycle to facilitate this scheme, with these refurbished phones coming in retail packaging designed with a 'sustainable' cardboard look. All devices are checked on 65 different point before they are sold.
While it’s positive to see another British operator actively selling refurbished devices, limiting the offering to pristine Grade A models could pose a challenge. By excluding lower-graded phones, Three reduces the available supply, which might impact its ability to scale the program.
Surveys suggest that consumers are open to purchasing phones in various grades, as long as they're well-informed about cosmetic conditions. It seems Three is hesitant to offer a broader range, possibly due to misconceptions about Grade A devices being technically superior to Grade C. However, we predict that Three may soon reconsider and expand its offering to include more grades in the future.
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