Hi all,
I try to make eco-friendly decisions and for this reason would not like to purchase a brand new phone. Does anyone know of any places in Cabo Verde that sell refurbished or used phones? Could I find them in, for example, a CV Móvel store? I am not currently in Cabo Verde, I am just wondering for future reference in case of needing a new phone as I plan to move there later this year. Thank you!
-@Zylen Xavier-Hendrix
Hi Zylen,
Since most locals simply cannot afford them, new phones are imported only by a handful of suppliers including CV Telecom, Unitel and a couple of other electronic shops. These places do NOT sell used phones.
On the other hand, used phones can be purchased from hundreds of informal sellers. These include the phone "technicians" in the barracas at Sucupira (the huge open market in Fazenda). However, the used phones sold at Sucupira are almost always stolen phones. When a local bandit steals a phone from a hapless victim (via a "casubody" or mugging), they immediately bring the stolen phone to Sucupira where they can fetch about $20 for it. The stolen phone is then wiped and resold.
Used phones are also sold by individuals who advertise their own phones for sale on Facebook. You see, most local people are given phones by their relatives who live in the diaspora (typically Europe and the US). When their relatives obtain new phones, they send the used ones to CV. So the diaspora is the source of the majority of phones in CV. The easiest way to get a used phone is via advertisements in the local Facebook groups.
There is no local source that I am aware of who is refurbishing phones, or importing refurbished phones.
Frankly, if you are not yet in Cape Verde, your most convenient and cheapest option is simply to bring an unlocked, used phone with you!
Hope this helps.
Angelo
