Swappie wants to make its used iPhones a real alternative to new goods in the future. The Finnish company, which has been concentrating on the purchase, sale and refurbishment of used Apple smartphones since 2016, is launching a so-called premium series.
These devices are “optically new, fully functional and equipped with 100 percent battery capacity”. So far, the company has sold its products in the quality levels “fair”, “very good” and “excellent”. This grading tells you what the model looks like visually, i.e. whether it has signs of wear and/or scratches. However, the functionality is always guaranteed, according to Swappie. The battery capacity is standard at 80 percent, a new battery costs 20 euros extra.
Premium series just behind fresh produce
With the Premium series, the company now wants to add another gradation. So far, products with the grading “excellent” can also show “few signs of wear, such as light scratches”. Swappie’s pricing is dynamic, so it can change based on market conditions. With a current iPhone 13, you currently pay 609 euros for the 128 GB model in the “fair” level – i.e. with strong signs of use such as deep scratches, dents and scrapes. For the levels “very good” and “excellent” surcharges of 30 and 70 euros are due. Apple itself officially charges 899 euros for a new iPhone 13, but the devices are also available in retail outlets at a lower price (from 739 euros).
With an iPhone 14 Pro Max, which was only available in the “excellent” quality level when we looked at the Swappie website, the costs for the new premium series can be considered: instead of 1149 euros, you pay 1219 euros for the model here with 128 GB. Apple demands 1449 euros for the new product. However, you can already find significantly cheaper offers (from €1238.99) for the model in stores, which are only slightly above the premium series from Swappie.
Better for the climate
The Finns emphasize the environmental aspect of their products and thus aggressively advertise to people who want to live (more) sustainably. “Swappie’s refurbished iPhones have a positive carbon footprint: they produce 78 percent fewer emissions than new smartphones,” claims the company. “Consumers get a more perfect version of the technology without adding to the huge amounts of dirt and waste that goes into smartphone production.”
However, it is not easy for Apple companies like Swappie to sell refurbished goods. The repair center that the company operates in Lithuania has to obtain spare parts through various unofficial channels, since Apple does not supply them to second-hand suppliers. It can also be components that are replicas. Apple is also increasingly putting thumbscrews on independent workshops. Even smaller components are now provided with their own serial numbers, which are then checked by the device. If the components are not officially “married” to the iPhone via software, warning messages appear in the operating system. Swappie explicitly points this out to its customers.
(bsc)
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