As new gadgets grow costlier, buyers turn to the pre-owned market
As rising prices of new gadgets strain household budgets, Bangladesh’s second-hand market is booming. However, while it offers affordable access to premium products, it also forces buyers to compromise on quality, reliability, and longevity
At Bashundhara Shopping Complex, Rafique Ahmed was looking for a used iPhone 15. A student at Pabna University of Science and Technology, he had travelled from Pabna to Dhaka with his father because a new one was beyond the family's reach.
"I am buying a pre-owned phone because it is half the price of a new phone, but the quality is almost the same," Rafique said.
His father, Abdus Sobhan, was less enthusiastic but candid about the economics of the purchase. "We are a middle-class family, and my son has always wanted this phone. But we cannot afford a new one, so we are buying a pre-owned device," he said. "I am not a fan of buying used things, especially gadgets, but our financial situation leaves us with little choice."
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However, the choice comes with anxiety. Whether the quality is truly the same as Rafique believes remains a question.
"When buying second-hand, what I need the most is luck," Abdus Sobhan said. "We are no experts. The phone could perform poorly and break down within a month or two, and there would be nothing we could do. There is no warranty or guarantee here."
That trade-off between affordability and risk is driving a global market. According to Global Market Insights, the worldwide used-electronics market could reach about $153 billion this year. As shortages of computer memory push up the prices of game consoles, smartphones, and computers, second-hand devices are becoming increasingly attractive to budget-conscious buyers.
Bangladesh also reflects that shift.
Abdullah Al Mamun of Like Telecom in Bashundhara said the shop sells both new and used phones. "We are one of the biggest sellers in the market. The second-hand phones we sell are mostly checked by our experts and then cleared for sale," he said. "Sometimes second-hand phones do turn out to be faulty, but we provide customers with a 10-day replacement warranty. If anything goes wrong within those 10 days, we replace the phone."
The most common pre-owned devices, he said, are iPhones and Samsung flagships.
"Prices vary depending on their condition," Mamun said. "If we have replaced the battery or the glass, the price is different. A phone with 95% battery health and a body in good condition is an excellent device and would retain 75–80% of its original value."
Facebook has also transformed the trade. "We list all our pre-owned phones, as well as new ones, on Facebook Marketplace," Mamun said. "It is a great platform. Most of our pre-owned phone customers find us there. Back in 2017 or 2018, we used to sell through our Facebook page, but now almost all our business comes through the marketplace."
Social media has also enabled person-to-person trading.
Shahriar Alam, a student at Daffodil Polytechnic Institute, bought an SSD and RAM through the platform. "The prices of new SSDs and RAM shot up after the tariff hikes and the Iran war," he said. "So buying second-hand was the best option, and so far, the products have worked really well. I bought them from someone who was upgrading his PC through Facebook Marketplace."
For laptops, Multiplan Computer City Centre at the capital's New Elephant Road is a major destination.
Niloy Biswas, a first-year student at Dhaka University, went there after failing to find one within his budget elsewhere.
"I need a laptop for study purposes, and my budget is very tight, so one of my seniors suggested I come here and buy a pre-owned one," he said. "I previously went to Alpona Plaza and visited a few shops, but none had anything within my budget."
Niloy had also searched online for a buying checklist. "I'll go through that. If everything checks out and it fits my budget, then I'll buy it," he said.
Prices [of iPhones] vary depending on their condition. If we have replaced the battery or the glass, the price is different. A phone with 95% battery health and a body in good condition is an excellent device and would retain 75–80% of its original value.
Al-Amin Hossain came to buy a laptop for his son. "My son is in his first year of college. He needs a laptop, but our financial situation does not allow us to spend Tk1.5 lakh or Tk2 lakh," he said. "I have heard that you can get the same products second-hand for about two-thirds of the original price. So here I am."
After phones and laptops, cameras attract a significant number of buyers in the second-hand market. Baitul Mukarram, Bangladesh's largest camera market, has more than 200 shops selling new and used cameras, lenses and other photography equipment.
Sharif Haque, manager of Camera World, said beginner photographers with limited budgets make up the largest customer group. "We buy and sell cameras, lenses, accessories and all kinds of photography gear," he said.
"If you want a full-frame mirrorless camera, the body could cost around Tk1.5 lakh to Tk2 lakh," Haque said. "A pre-owned one can cost around Tk1 lakh. The money you save can be used to buy a lens and other accessories. Pre-owned lenses are in even greater demand. If a new lens costs Tk30,000, a used one can cost Tk15,000 to Tk20,000, or even less if you find a good deal."
Lower prices, however, do not eliminate uncertainty. Muhammad Samee, a former Samsung software engineer, warned against equating used devices with factory-sealed ones.
"We definitely do not recommend buying refurbished or used gadgets," he said. "When a gadget is sold through our shops, we know its quality is intact and that it has not been tampered with. But with a pre-owned device, you never know, and that creates a major risk to its longevity."
Humayun Ahmed, a retailer at IDB Bhaban who has been in the business for 25 years, sees both sides.
"Buying a used gadget instead of a new one can save you a significant amount of money," he said. It can also provide access to premium features, as flagship devices depreciate over time and eventually become much more affordable.
Buying used, however, is "a little bit tricky". Humayun advised buyers to inspect the device for dents and scratches, check the ports, buttons, screen and dead pixels, and ask how old it is, as a less-used device generally performs better while an older one should cost less. He also recommended comparing the specifications with their actual needs rather than choosing a device based on specifications alone.
Buyers should also test the camera thoroughly, including photo, video, time-lapse, slow-motion, panorama, flash and selfie modes, and assess charging speed, battery life and whether the battery percentage drops unexpectedly after reaching a certain level.
Finally, they should test calls, Wi-Fi, mobile data, speakers and sensors; research model-specific issues such as green or pink display lines, motherboard failures or defective cameras; check how much software support remains; and compare the asking price with prevailing market rates, including the price of a new device where available.
Buyers should verify that a device is not stolen, avoid suspicious Facebook accounts and unusually cheap offers, keep a record of the seller's identification when buying from an unknown individual, confirm any warranty using the serial number, ask what incident led to previous repairs and which parts were replaced, and check that the accessories match the advertised condition. They should also keep the original box, which may help if the phone is lost.
Humayun advised iPhone and MacBook buyers to check battery health in the settings, while iPad buyers can connect the device to a PC and use 3uTools. Android buyers may need to rely on screen-on time and the seller's account of the device's performance.
"As taxes on imported gadgets continue to rise, buying a used gadget at this moment could be an economical decision," he said. "You are not only saving money, but you are also helping the environment. Giving a gadget a longer life means potentially less e-waste and a more sustainable future."
Some products, however, are poor candidates for the second-hand market. Consumer experts at the US PIRG advise caution when buying large televisions, heavily used printers and second-hand smartwatches. Television screens are fragile, printers wear down over time, and wearables can be damaged by sweat. Refurbished AirPods and other wireless earbuds may also remain linked to a previous owner's account, preventing the Find My feature from working properly.
The main question is how much useful life a device has left. Batteries deteriorate, repairs become more expensive, screens can be difficult to replace, and manufacturers eventually stop providing software updates. Apple, Samsung and Google now provide around seven years of software support for their smartphones.
