For some parents, succumbing to that demand is a major milestone. They simply refuse to consider it until their child reaches a certain age. But that date, once reassuringly in the distant future, has a way of sneaking up on every parent. Before you know it, your adorable little bundle of joy is in middle school surrounded by friends – every one of them with a cell phone sticking out of their back pocket. Eventually, the day arrives when it’s impossible to put off the conversation one day longer. While buying a cell phone may be inevitable, as a parent you can still maintain some control – and keep the cost of getting out of hand – with a refurbished phone. Before your child dismisses the idea, you should know there are a lot of good reasons to consider a refurbished phone as a first cell phone. Here are five of them:
1. Kids Drop and Lose Everything
Yes, your darling angel is going to demand the sleekest, shiniest, hottest, released-only-yesterday model in 24k solid gold. But as a parent, you know with absolute certainty that phones for kids don’t last a week. They end up left on the bus, tossed away with lunch, or simply dropped on the sidewalk. The repairs alone will quickly cost more than the phone. On the other hand, a refurbished phone allows your child to adapt to the responsibility of taking care of a cell phone. Sure, the phone may get banged up or even lost, but that’s a lot easier to swallow when the cost is significantly lower than a new phone.
2. You’re Still Protected by a Manufacturer’s Warranty
Some people might be reluctant to consider a refurbished phone for their child because they worry the phone won’t be able to stand up to what a child can dish out. Well, trust us. It can. That’s because refurbished phones are about as close to new as you can get. Substandard parts are repaired or replaced, and the phone is rigorously tested to make sure it meets the same standards as a new phone. Most importantly, not only are you getting a great value, refurbished phones are backed by a manufacturer’s warranty, same as a new one.
3. It’s Environmentally Responsible
Cell phones are loaded with heavy metals and toxins like arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead, among others which all leech into groundwater and soil when a cell phone ends up in a landfill. It’s possibly the single most damaging thing an individual can do to harm the environment. Buying a refurbished phone, on the other hand, means fewer toxins in a landfill, which keeps the soil and water cleaner. If all else fails, you can always use this argument to guilt your sweet angel into agreeing to a refurbished phone.
4. No One Can Tell the Difference
People don’t turn in cell phones because they’re ancient or don’t work. They turn them in because they want the latest model. So, most refurbished phones are simply an older model of a current phone, identical in nearly every way to current ones. Okay, they may be missing a few minor features of the latest model, but they look – and perform – exactly the way the latest models perform. So, your little one gets the social standing of the latest phone without you having to take out a second mortgage.
5. You Control the Monthly Charges
When you buy a refurbished phone, you’re free from the shackles of a wireless contract. That puts you in charge and allows you to choose the kind of contract that makes the most sense for your child – and you. You have basically two options to consider. The first? Pay-As-You-Go. This will really help keep your costs down. If you also choose a plan with capped usage, it can also help to teach your kids about responsibility and how to maintain a healthy relationship with their phone. Because as soon as they run out of minutes, or data, that’s it. No more until next month. Now, you can always top off the plan, but that puts you back in control. Doesn’t it? The other? A longer-term contract. You may find that as your child gets older and gains more responsibility, a longer-term contract may begin to make more sense. And again, since you’re not bound to the manufacturer’s terms it will still be less expensive. Of course, the good news is that you can always switch back to a pay-as-you-go plan if your child isn’t quite as responsible for his or her usage as you thought. And there you have it. Five excellent reasons why phones for kids – especially your child’s first cell phone – should be a refurbished phone. You stay in control, you save money, it’s better for the environment, and you even get a warranty. So, the next time your child comes to you demanding a cell phone, you’ll be ready to have a serious talk. At least now you know the cell phone talk will be way easier than that “other” talk you keep putting off.
