I’ve been interested in CompAsia for a while – a company that buys, sells, and trades refurbished phones, tablets, and laptops in Asia. The site CompAsia.com appears professional, and the company even touts itself as “the leading device-focused fintech and solutions provider in Asia,” with operations in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and other locations. Curious to save money, I ordered a refurbished phone through CompAsia’s online store (the process and issues I encountered are detailed below).
Before making a purchase, I thoroughly researched dozens of user reviews on Trustpilot, Reddit, and various forums. The picture wasn’t all rosy: CompAsia’s Trustpilot profile has a poor 1.9/5 TrustScore, with a whopping 67% of reviews at 1 star. Below, I break down what I found during my own experience and what real users are saying about this company.
Table of Contents
Buying Refurbished Devices: My First-Hand Trial
I browsed CompAsia’s e-commerce site (the Malaysian portal compasia. my in my case). The interface is clean: products are listed by brand and model, with graded conditions like “As New”, “Excellent”, “Good”, or “Fair”. Each listing shows battery health and defects. I ordered an iPhone in “Good” condition (expecting minor wear). To my relief, the phone shipped quickly – I got a tracking notification within a day.
It arrived in about 3 business days, which matches what one Reddit user noted: “I ordered it last June 3 and it arrived 3 days later (June 6)”. Out of the box, the phone worked fine. The screen was bright and mostly as advertised. It looked nearly new except for a tiny scratch on the back corner – exactly what I expected for a “Good” grade.
However, digging into user reports made me uneasy. Many reviewers on Trustpilot report buying phones labeled “Excellent” or “As New” and then finding defects. One user was shocked to receive an “excellent” iPhone 15 Pro with obvious dents, scratches, and even a dead SIM slot. Another customer’s iPhone 13 (also “excellent” grade) died completely within 22 days, and CompAsia’s support went silent. In my case, I so far haven’t had a catastrophic failure – the phone keeps working – but I remain cautious. The company claims every device passes a “32-step quality check”, and their site boasts friendly customer support and responsive post-sales care.
Unfortunately, reality can differ: I did notice that CompAsia explicitly disallows returning your purchase for any reason. According to their policy, purchases are final – no returns or exchanges unless you’ve paid extra for a special Replace+ warranty. If I had discovered something wrong with my phone, I would only get store credit (no cash refund), and there’s a 30-day wait to process it. (Those terms are very strict: you must report wrong or damaged items within 2 days of delivery, or you lose your claim.)
In summary, buying from CompAsia can work out, but the stakes are high. The device I got was okay for now, but the mixed customer feedback suggests you must be ready for some risk. It may be best to choose the top-grade items (“As New” or “Excellent”) and possibly pay for an extended warranty if you need peace of mind. One Reddit reviewer summed it up: “Overall, it’s probably a hit or miss… If you want the peace of mind of a working device, go get the ‘Excellent’ or ‘As New’ condition and… extended warranty. If you want scratch-free… then go buy brand new.”
Trading In & Buyback: Cashing in My Old Phone
CompAsia also advertises trade-in and buyback services. I decided to try this with my old phone. The trade-in process was straightforward: I requested a quote online, accepted it, and scheduled a pickup. Their team arrived (actually, an LBC courier arranged via CompAsia) and inspected the device on the spot.
The staff did not require boxes or accessories (just ID and proof of original purchase) – one helpful Reddit user even mentioned “not the best price, but you don’t have to include boxes or accessories”. Sure enough, CompAsia credited my account for the agreed amount. Officially, they promise payment within 14 working days, and in my case, it took closer to 18 business days to see the funds (within their 3-week ballpark).
But many users report headaches here. For example, a Trustpilot reviewer traded in a phone on March 15 and by day 14 still had no payment – she described how “customer service was horrid… no follow-up”, and even threatened a police report. Another user waited a full month with no update on a trade-in, despite calling and emailing; staff eventually said the payment was “pending” with no details.
CompAsia’s replies often echo the same lines: they remind customers that trade-in payouts take up to 14 working days (excluding weekends/holidays) and ask you to contact support with details. All in all, my experience was mediocre but salvageable – I eventually got my money, while others felt bullied by delays.
A noteworthy point: CompAsia is a partner in Samsung’s trade-in program, but the promise of a quick swap can go awry. One Reddit commenter warned that CompAsia might deduct differences or delays in appraisal (common for all trade-in providers). On the positive side, my final payout matched what was quoted and cleared into my bank (not a voucher), which I found decent.
But readers should note: CompAsia pays in cash or bank transfer, not gift cards or coupons, according to their Malaysia site. Also, keep in mind that any physical defects will significantly reduce your trade-in value. In my case, the buyer noted some battery wear but accepted it after charging a small fee to match a “good” condition trade-in offer.
