Behind the scenes

Second-hand mobile phones are the new bestsellers

30.7.2020

Translation: Eva Francis

More and more people in Switzerland carry a used mobile phone in their handbag or pocket, as refurbished devices account for almost one percent of the total smartphone sales of digitec and Galaxus this year.

Good for the environment and our budgets, second-hand mobile phones have taken the hearts of people in Switzerland by storm: in January 2019, Digitec Galaxus added the brand Remade to its range, becoming the first Swiss online retailer to sell second-hand mobile phones that have been professionally checked and repaired. In November, three more providers of used mobile phones were added: Revendo.ch, Recommerce.ch and Recommerce Swiss. Since then, sales numbers are rocketing: in the months from January to June 2020, Digitec Galaxus customers ordered two and a half times as many refurbished smartphones as in the same period in 2019.

In the current year, refurbished mobile phones account for almost one percent of total smartphone sales of Digitec Galaxus. This is equivalent to several thousand mobile phones sold. And that's just the beginning: «We expect to see refurbished phones accounting for two to three percent of sales in two years,» says Stefan Franchi, senior buying manager for mobile phones at Digitec Galaxus. Digitec Galaxus now also stocks second-hand mobile phones in its own warehouse, making short delivery times possible.

Especially popular with women and older customers

Accounting for more than a third of refurbished smartphone orders, women are especially interested in used mobile phones. The share of female buyers is only one quarter for new smartphones. Differences can also be seen in the age distribution: the largest group of buyers for new mobile phones are 30 to 39-year-olds, whereas most customers who buy used mobile phones are between 40 and 49 years of age.

Franchi explains this differences by the – on average – higher affinity of men for technology, and by the fact that, as they grow older, people in Switzerland don’t attach as much importance to owning the newest smartphone anymore. Studies have also revealed that women’s shopping behaviour is, on average, more sustainable. «Young men show the shortest renewal cycle for mobile phones,» says Franchi.

View the interactive visualisation here.

Old apples taste best

Apple devices dominate the market for used mobile phones with iPhones accounting for nine out of ten devices that are sold. In second place, according to digitec and Galaxus sales, are refurbished smartphones by Samsung, Sony, Huawei and Xiaomi. «The quality of their design means that iPhones can be refurbished up to twice,» Franchi explains. In addition, Apple phones show a high value stability and therefore a high buy-back price, probably also because Apple still offers security updates for many older generations of devices. «All these factors speak for Apple as the strongest brand in the market for refurbished electronics,» Franchi adds. «In the last few months, however, Android devices have made a huge leap in sales. The Galaxy series by Samsung is doing especially well.»

Smartphones refurbished

Re!commerce iPhone X

256 GB, Space Grey, 5.80", 12 Mpx, Single SIM, B / Very good

Smartphones refurbished

verkaufen.ch Galaxy S8

64 GB, Black, 5.80", 12 Mpx, Single SIM, A / Like new

Smartphones refurbished

Remade iPhone 7

128 GB, Silver, 4.70", 12 Mpx, Single SIM, A / Like new

Smartphones refurbished

Re!commerce iPhone X

256 GB, Space Grey, 5.80", 12 Mpx, Single SIM, B / Very good

Smartphones refurbished

verkaufen.ch Galaxy S8

64 GB, Black, 5.80", 12 Mpx, Single SIM, A / Like new

Smartphones refurbished

Remade iPhone 7

128 GB, Silver, 4.70", 12 Mpx, Single SIM, A / Like new

Used smartphones for small budgets

Second-hand devices are particularly popular with customers who don’t want to spend much on a mobile phone. Almost two thirds of the refurbished phones sold by digitec and Galaxus cost less than 300 francs. When it comes to new mobile phones, however, every seventh device costs more than 900 francs.

View the interactive visualisation here.

Second-hand tablets and smartwatches are next

The next second-hand trend is already in sight: «We're also planning to offer refurbished tablets soon,» Franchi reveals. However, the possibility of reselling tablets is still almost unknown in Switzerland. The same applies for smartwatches, although the renewal cycle isn't as short for smartwatches and tablets as for mobile phones.

Buying and reselling in one place

Customers can resell products they purchased on digitec or Galaxus in the same place: on the digitec and Galaxus online shops. This also goes for mobile phones. These products are marked as «Used» in the secondhand section of both online shops. This channel is also growing rapidly, which is good for the environment and our budgets.

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Alex Hämmerli

Senior Public Relations Manager

Alex.Haemmerli@digitecgalaxus.ch

At Digitec and Galaxus, I’m in charge of communication with journalists and bloggers. Good stories are my passion – I am always up to date.

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Second-hand mobile phones are the new bestsellers

Especially popular with women and older customers

Old apples taste best

Used smartphones for small budgets

Second-hand tablets and smartwatches are next

Buying and reselling in one place

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