PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
Samsung is thinking about selling second-hand smartphones, according to an anonymous source.
It’s planning to launch a new program which will see it sell refurbished second-hand Samsung smartphones as early as 2017, reports Reuters.
The tech giant is apparently looking for ways to ‘sustain earnings momentum’ as growth in the smartphone market hits a plateau.
"Samsung wants to maximise its cost efficiency and keep operating margins above 10 per cent," read the Reuters report.
Samsung will apparently be refurbishing smartphones and selling them at a lower price to customers who signed up to one-year upgrade programs, in territories including the US and South Korea.
A Samsung spokesperson said the company does not comment on speculation.
The second-hand market for smartphones and smartphone repairs/parts is a substantial one, especially in certain territories like India, and Samsung looking to delve into this space shows the vendor is looking beyond sales of new devices in a bid to boost its bottom line.
Deloitte says the used smartphone market will be worth more than $17 billion this year, with 120 million devices sold.
