But what does refurbished mean? The point is, if you stick to certain categories and only buy from reputable sources, you can get all sorts of great gadgets for less. The manufacturer may have repaired a minor or a major fault, it may have been returned because there is cosmetic damage to the product, or it could have been returned because the packaging was damaged.
The manufacturer will fully test the product and make any repairs that are deemed necessary. It will then clean the product up, reset the software to factory conditions where appropriate, and repackage it. You can also expect it to work every bit as well, and last as long, as a brand new product. You could get a device that has been returned unused. You can mitigate the risk in a couple of ways. The biggest advantage of buying refurbished electronics rather than new ones is the price.
Buying refurbs is a way to get otherwise unavailable older models. A refurbished one might come with the widely disliked previous release, Windows 8. While you could upgrade to Windows 10 likely for free , it would add an extra layer of hassle to the purchase.
And while some sellers give you a month or longer to return a product, others allow only two weeks. According to Consumer Reports , some companies grant a one-year warranty on refurbished phones, while others provide only a day warranty. Fortunately, many credit cards offer extended warranties on refurbished goods that come with a warranty.
Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself. These include shopping at reliable websites, choosing products that are worth the money, and reading the fine print before you click the buy button.
One crucial way to protect yourself is to make sure you buy from reputable sellers. A safer bet is to buy refurbished electronics directly from the manufacturer. Another way to find reliable refurbished electronics is to buy from a well-known retail outlet. Regardless of the retailer you buy from, you'll want to know its return policy. Like a warranty, a good return policy shows the retailer stands by its products — and if you have problems, you can return items for a refund or exchange. Be wary of retailers selling products as is or with no return policy.
You're buying a product that has, for some reason or another, seen some wear. If you find it doesn't work when you open the box, you want to be able to take it back for an exchange. If you buy a product as is, you're stuck with it.
Refurbs sold without a return policy can be amazing deals, but they do carry some risk. If you aren't willing to take the risk and potentially throw away your money , be sure to buy from a retailer that offers a generous return policy between seven and 30 days.
Some refurbished items actually are as good as new, and they may even actually be new. However, for some reason, these items can't be sold as new — they could've been floor models, been returned during their return window, had their packaging damaged, or could be defective in some way. And while that last possibility may concern you, all refurbs have been repaired and inspected to ensure they're in like-new condition, so they should function as well as a brand-new product.
The only difference may be the price. The biggest downside of buying refurbished is you'll never get the latest, greatest products. At best, you'll be getting items that are a few months old — but you can expect more refurbished stock after a product has been on the market for about a year. This is especially true with smartphones, as refurbished, pre-owned models will flood the marketplace after a new model is released. For appliances like vacuum cleaners , you probably don't care whether it's the newest model as long as it works.
But for electronics like smartphones and laptops , you have to be aware you're getting an older model, one that probably won't perform as well as the latest systems. While a model a year or two old will be fine for most users, you don't want to buy electronics that are too old.
No amount of refurbishing will make them as fast as the newest models. Another factor to consider is battery life. Any product powered by a lithium-ion battery will lose battery power over time, which can make buying older models a bit dicey. This is especially the case with smartphones — in part because we usually don't think phones have enough battery life when they're brand-new. Demo models: Products that were used in stores, displayed at trade shows, or loaned to reviewers might be repackaged and eventually sold as refurbished items.
However, here are some additional refurbished items that we think are safe to add to that list, including:. Vacuums: Having a good vacuum around is pretty essential, and regardless of which type you prefer, you can find a ton of refurbished vacuums out there. Amazon has a massive selection, but a word of caution: this authorized reseller only offers a day warranty on refurbs, not a full year warranty only a select number of retailers offer a full year warranty on refurbs, but those are the places to go.
Dyson has a ton of refurbished models, but their warranty is also slightly skewed: instead of the standard five-year warranty they offer on new models, these are only covered for six months. Household appliances: Looking for a new washer and dryer, or perhaps just a new microwave or a similar small household appliance? But with some refurbished items, you absolutely should be wary.
One of the biggest places for unauthorized third-party resellers is on eBay. Phones: Thinking of buying a refurbished phone?
You might be asking for trouble.
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