Parents on a budget turning to certified used iPhones & iPads this back-to-school season
Price-conscious parents looking to equip their kids with smartphones or tablets for the new school year are embracing Gazelle's new certified pre-used iPhone and iPad stores as an alternative to paying full price for a brand new device, the company says.
Gazelle, an AppleInsider sponsor and the nation's biggest electronics buyback service, has long been known for its trade-in service, which helps consumers quickly turn their old iPhones and iPads into cash by locking in a price quote on its website and then dropping the devices in the mail.
More recently, the company has made strides to build out another pillar of its business by taking some of its highest-quality Apple iOS device purchases, inspecting and certifying them, and then making them available for sale on its new certified pre-owned online store.
"Heading into the back to school season, we've seen a significant volume of parents turning to Gazelle to buy certified pre-owned iPads, iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones for their kids," a spokesperson for the Boston, Mass.-based company said.
Since launching the certified pre-owned store roughly 9 months ago, Gazelle says that nearly 20% of its existing trade-in customers have logged on to the new store and purchased a certified pre-owned device for a child. Of those children, the vast majority are said to fall between the ages of 11 and 19.?
A recent poll of these customers found that 15% are buying their first device, while 30% are looking to replace a broken device, and 33% are upgrading to a newer model than what they already own. But overall, 66% of these customers say they chose a certified pre-owned device from Gazelle rather than buying direct from Apple because of the cost savings and sense of security they receive from the company's certification process.
Generally speaking, Gazelle says customers can save up to 40% by buying a certified pre-owned device rather than buying new. For example, the company sells a certified pre-owned unlocked iPhone 5s 16GB for $369 compared to $549 new from Apple. Similarly, an iPad Air 2 16GB WiFi fetches $399 from Gazelle rather than $499.
Gazelle maintains that all of the devices on its store are "gently used" and ensures the condition of devices with a 30-point quality inspection. All iPhones, for instance, come with no contracts or strings attached, and are backed by a 30-day risk-free return policy.
Earlier this year, AppleInsider set out to test Gazelle's quality claims and randomly purchased and reviewed a certified pre-owned iPhone from the company's new store. Most iPhone models are offered in either "Excellent," or "Good" condition (though Gazelle recently added a third tier: Fair). Our evaluation focused on an iPhone 6 in "Good" condition and we found that the quality of the device exceeded Gazelle's representation.
Presently, Gazelle's certified pre-owned store offers models ranging from a $119 black AT&T iPhone 4s in fair condition to a $759, 128GB silver Verizon iPhone 6 Plus in excellent condition. As a service to readers, AppleInsider maintains a real-time listing of Gazelle's certified pre-owned iPhones along with pricing within its Price Guides. The same list is also embedded below.
So far this year, Gazelle says its hottest selling devices are the iPhone 5 16GB on AT&T and Verizon, as well as the iPhone 5S 16GB on those carriers. For iPads, customers are increasingly choosing Apple's 16GB WiFi iPad 2.
Gazelle, an AppleInsider sponsor and the nation's biggest electronics buyback service, has long been known for its trade-in service, which helps consumers quickly turn their old iPhones and iPads into cash by locking in a price quote on its website and then dropping the devices in the mail.
More recently, the company has made strides to build out another pillar of its business by taking some of its highest-quality Apple iOS device purchases, inspecting and certifying them, and then making them available for sale on its new certified pre-owned online store.
"Heading into the back to school season, we've seen a significant volume of parents turning to Gazelle to buy certified pre-owned iPads, iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones for their kids," a spokesperson for the Boston, Mass.-based company said.
Since launching the certified pre-owned store roughly 9 months ago, Gazelle says that nearly 20% of its existing trade-in customers have logged on to the new store and purchased a certified pre-owned device for a child. Of those children, the vast majority are said to fall between the ages of 11 and 19.?
A recent poll of these customers found that 15% are buying their first device, while 30% are looking to replace a broken device, and 33% are upgrading to a newer model than what they already own. But overall, 66% of these customers say they chose a certified pre-owned device from Gazelle rather than buying direct from Apple because of the cost savings and sense of security they receive from the company's certification process.
Generally speaking, Gazelle says customers can save up to 40% by buying a certified pre-owned device rather than buying new. For example, the company sells a certified pre-owned unlocked iPhone 5s 16GB for $369 compared to $549 new from Apple. Similarly, an iPad Air 2 16GB WiFi fetches $399 from Gazelle rather than $499.
Gazelle maintains that all of the devices on its store are "gently used" and ensures the condition of devices with a 30-point quality inspection. All iPhones, for instance, come with no contracts or strings attached, and are backed by a 30-day risk-free return policy.
Earlier this year, AppleInsider set out to test Gazelle's quality claims and randomly purchased and reviewed a certified pre-owned iPhone from the company's new store. Most iPhone models are offered in either "Excellent," or "Good" condition (though Gazelle recently added a third tier: Fair). Our evaluation focused on an iPhone 6 in "Good" condition and we found that the quality of the device exceeded Gazelle's representation.
Presently, Gazelle's certified pre-owned store offers models ranging from a $119 black AT&T iPhone 4s in fair condition to a $759, 128GB silver Verizon iPhone 6 Plus in excellent condition. As a service to readers, AppleInsider maintains a real-time listing of Gazelle's certified pre-owned iPhones along with pricing within its Price Guides. The same list is also embedded below.
So far this year, Gazelle says its hottest selling devices are the iPhone 5 16GB on AT&T and Verizon, as well as the iPhone 5S 16GB on those carriers. For iPads, customers are increasingly choosing Apple's 16GB WiFi iPad 2.
Comments
Can't you guys just be up front about this?
