MalayMail-Nov 26
Not too long ago, trading in a used phone was an ad-hoc affair, often involving a bit of haggling at a small, independent store. Today, a new generation of professional second-hand retailers like CompAsia, Swapper Malaysia, and CEX have turned the trade-in market into a booming, mainstream industry, fueling a surge in smart consumer habits and, for some, providing a desperate financial lifeline. This new, structured ecosystem is what brought 28-year-old digital marketer Viknesh Raj into a store last weekend. For him, upgrading is not a luxury, but a practical necessity. “I shoot a lot of short videos, so my old phone just can’t keep up,” Viknesh said. “No point burning thousands on a brand new one when you can be smart about it.” At a CompAsia outlet in Petaling Jaya, 21-year-old retailer Danish Kamal said this mindset is becoming the norm. “The iPhone 16 Pro Max costs over RM6,000 brand new. Here, you can get one for under RM4,000, and it still works perfectly,” he said, pointing to the company’s motto of giving devices a second chance. However, he notes that the business is volatile, and prices for used phones fluctuate often.
“Every month, prices drop. Still, the business has shown no signs of slowing, with major spikes during festive seasons like Hari Raya and Chinese New Year. Beyond individual savings, this booming trade-in market also offers a partial answer to Malaysia’s accelerating e-waste problem. In 2024, the country produced over 55,000 tons of e-waste, with discarded mobile phones being a primary contributor. This year alone, it is estimated that Malaysia will generate approximately 24.5 million pieces of e-waste, primarily phones. The professionalization of the second-hand market provides a crucial alternative to simply throwing these devices away, helping to extend the life cycle of used devices, keeping them out of landfills and contributing to a more circular economy. Read more at:
