Industry's First Introduction of Used Phone ATM 'Mintit'
Expected to Enhance Customer Accessibility and Convenience
Emart24 announced on the 1st that it will be the first convenience store chain in the industry to introduce 'MINTIT,' an AI-based used phone sales ATM.
As a result, customers can now easily sell their used phones through the MINTIT ATM installed in Emart24 stores.
When a used phone intended for sale is placed into the collection box inside the MINTIT ATM, AI analyzes the smartphone’s model, condition, and market price to immediately provide an appraisal amount. After confirming the appraisal amount, the transaction details are sent via KakaoTalk or text message, and once account information is entered, the payment is deposited into the account within 3 minutes.
Instead of selling the used phone, customers can also choose to 'Donate' the phone’s value. The donations are used to support IT devices and related education for vulnerable children and youth. Starting this year, the donations will also be used for the 'Planting Three Red Trees' campaign to protect children who have lost their homes due to climate change.
Additionally, transactions through MINTIT allow customers to conveniently trade used phones at nearby convenience stores without concerns about fraud or personal information leakage. The collected used phones are recycled as parts or raw materials for other products, contributing to resource circulation.
Emart24 decided to introduce MINTIT due to the growth of the used phone trading market. According to the Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI), the domestic used phone market size was 6.82 million units in 2021, 7.08 million units in 2022, and is expected to reach 7.78 million units in 2023, showing annual growth. Emart24 explained that the used phone sales ATM was introduced to enhance customer accessibility and convenience.
Emart24 first installed the MINTIT ATM at the R Gangdong Review store and plans to expand the number of stores with installations sequentially while conducting various promotions in collaboration with MINTIT.
Through collaboration with MINTIT, Emart24 expects to enhance convenience for convenience store customers while positioning convenience stores as a platform for used phone sales.
Kim Sanghyun, head of Emart24’s Service Platform Team, said, "We expect to improve customer accessibility and convenience by introducing a used phone sales service utilizing the offline space of convenience stores," adding, "We will sequentially increase the number of MINTIT operating stores to strengthen Emart24’s image as a lifestyle-oriented service platform."
Meanwhile, Emart24 offers other lifestyle-oriented services that enhance customer convenience, such as 'Charging Pig,' a portable battery rental service, 'Printing Box,' an unmanned printing kiosk, and 'Battery Charging Stations' for electric bike users.
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