Where do stores put old smartphones, which you exchange for new ones with a surcharge

According to The Wall Street Journal, old iPhones end up in special warehouses, where they are divided into two categories: they, which can be sold without repair to countries with low demand for new gadgets, and this, that need to be restored and brought to “like new” condition.

During the recovery process, devices are checked for functionality, employees erase all data and pack the devices into boxes. After this, they are resold through official channels or retail chains.

In this way, Companies can profit from reselling iPhones. for example, for iPhone 11, which can be purchased on the secondary market for $200, after repair they may ask $350.