Comparing The Big Phone Store vs Back Market
| Feature | TBPS | Back Market |
|---|---|---|
| Selling Refurbished Phones Since 1999 | ✅ | ❌ |
| Trustpilot Rating |  |
 |
| Google Review |  |
 |
| Country of Ownership |  (UK) |
 (France) |
| 12-Month Warranty | ✅ | ✅ |
| Daily Price Updates | ✅ | ✅ |
| Flexible Purchase Options | ✅ | ✅ |
| Recommended by Which.co.uk? | ✅ | ✅ |
| Recommended by MoneySavingExpert | ✅ | ❌ |
| Independent Refurbisher (Sells own products)* | ✅ | ❌ |
| Ability to Purchase In-Person | ✅ | ❌ |
| UK-Based Customer Service Team | ✅ | ❌ |
| Free Next Working Day Delivery** | ✅ | ❌ |
| Wide Selection of Brands and Models*** | ✅ | ❌ |
| Average Battery Health 85%+ | ✅ | ❌ |
| 6 Conditions to Choose From | ✅ | ❌ |
| Certified with 90+ Quality Checks | ✅ | ❌ |
| Over 5 Million Phones Sold | ✅ | ❌ |
| Do they Pick up the Phone? | ✅ | ❌ |
*BackMarket is a Marketplace similar to that of eBay, Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace with individual unmonitored resellers. ** On orders over £150. ***Wide Selection of Brands and Models includes Apple iPhone, Samsung, Google, Huawei, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Oppo, Motorola, Sony Xperia, Nokia, Honor, and CAT. (All information is up-to-date as of 03/07/2024).
Comparing The Big Phone Store vs Back Market
BackMarket.co.uk is a newcomer to buying refurbished devices. As a marketplace website (similar to Amazon Renewed), it brings together hundreds of refurbishers, big and small, experienced and new, to help people find the refurbished iPhone or Android phone they want in excellent condition. However, some compromises must be made with so many refurbishers under one roof. BackMarket has to take a cut of every sale, and the quality of the refurbished phone you receive can vary depending on the supplier. That’s why we believe The Big Phone Store is the best alternative.
Who’s Been Selling Refurb Phones Since 1999?
The Big Phone Store or Back Market: who has more refurb expertise?
The answer is simple: The Big Phone Store has been selling refurbished phones since 1999, which means we have over 25 years of refurb experience. Back Market, on the other hand, is not a refurbisher. Instead, BackMarket is an online marketplace similar to Amazon, where multiple refurbishers come together to sell devices. Not only that, but BackMarket didn’t even exist before 2014! Phones from The Big Phone Store have been known to function well for more than just a few.
Which Company Is Based In The UK?
Back Market was founded in 2014 by French entrepreneurs and remains French-owned today. It only launched in the UK in 2020—over two decades after The Big Phone Store started refurbishing phones and more recently than we first launched our online store. Meanwhile, The Big Phone Store operates out of a one-acre refurbishment facility based in Wolverhampton. As far as we know, no other refurbisher is trusted, deeply experienced, or privately owned in the UK. In 2023, we were identified as the UK’s fastest-growing refurbished phone brand (according to third-party web traffic estimates).
Which Company Offers a UK-Based Customer Service Helpline?
Back Market UK boasts to its sellers that it fully outsources the customer experience. While this allows smaller refurbishers to enter the market, it also means that Back Market is a middleman between you and the seller. This might not be great for you if you’re encountering technical issues! Some customers have reported terrible customer service experiences with Back Market, including difficulties with returns and unresponsive support. At The Big Phone Store, we aim to eliminate any middlemen that cost you money and provide less value. We offer a dedicated customer service helpline from Wolverhampton’s massive refurb and recycling facility! That means friendly, expert advice and direct, hands-on assistance with your order or trade-in at every step of the way. BackMarket does not offer contact details at the time of writing without logging in and creating an account on its website. Meanwhile, The Big Phone Store’s customer service team is here to advise and help you make your purchase right from the start.
Which Company is Cheaper?
On the one hand, Back Market acts as a middleman between you and the refurbisher. The company needs to make money, so it takes a cut of every sale through its platform (which drives up the price). You can avoid these price hikes by buying directly from a refurbisher, such as The Big Phone Store, which doesn't pay to appear on Back Market's website. On the other hand, as a large marketplace, BackMarket's prices can vary greatly depending on the refurbisher who supplies the phone. That means you'll sometimes find a cheaper phone on Back Market's website than from The Big Phone Store. This is because we refuse to save money by cutting corners or compromising our strict quality standards while offering highly competitive pricing. When it comes to refurbishing, we're not the cheapest - we're the best.
Which Sells Brand-New and Like-New Phones?
Back Market sells phones in 3 refurbished conditions, with their highest grade being Excellent’ (which matches our ‘Pristine’ condition). This is a phone with light signs of use. It may have a few visible scratches, but the very light micro-scratches can only be seen in close-ups. Meanwhile, The Big Phone Store sells phones in an impressive SIX different conditions, most notably adding ‘Like New’ (with zero marks or light scratches of any kind) and ‘Brand New’. That’s right, Brand New, as in a sealed-in-box. Customers often express their satisfaction with receiving a 'new phone' experience even from our refurbished options, emphasising the excellent condition.
Which Company Has Better Quality Control?
As an independent refurbisher, The Big Phone Store fully oversees every refurbished phone we sell. Every phone is tested by us in-house using a 90-point Phoneheck™ test, widely recognised as one of the most detailed quality assurance tests available for smartphones. This ensures excellent battery life through rigorous testing, unlike some experiences reported with Back Market. Not only that, if you’re unsatisfied with your order, you can get in touch with us directly!
We Also Accept Trade-Ins!
Sell your old phone directly to The Big Phone Store with our awesome three-step trade-in process.
1.Instant Quote:
Simply check out our Sell My Phone and search for your device, let us know its condition, and get an instant quote right away!2.Free Shipping:
The Big Phone Store offers completely FREE shipping for your old phone when you send it to us! Find out more when you check out.3.Fast Payment:
If your phone arrives with us in the correct condition, you could receive a payment on the same day!Our Unique Services (Updated 2024):
Upgrade to 100% battery health with our battery replacement service!
The Big Phone Store is proud to offer an awesome service when you’re buying a refurbished phone. On selected models, we will replace the battery in your refurbished phone with a brand-new one, boosting you to 100% battery health! Choose this add-on at checkout to make sure your refurbished phone reaches you with a fully healthy battery.
Speaking of renewal, you can also choose for us to ship your refurbished phone in original branded packaging (subject to availability). Simply select the ‘Original Box’ add-on when you check out!
Hand-fitted screen protectors!
Say goodbye to bubbles under your screen protector. If you choose to add a screen protector, rear glass protector, or camera lens protector to your refurbished phone purchase, our expert mobile phone technicians will hand-fit it to your device, guaranteeing a perfect finish every time.
Visit us in Wolverhampton!
That’s right, we are open to the public! Our dedicated recycling and refurbishment facility, based right here in Wolverhampton, is home to a public showroom where you can see the quality of our devices firsthand. We're absolutely proud of this.
Please come and visit us. We love to welcome people to our store, and our friendly team is always available to help with any questions. We're open Monday-Friday, 9 am to 5:30 pm, at:
The Big Phone Store
Wednesfield Business Park, Waddens Brook Lane
Wolverhampton, WV11 3SF
Want a sneak peek inside our store? Click here to watch our recent ad!