How to price a used Samsung Galaxy phone at the pawn counter
Short answer: read the exact model and storage in Settings, make sure the Google account and the Samsung account are removed, check the screen for burn-in and the battery, check the IMEI, and price from recent real sales of the same model and storage.
Exact model and storage
Galaxy phones come in many versions with similar names: the base model, Plus, Ultra and FE, each with several storage sizes. Settings, About phone shows the model name and number. Price that exact version.
Two account locks
Android's Factory Reset Protection ties the phone to the owner's Google account, and Samsung phones can also be locked to a Samsung account. Ask the customer to remove both accounts and reset the phone in front of you. After the reset it should start at the setup screen without asking for any previous account.
Screen
- Show a plain white and a plain grey image to spot burn-in, the faint ghost of icons or the keyboard that some screens keep after long use.
- Check for cracks, lines and touch problems across the whole screen.
Battery and function
- Samsung's own diagnostics, in the Samsung Members app on many models, can test the battery and the main functions.
- Test cameras, speakers, microphone, charging and the fingerprint reader.
IMEI
Dial *#06# and compare it with the SIM tray or settings, then check it in the lost and stolen database used in your country.
How PawnMeter helps
The clerk types the model, storage and condition, for example "Samsung Galaxy A54 128GB". PawnMeter shows the median of real recent sales of that exact model and storage at participating shops, 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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