Used phone: Here are some tips for buying from Marketplace or Kijiji

If giving a second life to your phone by purchasing it from a personal sales site like Kijiji or Marketplace is an environmentally friendly and tempting option, you should still remain careful to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Here are five tips to improve your chances:

1. Talk to the seller

Before purchasing a cell phone on a peer-to-peer sales platform like Marketplace or Kijiji, consider asking for the seller's phone number and contacting them. Protégez-vous reminded us that by doing so you will be able to reduce the risk of fraud.

2. Complete your transaction in person

Protégez-vous also advises people who want to buy their mobile phones on this type of platform to prefer meeting in person.

Although this option is often the least expensive, the risk of fraud is greater since the transaction is person-to-person. Therefore, it is preferable to hold a meeting in a public place, and it can also reduce the risk of assault or theft.

3. Learn about the warranty

If the phone you buy is still under warranty, you should be able to take advantage of it, says Protect Yourself. However, to be able to use it, you must have the original receipt in your possession. So remember to ask the seller.

4. Make sure the object works

Once you have the cell phone in hand and before proceeding with the transaction, it is wise to check the working status of the device. For example, you can enter your SIM card to make sure it's compatible with your new purchase. Also remember to make calls, surf the Internet and take some pictures, in detail.

5. Make sure to reset the phone

If the phone is not reset properly, you may be asked to enter a password that you do not have, which could compromise the use of the device.