Asides

Avoid Scammer

Buying a Used Smartphone: How to Spot a Scammer

“Gently Used,” “Pre-Owned,” and “Second-Hand” are all terms that people are typically wary of when purchasing a smartphone. But it’s not the “used” aspect of the phones that should make buyers cautious—it’s the potential scams they might face in the buying process.

Quick reminder: Cellular Magician has smartphone buy/sell services you can trust. We offer reasonable prices, detailed phone descriptions, and exceptional customer service.

Scammers and frauds are everywhere in the technology world, so in this blog, we list a few red flags to be on the lookout for when buying a pre-owned phone.

Strangely Low Prices

In your search for an affordable used smartphone, you stumble upon an iPhone 11 for $50. Sound too good to be true? Then it probably is! If there is no explanation as to why the phone is listed at such a low price, it probably means the seller is being intentionally ambiguous to hide issues with the phone. That doesn’t mean you’ll never find a pre-owned phone at an affordable price, though. Safe, reputable device sales happen all the time. You just have to find the right seller!

No Customer Reviews

If the seller or the shop has little to no reviews on their website or other review sites, they are likely a fake shop or unfair seller. Before purchasing a phone from them, do some research to see if you can find any customer feedback or customer reviews. Google, Facebook, and Yelp might be a good place to start. If you can’t find any customer feedback or if the feedback you do find is extremely negative, don’t proceed with your phone purchase. The seller or the business probably doesn’t actually exist and is just attempting to scam you.

No Photos of the Device

Another red flag is a used phone listing without photos of the device or a listing that uses stock photos instead of photos of the actual phone they are selling. The seller likely 1) doesn’t have the phone they claim to be selling or 2) is attempting to hide exterior issues with the phone (cracked screen, water damage, faulty charging port, etc.).

Cleverly Worded Descriptions

Cleverly worded descriptions are a huge sign that the seller is a scammer, especially if they are also unwilling to meet you in person. Tricky descriptions could include phrasing like “iPhone 8 Box & Instructions,” which sounds like you will receive the iPhone itself, the box, and the phone’s instructions. A scammer, however, uses phrasing like this to make you believe you are getting a phone when you are only getting a box and instructions.

Refusal to Meet In Person

When you meet the seller in person, you have the opportunity to make sure the phone is not fake, locked, or severely damaged. If the seller refuses to meet in person or suggests an unsafe place to meet, they are likely a scammer. That’s why we suggest purchasing a pre-owned phone from a reputable, trustworthy cell phone repair shop.

Did you know? Cellular Magician doesn’t just offer computer repair and cell phone repair. We also offer a variety of device sales. Stop by our store and let us know what kind of pre-owned phone you’re looking for. We’re happy to help!

Have a broken Phone you need fixed? Get an instant repair quote HERE!

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The Scariest Tablet Repair Mistakes

A broken tablet makes it impossible to work, stream, shop, or participate in social media, which quickly becomes inconvenient and frustrating for you. Even more inconvenient, though, is ignoring the problem with your tablet and allowing it to worsen before taking it to a professional.

The good news is—most tablet damage is repairable and affordable, especially if you come to Cellular Magician! You can count on us for cheap iPad repair.

In this blog, we’ll discuss common issues with tablets and ways to prevent these issues from worsening.

Cracked Screen

The most common tablet or iPad repair issue we see is a cracked or shattered screen, typically from dropping the tablet. Time is of the essence with this issue; the longer you wait to have your screen repaired, the more it could crack and break. Eventually, it might even become unresponsive to touch. Fortunately, cracked screens are relatively simple to repair or replace, so as long as you get to a repair shop as soon as it breaks, your tablet will likely recover.

iPad Repair

Broken Camera

Yes—tablet cameras take great photos too! That’s why it’s so frustrating when your tablet’s camera isn’t working. Whether your photos are coming out blurry or the camera is simply failing to start, the most efficient way to get it back up and running is by taking it to a professional tablet or iPad repair shop.

Sometimes turning the power on and off will do the trick, but if that doesn’t work, talking to a tablet repair expert is the most efficient next step.

Broken Home Button

If you own an older version of the iPad, you might run into the problem of a broken home button. If the home button is stuck, missing, or simply not working, it may be time to visit Cellular Magician to get it replaced.

Before stopping by our store, make sure you thoroughly clean on or around the home button in case the problem is just dirt or dust stuck in the button. If the home button still doesn’t work after cleaning it, bring it to us for a quick and affordable replacement! Don’t worry about iPad repair prices. We pride ourselves on our budget-friendly services.

Water Damage

Did you accidentally spill your drink on your tablet? Or drop it in the sink? Water damage is another time-sensitive issue because the longer your tablet soaks in moisture, the more internal and external damage it will face because of that moisture. So don’t hesitate to take it to an iPad repair shop ASAP!

To prevent future water damage, just remember that just because your tablet is water-resistant, that doesn’t mean it is waterproof!

Broken Battery

Old or broken batteries can be detrimental to your device. If your tablet won’t hold a charge or gets extremely hot when you use it, the battery should be replaced before it ruptures. Again, don’t wait to get your battery replaced, not just because of the inconvenience that a broken battery causes, but also because of the potential dangers of the battery leaking chemicals either into your device or outside of it.

iPad Repairll

Thankfully, a broken battery is easy to detect and, in the right technician’s hands, fairly easy to replace.

Luckily for you, Cellular Magician handles each of these common tablet issues and can have your device working like new in no time. So go ahead and google “iPad repair store near me” or “iPad repair near me” to find a professional technician today!

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