A second life for old phone

packaged As a gift, this year, new Smartphones under Switzerland's many Christmas trees. But what happens to the old devices? Studies on the behavior of the consumer show: Used mobile phones to land in most of the cases unused in drawers and cupboards.

So estimated are likely to degenerate over 8 million mobile phones in dark corners to Dust-collectors. Based on the value of the electric scrap, so a considerable sum of money. It is estimated that about 60 million Swiss francs.

mobile phones are a popular status symbol. The Swiss change their Smartphone every 20 months, regardless of whether it works or not. Accordingly, the manufacturers sell in this country annually, approximately 4 million new devices.

sale on occasion markets

What many mobile customers: you can give served phones to their network operator. For functional models, which are generally popular, is returned to the user even money. Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt maintain appropriate buy-back programs. The Telecom operator-to sell the acquired products to occasion markets also outside of Switzerland.

Previously spiced up such devices, however. Thus, it is important to delete all data on the hard disk of this mini computer, and package the phones. That's why companies such as Recommerce Solutions care in Freiburg.

The Swiss Subsidiary of the French Recommerce Group wanted to know exactly and has for the first time collected, how the local users are on the topic of re-selling old mobile phones. Recommerce has also carried out representative surveys in Germany and France, to the customer's behaviour.

infographic: readiness for sale and purchase of used mobile phones image to enlarge

as well as in neighbouring countries three-quarters of Swiss consumers are ready to dispose of their old cell phones. However, the used devices are made in Switzerland, less frequently to money as in Germany and in France. In fact, only 7% of the Swiss have sold your mobile phone or donated. Recommerce is not suspected to be the reason that most of the consumers know which providers have specialised in the collection and resale of old mobile phones.

to make The mobile operators reject the accusation, to their respective programs. "We have advertised the fundraiser "Mobile Aid" in November and December in our stores, as well as in the shop magazine," said Swisscom spokesman Sepp Huber. In addition, the company will inform in the Internet about the regular quote.

In the framework of the "Mobile Aid" to flow the proceeds from the sale of used Mobile phones to charity projects. The Swiss market leader known only Pay to this program. Annually, users of donations for 75'000 to 90'000 old equipment.

hundreds of return

With two programs to prevent the Sunrise that used and functional cell phones in the worst case, end up in the waste, took a company spokeswoman Therese Wenger said. Sunrise but the exact volume of the delivered equipment covered.

the Salt will inform the customer by delivery note in the case of deliveries from the Central warehouse, on the Website, in the shops, and partly with promotions of their own program were used, the number three is Switzerland. Concrete Figures to back used mobile phones Salt also called no. "In General, but there are several hundreds per month," says company spokeswoman Viola Lebel only.

Recommerce wanted to know from the Swiss users also, to what extent are you ready to buy a recycled Smartphone. Three out of five consumers are in principle open to it. The look across the border reveals a similar picture.

environmental protection plays role

The main reason that people purchase a device second Hand, the cost in the three compared countries, between 20 and 50 percent below the original price. In Switzerland, the ecological aspect plays also an important role.

The surveyed users want to contribute with their behavior to reduce the consumption of raw materials and to protect the environment. This intention is more evident in Germany and France less. For the production of a mobile phone it needs, according to the Recommerce against 45 kilograms of raw materials. This includes Rare earth metals. Her removal is considered to be of special ecological concern.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 30.12.2018, 23:19 PM