Has AI been compensated, or will AI be compensated for clickthroughs, in any way for this post?
I'll post again and we'll see if this is immediately erased or not.
Has AI been compensated, or will AI be compensated for clickthroughs, in any way for this post?
I played no part in this being posted, but it's very clearly stated in the opening sentence:
Quote:
Gazelle, an AppleInsider sponsor
Regardless it seems a valid article of interest. It is great that parents would rather get a second hand Apple product than a Samsung / Google / Android POS new.
I usually buy goldfish in a pond shop.
I'll post again and we'll see if this is immediately erased or not.
Has AI been compensated, or will AI be compensated for clickthroughs, in any way for this post?
Your post was removed because you made a false and misleading statement as the first post on a thread and otherwise contributed nothing to the discussion. AppleInsider never accepts payment for content. You've been here a long time, Spam. I don't know how many times I have to express the same thing. That's just not how we operate.
On the other hand, we do maintain several sponsorships with some of the most respectable names in the industry. Under those sponsorships, we sometimes receive a commission if readers make a purchase. In the future, you'd be best advised to be sure of your claims before you start spreading them. If you aren't, those posts will be removed again.
Thanks,
K
All I have ever asked is that disclosure be made when conflicts of interest arise. Disclosure has been made.
I'd agree but I'd prefer such articles are marked as 'sponsored', perhaps with an icon too. I don't mind reading those, that like this are of genuine interest to me, and can skip those that are not. Pop ups and flash ads are a total no no for me. Some sites are unusable on an iPad, no I take that back ... MOST sites are unusable on an iPad where i don't have Ad Blocker. I know I can use Ad Blocker's own wee browser but I forget most times.
Agreed.
Gazelle only pays $175 for a used perfect condition 5S.
Then they turn around and sell it for $409
And I thought Apple gross margins are high.
All Gazelle is doing is acting as a pond shop and they charge 100% markups. Unreal. Ripoff.
What do you think Apple's margins are before marketing, freight, packaging, etc?
1) How is it a ripoff? If you can sell it someone else for more money then do it. If you can buy it somewhere else for less money then do it?
2) Did you consider other costs for Gazelle's business? They pay for shipping, right? They also guarantee a sale price for x-many days even if the value has dropped, right? They have to pay for devices to be tested, repaired and cleaned up before purchase right? For example, I sold them an iPhone that didn't have a working rear camera under their GOOD condition rating, which is "Good means all of the following are true: No cracks on screen or body, Powers on and makes calls, No major scratches or scuffs." Surely that broken camera won't go out in a resale or they will have a very upset customer.
I'd not mind as I'd probably glance at them them to help AI as I do feel a wee bit guilty using ad blocker but I seriously cannot stand blogs littered with ads. Each to his own I guess.
My reasoning is simply that ads disguised as articles and left up to the user's brains to know this, as you prefer, can lead to misinformation being taken as genuine. Then again on a Rumor site I guess that's OK! LOL
That second post was made before you replied to me in private, Kasper.
Neil is under the impression that AI is compensated.
I've no issues with coverage of advertisers, so long as that disclosure is divulged. This coverage is written exactly like a press release and not an actual article, however. There are no comparisons to competing services, for example, as would be common in reporting on subjects of interest to readers.
My so called "Excellent" quality iPhone 6 64GB Unlocked was NOT of expected quality
Shipping speeds were misrepresented and they fought tooth and nail not to compensate me or make things right
I even sent photo proof of the condition of my device.
I advise anyone use Gazelle at your own risk emphasis on risk
I occasionally buy reconditioned merchandise. I've had good luck with Apple refurbished. They offer a full original warranty on them, and that makes me feel better, and I'll pay a bit more from the original company.
But in general, when I shop used merchandise, I expect the price to start at 50% of new. Comparing these Gazelle prices to the new units, I don't see savings worth the risk. The article cites some Gazelle comparisons, but I've seen sales on new devices that are about the same as the used prices. But I suppose parents have no time to actually shop. Maybe ask their kids to use the googles (or google it on bing) and find prices.
FWIW, parents want their kids to have iDevices, not unreliable crap. When the news reports of violence at a school comes across, parents want that kid to have a phone, preferably with GPS location. (Wait until Apple Watch has a stand alone emergency feature with GPS. Parents will line up to put a LoJack on their kids.)
So for those of us who have already moved past analyzing and realizing the fact that the vast majority of things in a capitalist society are being done for money, can I put forward a different discussion...
Personally, I just pass my old phone on to my son when I get a new one. He's old enough to realize that it's not the latest-and-greatest, but after a short period of envy, he's ok with it. For me, this is an even better alternative to buying used (at markup) unless your old phone is in really bad condition. Even if you need to replace the battery, it's still generally cheaper than a used model.
Just curious... Were you ever under the impression that ours was not a capitalist system? We don't have true free market capitalism, but...seriously?
Just curious... Were you ever under the impression that ours was not a capitalist system? We don't have true free market capitalism, but...seriously?
All of the people here who are complaining that this "article" is really an advertisement in disguise. The entire media industry in North America (and in pretty much all capitalist societies) is built on funding from advertising, and most media has embedded product placements or other hidden (or not hidden in the case of this article) ways to sell you things. Most of us already know and understand this, so why do we need a whole (derailed) discussion about it?
I'm okay with AppleInsider not putting sponser icon.
Its pretty obvious with anyone with a brain that this is an ad. For those without a brain who click on it, I feel no sympathy.
When I published and edited magazines in the UK in the 1990s we called this type of article 'advertorial'. Nothing wrong with it because, as you state, it's pretty obvious... but also informative. Publishers do it occasionally - you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours, kinda thing - the trick is to not do it all that often!