Most Indians Don’t Trust Factory Reset, Want Certified Data Wipes Before Selling Old Phones

Selling an old smartphone is no longer just about getting a fair price in India. According to a new survey by resale platform Cashify, data privacy has overtaken price as the top concern for sellers, even as the secondhand phone market keeps growing. The survey of 8,000 people found that nearly 70% of Indians worry their photos, passwords, and banking details could be misused after they sell their old phone. That fear is now shaping how people choose where to sell.

Data Security Now Matters More Than Price
When picking a platform to sell their phone on, 45% of respondents said data security was their top priority, ahead of getting a good price, which only 29.5% ranked first. That’s a notable shift for a market that has traditionally been driven by resale value.

Factory Reset Isn’t Winning Trust
About 83% of sellers said they do a factory reset before handing over their phone. But the survey suggests this step isn’t reassuring people the way it’s supposed to: 41% of those who reset their phones still don’t fully trust the process. That skepticism isn’t unfounded. The survey found that one in three respondents have, at some point, managed to recover data they had previously deleted, raising real doubts about whether a standard reset actually erases everything for good.

Customers Want Proof, Even If It Costs Extra
To fill that trust gap, more than 83% of customers said they want a formal “data deletion certificate” confirming their information has been wiped. Many said they’re willing to pay an additional fee just to get that assurance in writing.

Most Want the Government to Step In
The demand for accountability doesn’t stop at individual platforms. As many as 87.2% of consumers surveyed said they strongly want the government to bring in stricter laws governing data wiping in the smartphone resale industry, signaling that voluntary reassurances from resale companies may not be enough to settle public concern.