Online retailer Citylink announced the launch, together with classified Avito, of a pilot project for the purchase of used smartphones from individuals, within the framework of which three chain stores located in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Voronezh were connected to the service for a test period. The assessment of the devices to be handed in will be carried out by a robot with AI.
Image source: Citylink
The Reeva robot appraiser with AI is used to evaluate used devices in stores. It is reported that the process is fully automated and takes no more than five minutes. If the client is satisfied with the assessment result, a Citylink employee will confirm the transaction on the spot and buy the smartphone.
To carry out the assessment, the user needs to publish an ad on Avito, and the platform itself will offer to use the redemption of the smartphone in the Citylink store, indicating on the map the nearest retail outlet where this can be done.
To make a preliminary estimate of the cost of a smartphone, data from the sales advertisement is used. The robot appraiser provides an assessment of a smartphone from any manufacturer with any operating system. At the moment, foldable smartphones and models with eSIM support are not being evaluated, although Citilink promises that these options will appear in the future.
To carry out the assessment, it is necessary that the phone body is not seriously damaged and its battery charge is at least 20%.