How to check a phone before taking it in pawn
Short answer: before lending on a phone, make sure it can be reset and used by someone else, that it is not reported lost or stolen, and that its condition matches the price. A phone that is still locked to its owner's account can be worth almost nothing to the next buyer.
1. Account lock
iPhones have Activation Lock tied to the owner's Apple ID; Android phones have Factory Reset Protection tied to a Google account. Ask the customer to sign out and reset the phone in front of you, or check that it opens to the setup screen without asking for the previous account.
2. IMEI and blacklist
Dial *#06# to show the IMEI and compare it with the number on the SIM tray or label. Then check it in the lost and stolen database used in your country, and record it with the loan.
3. Storage and model
Read the exact model and storage in the settings, not from the box. The same phone with more storage sells for more, and the price should be based on the right one.
4. Battery
On iPhones, Settings shows battery health as a percentage. A weak battery lowers the resale price and is worth noting on the receipt.
5. Screen and body
- Look for cracks, dead pixels and burn-in on a white and a black screen.
- Test touch across the whole screen, buttons, cameras, speaker and microphone.
- Check the charging port and that the phone charges.
6. Water damage
Many phones have a liquid indicator in the SIM slot that changes colour after contact with water. A triggered indicator means a higher risk of faults later.
7. Write down the condition
Record what you found in plain words: new, very good, good, worn or faulty. The same condition scale, used every time, is what makes prices comparable later.
How PawnMeter helps
Once the phone has passed these checks, the clerk types the model, storage and condition, and PawnMeter shows what the same phone in the same condition really sold for, or says it has no comparable sales.
PawnMeter: Type the item. PawnMeter shows the resale price and a suggested loan, calculated only from what comparable items really sold for. When there is not enough data, it says so instead of guessing.
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