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Buying refurbished or reconditioned electronics is a green way to shop for a lot of reasons. It helps keep e-waste out of landfills, extends the lifetime of useful objects, and of course can save you a ton of money. But buying used can also feel nerve-wracking because you don't know if you're getting a lemon.
But there are a handful of things to keep in mind, questions to ask, and resources to know that will make you a pro at finding great deals on quality used electronics.
What to Know:
It is important to have a grasp of the lingo involved in buying used electronics.
Refurbished means that something has been fixed on the product, but it has not necessarily been owned or used. Sometimes a laptop is shipped off to a customer but has a dent or ding. The customer ships it back to get a replacement, the dent or ding is fixed, and it goes up for sale as refurbished. There's nothing really wrong with the item beyond cosmetics. Sometimes it's a simple matter of the packaging being damaged, and though the product is in perfect condition, it is discounted and sold as refurbished. Usually you find refurbished products on manufacturer store websites and the often come with warranties.
Reconditioned, on the other hand, means that it has been used in the past and has been fixed up for resale by the manufacturer or company selling it to you. These often come with warranties from the company that refurbished and is reselling the device, though not always. And these devices do not usually come with manufacturer warranties. These products are what you have to be especially wary about. But they are still often great deals for a device, and if you know what to ask and where to look, you can find killer deals.
What to Ask:
Knowing what to ask can help you sort out if the device is a great deal or too sketchy to trust.
- Is it factory refurbished? This will tell you if the manufacturer did the refurbishing, or a third party. Third party refurbishing is not a deal breaker, but will make you want to look a little more carefully at the product before buying.
- What about the product was fixed or changed? Find out if it was something simple that doesn't affect the functionality of a product, or if there was some significant overhauling done to renew the product that might run you and higher risk of it not working correctly.
- Does it have a warranty? You want to get a bare minimum 60 or 90-day warranty for parts and labor should the thing break right off the bat. If you're purchasing from a manufacturer, often you can get excellent manufacturer's warranties. Check if there is the possibility to get an extended warranty. Even if you don't want to buy it, offering it shows a retailer's confidence in the device's functionality.
- Is there a return policy? Try to get something with a return policy. This is important because it shows the seller has confidence in their product, plus you might find a problem with the device that makes you want to send it back in.
- What does it come with? Make sure your device comes with the accessories you need to run it, including chargers, USB cords and other link-up devices. If there is a missing owner's manual or installation software, make sure you can get it online before purchasing the device.
Where to Look:
So you're ready to purchase a used electronic device. You are prepared with questions, know exactly what you're looking for, and what it should be priced at to be a good deal. Where do you start looking?
First, check manufacturer's websites. Apple, Dell, HP and other major electronics manufacturers offer refurbished items for great prices and they're trustworthy places for purchasing.
If they don't have what you want, or you're looking for an even better deal, check out third-party buyback programs; such as NextWorth, TigerDirect, WarehouseDeals, or even stores like Radio Shack.
Places like eBay or CraigsList should be your last resort, since it is unlikely that you're going to be able to get a warranty or even a solid guarantee of what you're buying. However, there are reputable sellers out there and there are plenty of success stories of excellent electronics deals being had on these resources. Just be extra careful and don't rush to buy before asking questions about the products.
Buying used is just one way to green your gadgets. Check out more ways with our How To Go Green Guide: Gadgets
.More on buying used electronics:
How Refurbished Electronics Work
Turn Your Old Gadgets into Cash
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