Wildberries now checks IMEI of expensive smartphones directly upon pickup: what will change for buyers

The purchase of expensive smartphones is intended to be made a little more transparent. Wildberries is introducing a rule that will allow checking the device's IMEI directly at the pickup point. If the unique identifier does not match, the phone can be refused immediately.

Starting July 1, IMEI verification for Apple and Samsung smartphones priced from 40,000 rubles will be available at all Wildberries pickup points in Russia — upon customer request when receiving an order.

Upon order pickup, the buyer can ask the pickup point employee to verify the IMEI on the packaging or check it on the powered-on device — activation of the smartphone is not required.

If the identifiers do not match, the buyer has the right to refuse the product directly at the pickup point, even if the packaging has already been opened.

Additionally, IMEI verification will become mandatory when returning smartphones.

As Anna Averina, Director of Customer Experience and Service Department at RWB, noted, the system has already been tested and proven effective.

The service was tested at 2,000 pickup points, where over 3,700 smartphones were tested. The company believes that scaling will make the purchase of expensive electronics safer and more transparent.