How can I tell if a phone shop’s refurbished phones are properly tested?

Start with the routine. Is there a written checklist covering the screen, touch, cameras, speakers, charging, battery condition, network and locks? Does each phone get a signed-off record, or does a technician judge by feel? Ask who tests and who checks the tester. Shops that never review their own failures rarely improve.

Then test the output. Pick several finished phones from different batches and go through the checklist yourself. Check that the battery matches the description, that nothing is locked, and that the data has been fully cleared. Compare the grade on the label with the real condition. Gaps between the two point to weak testing or loose grading.

Finally, look at what happens after the sale. Ask for returns and complaints on refurbished units, and how the shop handled them. Check where parts come from, since poor parts defeat good testing. Count unsold stock and ask how long it has sat. Your accountant can help you consider how aged inventory should be treated in the deal. Ask finally how often the checklist itself is reviewed. A routine that never changes while phone models do is probably out of date, and it is better to learn that before you inherit the stock and its customers.

Key takeaways

• Ask for the written test routine and a record for each phone.
• Run your own checks on several finished phones.
• Compare labelled grades with real condition and return history.