Refurbished advertising: 3 old tricks to check

The vzbv says it sent warning notices to three unnamed online-marketplace operators. It challenged price claims, environmental claims, and advertising or analytics cookies placed without the required consent. Two operators signed cease-and-desist undertakings, according to the source. The vzbv sued the third. An undated update says that operator later gave an undertaking during the Berlin Regional Court proceedings. The source doesn't report a judgment in that case.

So this isn't a list of guilty retailers or a court ruling on the dispute. Guessing names from familiar advertising would be unfair.

In the documented example, a refurbished phone cost EUR275 and was advertised as 69 percent cheaper than EUR909. The same source said the phone was available new at the time from EUR424.50 and pre-owned from EUR242. That dramatic saving depended on the price used as the benchmark.

Don't compare it with a merely similar phone. Match the model, storage, colour, and condition grade line by line. Then check the current new price and at least one other pre-owned offer. Our honest check for refurbished discounts shows how to compare the benchmark price, exact configuration, and actual saving. A low final price may still be good. The percentage alone tells you little.

“Less CO2” looks precise until the benchmark and method disappear. In 2022, the vzbv quoted claims including 70 percent less CO2, 100 percent climate neutrality, and 194 grams less electronic waste. It said information about refurbishment, replacement parts, distribution, and shipping was largely absent.

Germany's Environment Agency recommends transparent evidence that shoppers can verify. Look for the method, comparison product, time period, and source. A leaf icon isn't a substitute for evidence you can check.

This point wasn't one of the allegations in the 2022 notices. It comes from a separate final Munich Regional Court judgment dated 30 July 2018. In that listing, “Refurbished Certificate” didn't make the phone's pre-owned status clear enough.

For your buying decision, go further. Look for the condition grade, the refurbishment described by the seller, and a complete accessories list. Our comparison of condition grades at Refurbed, Back Market and rebuy shows how differently those labels can be defined.

Before paying, save the claim, benchmark price, exact configuration, seller, and terms. A guarantee is voluntary and doesn't replace statutory rights. We explain the difference between a warranty and statutory warranty for refurbished devices in detail.