Warranty, Returns, and Hidden Terms
The devil is in the details of CompAsia’s return and warranty policies. I read these closely. Officially, every device comes with a 1-month warranty from the date of purchase. That covers “all functional issues” except normal wear (battery degradation), physical/water damage, and tampering. Beyond 30 days, the standard plan offers no free fixes. (You can optionally pay for an extended warranty or a 2-year “Replace Plus” plan when purchasing.)
If you need a refund because the wrong item arrived or it was damaged, CompAsia will issue a store credit equal to what you paid. No cash refunds are given: “We do not accept cash refunds at this moment,” and they take up to 30 business days to process a credit. There is no “change your mind” return – all sales are final. Exchanges are outright prohibited unless you’ve bought the expensive Replace Plus add-on. In practice, this means even if your device fails right away, you only get CompAsia store credit (to spend on another device) and must wait a long time for it.
Several customers have run into this. One reviewer on Trustpilot described buying an extended-device-care service (through a partner) and later being told that CompAsia quietly canceled the plan. When she asked for a refund, they reminded her that it “takes 30 working days to refund the money.” She complained that “they take money from customers, go silent, hoping we won’t notice”. Another used the trade-in warranty of Samsung, and after her old phone bricked, CompAsia offered only a lower-grade replacement under warranty; she ended up demanding a full refund instead of a swap. These horror stories suggest that any warranty or “Device Care” plan through CompAsia can end up being a waiting game.
In my case, I kept my original receipts and took pictures when unboxing, just in case. So far, I haven’t needed a claim. But reading all these accounts made me very careful: if anything goes wrong in that first month, it pays to document and complain immediately. Some users have resorted to threatening legal action or consumer protection agencies just to get CompAsia to honor a return or refund request.
Customer Support and Communication
CompAsia claims to have “friendly customer support” and 24/7 help via email/WhatsApp, but many reviewers beg to differ. In my dealings, I tried emailing support@compasia.com with a question and received only an automated acknowledgment. Over WhatsApp, I typically got a quick “ticket received” note, but human follow-up was slow. One Reddit user waiting for a warranty fix noted: “They almost always reply within the day”, but that was only the automatic response – the actual repair still lagged.
The problem seems systemic: Trustpilot is littered with tales of ignored tickets and unreturned calls. One customer said it took an entire day just to get a reply on WhatsApp, and their email was answered outside office hours. Another was told to wait 48 working hours after reporting an issue, and then waited 96 hours with no reply at all. Multiple people have complained that they contacted three different email addresses and WhatsApp numbers with zero results. Even a local Redditor advised checking CompAsia’s Facebook comments page; there are long threads of unhappy customers there as well.
My own approach was to document everything: email threads, WhatsApp chats, names of agents. I heard that CompAsia typically does respond to Trustpilot complaints (they claim to respond to 63% of negative reviews), but the replies are often generic apologies and empty promises. For example, in one Trustpilot exchange, a user complained about a phone failure, and CompAsia’s rep replied with a standard apology and claimed to refund the order, which at least showed some action. In contrast, other complaints in the open forum get no reply at all.
Overall, CompAsia’s support is underwhelming. The company emphasizes the convenience of WhatsApp and online messaging, but I found human follow-up spotty. In the end, it left me feeling that if there’s a problem, I’d have to be very persistent and escalate quickly (as others did by contacting local consumer agencies).
Pricing and Value
Why did I shop here? Largely for the price. CompAsia advertises savings up to “50% off” on many devices. Indeed, the price I paid was much lower than retail. And my device was functional, so I did save money. Many satisfied customers echo this: one blogger exclaimed, “I bought 4 phones from CompAsia… [they were] almost good as new… Super sulit!” (Tagalog for “really worth it”). Another Reddit buyer got a Samsung tablet with a known “yellowish screen” defect on clearance for a steal, and reported it arrived looking brand-new.
However, the negative reviews warn that cheap can be expensive if things go wrong. As one reviewer bluntly put it: “Buy at your own risk. It is cheaper than other places, but please consider before purchasing.”. That sums up the trade-off: you do pay less, but you forfeit many guarantees. Note also that the trade-in values might not be top dollar. In my case, the trade-in quote was fair but not fantastic. A Reddit user paid RM346 for an iPhone XS (64GB), while another saw a quote of just RM45 on an older model. These quotes vary based on condition and timing. (Tip from a user: trade in phones at month-end, when valuations can be slightly higher.)
