Headline: Buying a phone online? Here’s how I tell if a store is legit

If there’s one question I get asked often, it’s this: do you know a legit website where I can buy an original phone online?
I understand why people ask. Buying a smartphone online in Nigeria is easier than ever, but knowing whether the store you’re paying is actually genuine is still the hard part.
Almost every week, someone tells me a version of the same story. They paid for a phone that never arrived, or the device that showed up was refurbished and sold as brand new. Finding a website isn’t hard. What matters is whether that store consistently sells genuine phones, honours its warranty, and supports you after the sale.
Here’s what I personally check before spending money on any p...