Citylink launched a buyout of used smartphones using hardware robot evaluators

On August 13, 2024, it became known that the online retailer Citylink, together with the classification Avito, launched a new service for evaluating and buying used smartphones using valuation robots. This initiative is aimed at expanding the opportunities for selling used gadgets and simplifying the process of evaluating them for users.

The new service is available to residents of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Voronezh. In order to use the service, the seller needs to place an advertisement for the sale of a smartphone on the Avito platform, choose a method of selling Through the Partner and fill out a questionnaire on the device's performance. After that, the user can select a convenient Citylink store for the assessment.

source = Avito

In the selected store, a special robot Reeva will conduct a comprehensive diagnostics of the smartphone, which will take about 5 minutes. During the test, the functionality and state of the battery, camera, screen, speakers, microphones and other components of the device are evaluated. Upon completion of diagnostics, the robot determines the total cost of the smartphone for redemption.

If the offered price suits the seller, an employee of the Citylink store helps to complete the transaction, after which the funds are instantly sent to the user's card. The total time of the evaluation and sale procedure is 10-15 minutes.

For the correct operation of the service, it is necessary that the body of the smartphone does not have serious damage, and the battery level is at least 20%. All purchased devices are transferred to Avito's partner, Good Communication, for further sale.

In case of successful implementation of the pilot project, by the end of 2024 it is planned to install another 20 robot evaluators in Citylink stores. This will significantly expand the geography of the service and make the process of buying and selling used smartphones more accessible and transparent to users.^[1]

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