Vodafone launches second hand mobiles

NEWS Vodafone has linked up with Australian pawnbrokers and second hand goods group Cash Converters International to sell second hand mobile phones in the UK. Customers will be able to buy refurbished pre-payment mobiles that have been returned on a money back guarantee. Once returned, the mobile phones are "cosmetically touched up and tested" before they are repackaged in pay-as-you-talk boxes and resold as "quality refurbished products". A spokeswoman for Vodafone said: "We were looking to partner with other distributors in the UK, one of those was Cash Converters, and since they are purveyors of quality second hand goods, it was a logical extension to sell refurbished phones." The deal with Cash Converters provides an ideal basis to expand Vodafone's market presence, according to the spokeswoman. The mobile phones will be sold at a reduced rate and "top up" cards will be available to increase the amount of talk time a customer receives. Vodafone said customers would be able to choose from either peak or off peak call prices.