Reebelo Australia Review - Should buyers be wary? (2023)

Updated 31st March 2023: When you're thinking of getting a preowned, refurbished phone or electronic device, the retailer you choose could make a fundamental difference. It could either be an excellent, no-fuss device that delivers value for money or it could be a sub-par one that might end up costing you a lot more in dealing with returns and subsequent headaches.

Reebelo Australia is a Singapore-based marketplace for refurbished electronics that has expanded its services into other countries, including Australia, New Zealand & Malaysia. Reebelo is a second-tier choice marketplace (the first being eBay!) - with one of the main differences being "approved sellers" able to sell their products as compared to eBay where an individual can sell too.

As a second-hand marketplace for smartphones, Reebelo has a decent collection of products each at an unexpected price tag. Like every online business, it tries to provide reliable service to its customers but there are many other reputable retailers in Australia from whom you can buy a cheap Samsung phone or a preowned phone in general, so why buy from the "new kid on the block"? According to a report on Investopedia, around 90% of the start-ups fail and if that's the case with Reebelo then they might not be here to honour the 12-month warranty or a 24-month extended warranty.

From the outside, Reebelo looks like an ok company but a handful of consumers have vented their frustration on review platforms citing several issues they have encountered with Reebelo from damaged and faulty devices to late deliveries, and even blatantly unacceptable customer service.

A whole lot of questions but not a lot of answers

On their website, the customer reviews show only the positive ones (4 & 5 stars). They show glaring positive reviews and praise for their quick and prompt services but critical feedback seems censored. Secondly, the vendors are responsible for selling fully functional devices on Reebelo's platform, one must ask how are these vendors being vetted, invited onboard and what are the checks being done. If the vendors on the platform consistently engage in selling sub-par products then how are they being penalized and what steps the Reebelo team is taking to ensure these vendors do not simply appear again under different business names.

Thirdly, Reebelo claims that the phones have been vetted and graded according to the "40+ quality checkpoints" but nowhere does it state how do they verify that the sellers have actually checked the phones according to those standards? If that's the case then sellers can sell sub-par devices on the platform and you'd quite literally end up with a headache. Also, once a vendor is kicked out of its platform. Who will honour the warranty when the vendor isn't there? Will Reebelo team take care of it?

Seller’s Ratings

Other marketplaces like eBay offer seller ratings where you can find more about the seller, their reviews and other important details which can help make an informed purchasing decision. This is extremely important when you are buying a let's say an Apple iPhone or the latest Samsung Galaxy device from a marketplace to ensure you’re buying from a legit seller who has been doing this professionally and has good reviews but at Reebelo seller reviews are nowhere to be found, albeit a non-clickable seller rating is visible. 

Moreover, as you click through product colours and conditions in a particular listing, the vendor also changes. For eg., a second hand iPhone 11 in good condition could be supplied by "Seller A" whereas the same phone in the same condition in the black colour is supplied by "Seller B". In Reebelo's ideal world all suppliers are equal in terms of service and all refurbished devices are treated and created equally, the only difference being the price. In the real world, this is seldom the case and instigates the “race to the bottom” practice i.e sacrificing quality standards to compete on price.

Slow response times?

Australian consumers cherish quick and reliable resolution to their queries and while Reebelo does its best to answer the queries on review platforms, some customers have accused the company of being too slow to respond. Some have reported having bought phones only to receive them and realize that they don't have a sim card tray. 

While they do have positive reviews from satisfied customers, the bulk of their complaints highlights malfunctioning devices and poor customer service; the two most significant risks when purchasing refurbished and pre-owned electronic items. Consumers should do their due diligence when buying from Reebelo or any marketplace for that matter.

Warranty fulfilled by Reebelo or a third party or both?

Despite the acknowledged risks of purchasing refurbished electronics online, customers expect products to be as advertised along with satisfactory after-sales services. Reebelo works with vendors who provide their collection of new, used and refurbished products. When buying refurbished items, it is always advisable to check for seller warranty and repair options or refund terms provided by the seller. However, in Reebelo’s case, a blanket 12 months warranty is offered on all refurbished devices being sold on its platform, fulfilled by the vendor!

What others think

On Scamadviser, an online site reviewer that checks whether a site is legit or a scam, Reebelo has a 76% score. However, as the proverbial saying goes, the devil is in the details. Reading some of the critical feedback is somewhat disturbing.

On Trustpilot, Reebelo seems to have more of a positive reputation. There are good reviews, but it's hard to ignore the one-star reviews that claim to have fallen victim and couldn't recover their money.

When it comes to choosing a reseller of refurbished items, trust and communication are paramount. With an increased number of vendors, Reebelo has subjected some of its customers to less than pleasant experiences as some reviewers have claimed.

There are plenty of well-established retailers in Australia who sell the highest quality refurbished iPhones and other devices which are exactly as described at the lowest price possible along with other perks like quick delivery and easy transaction. You can buy from reputable retailers in Australia that have a whole range of Apple iPhones ranging from iPhone 6 to iPhone 13 Pro Max in a variety of colours like Space Grey, Sierra Blue, Alpine Green and Starlight. If you are on the fence about buying from Reebelo then it's better to do your due diligence and ask questions before clicking that “Pay Now” button.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are of the author. All brand names/trademarks belong to their respective owners and Phonebot has no affiliation with these brands.