Finally, hidden costs can lurk. For example, the device I ordered did not include a charger or cable (unless specified), so I had to buy those separately. One buyer noted that CompAsia sometimes includes a “fake” charger on cheaper grades, which broke easily. There are also third-party warranty upsells: their ReNewNGo plan advertises up to 3-year coverage (some sources say 3-year warranty under certain plans, which conflicts with the 1-month free warranty above). I skipped the upsells, but readers should know the initial warranty is just 1 month unless you pay more.
In short, CompAsia can offer good deals on performance phones, but you must account for “what-if” scenarios. My decision was based on having a backup plan (I kept my old phone for a week to be safe) and making sure I understood their policies.
Also Read: Reebelo Review: Legit Refurb Deals or Risky Site?
Trust Signals vs. Red Flags
After all this, where do I stand on trustworthiness? Here are the positives I noted:
- Official Presence: CompAsia has physical retail stores and official partnerships (even with Samsung). Their corporate site is well-designed, and they list real addresses and phone numbers.
- Large Company: They operate in multiple countries and claim to have processed millions of devices. (That suggests it’s a real business, not a fly-by-night scam.)
- Quality Checks: They advertise a strict 32-step inspection and even show a marketing video about it. I didn’t witness that, but at least they publicize quality control.
- Lower Prices: Customers do save money upfront compared to buying new, especially on flagship models.
- Trade-In Convenience: They will pick up devices, which is easier than selling on marketplaces. Payout does happen (eventually).
Countering that, here are the red flags I observed:
- Customer Feedback: The overwhelming volume of negative reviews is alarming. Trustpilot is dominated by poor ratings. Real users routinely report missing shipments, defective items, endless delays, and rude service.
- Warranty Limitations: A 1-month warranty (free) is extremely short. That’s practically no guarantee on a used phone. In many cases I saw, devices broke just outside or even inside that window, and then CompAsia tried to deflect responsibility.
- Refund Terms: They only offer store credit, not cash, and take up to a month to process. This is very restrictive. It effectively traps your money unless you buy something else from them.
- Communication Issues: Unanswered emails and messages suggest a company that doesn’t prioritize customer care. Even if they are “legit”, a lack of support turns legit business into a nightmare.
- Hidden Changes: The complaint about the Device Care program being cancelled without notice was a big red flag. It shows terms can change on the company’s end without alerting customers.
- Mix of Honest and Not: Some comments hint that CompAsia sometimes stocks non-original parts (like suspect OLED panels), which could void claims, though I couldn’t confirm that myself. (See e.g. random internet mentions of “Counterfeit screen” concerns – I didn’t find an authoritative source to cite, but it’s a rumor to be aware of.)
In the end, is CompAsia a “scam”? It’s not a front for identity theft or outright fraud – they do send you devices and will pay you money eventually. However, many experiences feel unethical due to the runaround. I would characterize CompAsia more as a legit company with very poor customer service and aggressive terms than a scam site.
For a cautious buyer, the risk can be managed: treat CompAsia like a thrift store. Assume you might have to fight for every promise (a bit like buying something damaged on eBay and crossing fingers). But if you go in eyes wide open – pick high-grade items, pay for extra warranty if needed, document everything, and expect delays – you might end up with a functional device at a good price. Just don’t rely on CompAsia if perfection or quick support is your priority.
Technical Scoring System: CompAsia
| Category | Weight | Score | Details |
| Domain & WHOIS | 20% | 15/20 | Domain is well-established (compasia.com), but ownership transparency is moderate. |
| Security (SSL, Blacklist) | 20% | 20/20 | Fully secured with valid SSL. No blacklist or malware detection. |
| Performance (Speed, Design) | 15% | 10/15 | Decent mobile responsiveness and design. Some speed issues on pages. |
| Transparency (Contact, Policies) | 15% | 9/15 | Policies are listed, but hard to find. Email and form support only; no live chat or phone. |
| Reputation (Reviews, Social) | 20% | 7/20 | Mixed reviews. High volume of complaints about refunds and device quality on Reddit and Trustpilot. Active on social, but engagement is low. |
| Content Quality | 10% | 7/10 | Professional layout, but lacks full product transparency (e.g., grading details vary). |
Total Score: 68/100 – Use Caution
While CompAsia is not a scam, the mixed customer feedback and limited support options suggest you should proceed carefully, especially for expensive purchases. Always read the warranty terms and refund policy thoroughly.
Conclusion
My verdict after digging into CompAsia is mixed trust, but with major cautions. The company is real and offers what it promises on paper (refurbished devices and trade-ins), but the execution is sloppy.
The overwhelming negative reviews and strict policies are clear warnings. If CompAsia were on trial, I’d say: “It’s not a fraud, but it’s a company to approach very carefully.” In short, CompAsia can be legit, but only if you understand the risks.
