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Envirofone Review
Envirofone is one of the original UK refurbished-phone retailers, with roots that go back to 2002 when the business was founded as Eazyfone in Maccles...
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Twenty-plus years in the UK refurbished market makes Envirofone one of the most established brands in the category - the refurbishment process is mature and the operational kinks of newer entrants have been worked out long ago
- Strong Trustpilot score of 4.6/5 across approximately 46,000 reviews, with 80% five-star ratings and only 6% one-star (significantly better than the 14% one-star rate at multi-seller marketplaces like Back Market)
- Five-tier condition grading system (As New, Pristine, Excellent, Good, Fair) gives buyers more granular pricing options than the typical three-tier scheme - the Fair grade unlocks the cheapest entry points if cosmetics aren't a concern
- Battery health guaranteed - iPhones at minimum 85%, all other handsets at minimum 80% or the battery is replaced during refurb. This is more transparent than many UK refurbishers who don't quote a number
Cons
- Free delivery is 48-hour rather than next-day - faster shipping is a paid upgrade. Single-retailer competitors like The Big Phone Store and Mobiles.co.uk include free next-day on most orders, which matters when you need a working phone now
- Original manufacturer boxes and headphones are not guaranteed in the box. The device arrives in recyclable Envirofone packaging with a SIM tool only - if presentation matters, this can disappoint
- Customer-service complaints on Trustpilot are concentrated around the trade-in (sell) side rather than buying refurbished, but the underlying support team is the same. Resolution times can run long when a buy goes wrong - email and a 0333 phone line are the only contact channels, no live chat
- Catalogue depth is narrower than marketplace competitors. Back Market and Mozillion list significantly more individual SKUs because they aggregate stock from multiple refurbishers - Envirofone only sells what its own facility has refurbished
Overview
Envirofone is one of the original UK refurbished-phone retailers, with roots that go back to 2002 when the business was founded as Eazyfone in Macclesfield. The Envirofone brand launched in 2005 and built its reputation on the trade-in side of the market - paying consumers for old handsets and putting the working ones back into circulation rather than scrapping them.
The ownership story is messier than most. Envirofone was rolled into Redeem UK Limited, which entered administration in 2020. The brand and assets were acquired by TES-AMM (since rebranded as SK tes, part of South Korea's SK Group) on 12 August 2020 and relaunched under new ownership. Operations now run from Devon, with the company stating that 100% of the mobiles passing through its system are reused, refurbished or recycled - and that more than 4 million devices have been kept in circulation under the Envirofone brand.
On the consumer-buy side, Envirofone sells refurbished phones across five condition grades (As New, Pristine, Excellent, Good and Fair), all SIM-unlocked and covered by a 12-month warranty. iPhones come with a guaranteed minimum 85% battery health; other devices are tested against manufacturer guidelines and have batteries replaced if capacity falls below 80% during refurbishment. Free 48-hour delivery is included on all orders, with paid next-day available as an upgrade.
Delivery
Free tracked delivery is included on all orders via a 48-hour service. Orders placed before 3pm Monday to Friday are typically dispatched within 2-3 working days, with delivery 3-5 working days from order. Next-day delivery is available as a paid upgrade at checkout. Returns use a free tracked Envirofone label - no need to pay postage to send a phone back.
Cashback & Offers
Envirofone runs an Awin affiliate programme, which means it appears on cashback sites that source stock from Awin (TopCashback and Quidco both index Awin merchants regularly). Promotional voucher codes circulate via affiliate channels around major shopping events. Note: commissions on Envirofone are paid as a flat fee per transaction band (£2-£5) rather than as a percentage, so any cashback offer will reflect that ceiling.
Our Verdict
Envirofone is a serious UK refurbished retailer with one of the longest track records in the category and a Trustpilot rating that puts it ahead of multi-seller marketplaces. The condition grading is granular, the battery-health guarantees are specific, and the warranty is honoured in-house rather than outsourced.
Where it falls short of stronger competitors is delivery (48-hour free vs. competitors' free next-day) and catalogue depth (one refurbisher's stock vs. aggregator marketplaces). Customer service is functional but slow when issues arise, and the original manufacturer packaging isn't guaranteed - cosmetic disappointment in the unboxing experience is a known complaint.
For most buyers, especially those who already know the model and grade they want, Envirofone delivers good value on solid mid-range stock. If you want the absolute lowest price across the widest selection, Back Market's marketplace model usually wins. If you want next-day shipping included for free, Mobiles.co.uk and The Big Phone Store are stronger picks. If you want a UK-headquartered specialist with a long track record and a clear battery guarantee, Envirofone is a well-priced choice that stays competitive in the category.
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