Tech Quality Guarantee

Every mobile phone we sell on the musicMagpie Store goes through a rigorous 10 point check to make sure you’re getting a quality device that’s ready to use straight away. Here’s what we look out for!

 

ID Activation Check

Recent versions of iOS (and Android) lock phones to a certain ID. You can’t use the phone if you don’t have the details, which is a bit of problem when the phone is going to a new owner!

If we find that the phone is locked, we’ll ask the previous owner to remove their ID remotely.  

 

CheckMEND

Phones get stolen or lost every day, and sometimes thieves will try and profit. Luckily, we have an excellent defence against this: CheckMEND.

CheckMEND is the UK’s largest consumer electronics background reports service. When we receive a phone, we run it by CheckMEND to see if it’s been reported stolen or lost. 

 

Checking the Touch Screen, Mic, Siri, Speaker and Water Damage

With confirmation that the phone hasn’t been stolen or lost, we begin our thorough technical checks. This begins with a test of the basic features: the touch screen, the mic and the speaker. 

We’ll also check for water damage, which can lead to problems down the line. If the phone includes a personal assistant feature, we’ll have a quick chat to Siri, Cortana or Google Now to check they’re alright.

 

Making a test call

Although a lot of people prefer WhatsApp and Facebook these days, it’s still important that a phone can make calls. So, we dial up a number and call someone. Don’t worry, we’re not prank calling anyone: we have a list of numbers set up especially for this purpose. 

If the call is successful, we move onto the next stage...

 

Testing the battery

We carry out two main battery tests. The first is to check that the phone charges properly; it’s not much use if it can’t! 

The second is to check it holds it charge. The last thing anyone wants is a phone that hits 100% only to die 5 minutes later.

 

Checking GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth

Many of the features we enjoy on our phones rely on GPS, WiFi or Bluetooth, which is why we thoroughly check that all of them work properly. Basically, our testers get to browse the internet and get paid for it.

 

Testing the audio jack

The audio jack is one of the most used components on a phone, which means it’s also one of the most commonly broken! 

We make sure the audio jack is fully operational and ready to pump out your favourite tunes from the moment you turn it on. 

 

Making sure the camera works

If you love a good selfie, we’ve got you covered. We make sure that all the cameras on the device – front and back – work as good as new so you can take Instagram-worthy shots every time. 

 

Carrying out network checks

If the device is locked to a network, we’ll make sure it’s compatible. If it’s unlocked, we’ll double check that it’s not actually locked to a network. Either way, you’ll get exactly what we advertise on the site. 

 

Restoring to factory settings

With all of our technical checks complete, the only thing left for us to do is reset the phone to factory settings and erase any leftover data so that it’s ready for its new owner.