Three UK Boosts Rewards and Enters the Smartphone Reuse, Recycle Fray

Mobile network operator Three UK has decided to catch up with some of their rivals by launching three new initiatives (i.e. ‘Like New‘, ‘Trade-In‘ and ‘Connect Together’) for consumers to help them reuse and recycle older Smartphones, while also rewarding households for adding more connections, if they so choose.

We’ll start with ‘Connect Together‘ because it’s a bit of a different proposition from the other two initiatives. Under this scheme, customers will be able to receive a 20% discount on “additional lines” or 4G/5G based Home Broadband and will be rewarded every time they add another line to their account.

Just to be clear, additional lines could be a new SIM, device + airtime or even Home Broadband or Mobile Broadband contract. Connect Together also simplifies account management by allowing customers to handle all accounts in one place, making it easier than ever to add products and services as needed.

At the same time Three UK has also moved to enhance their support for device refurbishment and recycling via their ‘Like New‘ and ‘Trade-In‘ initiatives. Check out the official blurb below, although we’ve already seen similar things from their rivals.

Like New

All part of the evolution of our ‘Three Your Way’ proposition, customers are now able to choose a “Like New” device. Like New allows customers to save money on the latest tech by choosing a refurbished device. We’ll also offer a 36-month Extended Warranty for extra peace of mind.

By choosing a Like New device, customers can feel great about doing their bit to protect the environment, while saving money. Purchasing a refurbished phone has a lower carbon footprint than buying a new one and gives a useful device a new lease of life, preventing it from going to waste.

Trade-In

In addition to “Like New”, our new Trade-In proposition enables customers to trade in their old devices – whether it’s a phone, tablet, or smartwatch – to receive either a discount on new tech or money sent straight to their bank accounts. It underpins Three’s sustainability commitment to reduce electronic waste and will provide customers with access to more affordable tech choices.

At this point it’s worth noting that customers can also donate their old phones with the ‘Reconnected‘ programme, which helps disadvantaged people get connected with six months of unlimited data, calls, and texts. Over 16,000 phones have been donated to date.

Andy Foy, New Product Propositions & Insight Director at Three UK, said:

“We’re excited to launch these new initiatives which demonstrate our commitment to improving customer experience and continue to deliver on our sustainability strategy. Both Like New and Trade-In not only deliver better value for our customers, but also reduce electronic waste, while Connect Together is all about recognising and rewarding our customers’ loyalty. By offering discounts on additional lines and making account management easier, we’re ensuring that our customers get the best possible experience across all touchpoints.”

Naturally, consumers could of course just buy a refurbished device from a different service or sell their old kit via eBay or other auction sites, which might result in a better return for your pocket. But there is something to be said for taking an approach that benefits from having the support and guarantees of a big mobile operator behind it.