Buying a smartphone online: beware of marketplaces!

The thriving market for refurbished goods and online shopping in general is growing in popularity, with large sales platforms where it is sometimes difficult to guarantee the origin of phones.

This market, which is booming for economic reasons, is concentrated around large sales platforms where it can be difficult to verify the origin of the phones. However, this information is crucial in the event of a problem.

In recent years, online sales platforms have experienced rapid growth. French consumers, looking for bargains, have become accustomed to ordering products at increasingly competitive prices on these platforms.

However, these platforms often lack transparency regarding the origin of sellers and products, which can lead to unintentional purchases from abroad. The majority of sellers, at least 70%, are based outside the European Union, which increases the risk of ordering from abroad without knowing it.

In addition to the risk of having to pay actual VAT on the products or having the parcel confiscated due to counterfeiting, there is also the risk of additional costs and delays in the event of a defective product being returned.

Fortunately, reputable sellers offer reliable service. It is therefore essential to carefully check the details relating to the seller and the products, particularly their origin.

Sales platforms have the advantage of offering a wide range of products, making it easier to find the desired item at the best price. They also act as mediators in the event of a dispute.

Beware of familiar websites!

Marketplaces are everywhere!

Traditional online retailers such as Amazon allow all sellers to list their products online. This means that there may be foreign sellers on these sites.

Well-established retail websites (Darty, Boulanger, Fnac, Carrefour, etc.) with their own websites mostly contain a marketplace. So when you search for a product, the website will show you products from the brand as well as those from other sellers, without you being able to tell the difference at first glance.

For example, on the Boulanger website, we can see that the product is "Sold and shipped by Alloccaz". The seller and shipper is therefore not Boulanger, which simply provides its marketplace for the sale.

What are the risks?

The first risk is, of course, paying for a product and never receiving it. In this case, it can sometimes be difficult to seek compensation from the marketplace if the brand is not the seller (e.g. Boulanger). To protect yourself in advance, check the website's terms and conditions of sale.

The second risk is receiving a foreign phone that meets standards different from those imposed by the European Union. In this case, certain features may differ (e.g. the camera sound cannot be deactivated if the phone comes from Japan) or the network antenna may be different. In this case, if you need to replace certain parts of your phone, you may no longer be able to receive or transmit a network signal. We have written an article on this subject if you would like to know more.

The third risk, and not the least, is counterfeiting. If the prices are attractive, that's the first sign! Counterfeit products are not only illegal, they also do not meet safety standards and can pose a real risk to your health. Batteries, for example, may be defective and there is a real risk of overheating or even combustion.

How can you be sure that the seller is trustworthy?

To do this, always check the seller's shop! As mentioned above, being on the website of a well-established brand is no longer a guarantee of the origin of the products. The website is not necessarily the seller of the product, so look for the seller's identity. Their identity can be found in the "sold by" section.

Then, a simple internet search using the name of the shop will either reassure you or make you realise that this is not a trustworthy seller.

In summary, ordering a refurbished phone from a sales platform can be a good option, provided you check the origin of the sellers and products, as well as the quality of service offered by the platform in case of any issues.