Buy refurbished — All the secrets of choosing refurbished equipment

Many shops and merchants may use other terms such as "renew", "refurbishment", "recertified", "reconditioned", "ref", "re-certified" - in translation, goods that have been returned, repaired and / or inspected as necessary and offered for sale at a lower price than retail. But sometimes an offer for refurbished electronics sounds too good to be true, which makes buyers suspicious.

 

 

Here are some typical resale reasons you should be aware of when buying:

• Products with open factory packaging (open box),in the vast majority are not defective. Perhaps the customers have changed her mind,but the electronics can no longer be sold  as new,still covered by the original manufacturer’s warranty.

• There are cosmetic defects - scratches or dents resulting from processing or transportation.

• Warranty cases . Items are returned due to a factory defect or damage: a quiet ring on the smartphone, the backlight on the watch disappears.

• No expected functionality.The camera does not have a specific connector, the printer does not print in the required format, the media player does not have stereo mode, etc.Gadgets need upgrading —parts replacement, design changes, computer b. u., software replacement and more.

• Exhibition sample (Demo items), placed in a store or at an event with its subsequent sale. Large traders, such as Wal-Mart and Office Depot, often sell refurbished smartphones as a result of Trade-in promotions: "Bring used equipment, in return you will get a new one at a discount".

 

What do we pay attention to when buying?

We are looking for lots marked "Manufacturer refurbished" or "Factory Refurbished". As a rule, they are the most sought after, because they guarantee a high standard of the manufacturer. They are harder to find commercially. In the case of apple refurbished products, they are referred to as "certified pre-owned" products that have been returned to Apple in accordance with the return policy or for repair. Supplied in universal packaging.In all these cases, you get a device with a reduced warranty of up to one year, but a higher class at a significantly lower price by 30-40%, which will work just like a new one, since all elements are thoroughly tested.

Read our article: How to order items on eBay step by step guide

 Separating the wheat from the chaff (pitfalls)

One of the most important things to know if you're buying from a private individual, or if an item has been refurbished by an obscure marketplace retailer, the condition of such electronics is judged quite subjectively, usually not in favor of the buyer. So let's take a look at the following terms:

Used - things that have been used for a certain time, and then put up for sale. There may be performance issues that will not immediately become apparent. There are no assurances other than the seller's word of honor. Therefore, you should always carefully study the description of the product and its reliability.

Seller Refurbishment - Cannot be properly repaired or inspected, translation means refurbished by the seller, the condition is assessed by retailers according to their own system, so the meaning varies from seller to seller, but they are usually defined as follows:

• Grade A - new or showing only very slight signs of handling, has been tested and certified

• Grade B - There are light scratches or abrasions, or other forms of minor cosmetic damage.

• Grade C - 100% functional, however signs of wear will be obvious.

Risk Minimization Electronics marked with (Used) or (Seller Refurbished)

In the end, if you are careful, you can reduce the risk in the following way. For example: on Ebay, in the filter, we indicate the required product with the mark (Used) or (Seller Refurbished) and click search, then we answer ourselves 4 basic questions:

1. Check the merchant's eBay account history. When was their account opened? Brand new ? If yes, don't buy from them. Empirically, we conclude that the trader must sell for at least a year.

2. Pay attention to the reputation of the distributor, customer reviews. How many sales did they have, what were the prices and renew reviews from other buyers?

3. Check out what items are on sale. Does it specialize in the remanufactured segment? It is best to choose a trader who specializes in refurbished devices.

4. Finally, check the merchant's DSR rating, which is a combination of several factors such as reputation, shipping times, communications, shipping costs, and more. The higher the rating, the better.

Pay attention to eBay's assurances: "Get the item you ordered or your money back." Additionally, if you pay via Paypal, you can open a dispute up to 180 days after the date of purchase. The eBay warranty only works for 30 days.

How to distinguish a refurbished product from a new one

Refurbished products: printer, navigator, smartphones, and other products are packed in universal packaging. On the box, along with the price, the inscription Refurbished is applied, which means the following changes: modernization, correction of defects made by the manufacturer.

What not to buy refurbished

There is no single standard for refurbished products. It all comes down to personal preference and experience with them. However, it is best to avoid some refurbished purchases:

If you are looking for a hard drive for your PC/Laptop, then a new one is better than a refurbished one. Hard drives can never be rebuilt to factory condition, so it's always safer to buy fresh instead of refurbished.

The same goes for batteries, if you are looking for a battery for your phone or laptop then it is better to invest in new ones. Reconstituted batteries don't hold a charge for long and almost always eventually die.

Where to buy refurbished equipment

Buy refurbished electronics only in prestigious online stores. Frankly, the more popular the brand, the higher the chances of getting a properly tested device. Here are a few official stores that we recommend:

1. Apple Store  Devices are tested and certified, 1 year warranty

2. Amazon Warehouse Deals —checked and certified, guaranteed for 1 year.

3. NewEgg Refurbs type checked and subordinates. There are discounts on hidden purchases.

4. Best Buy  tested and certified, 90-day guarantee.

5. Dell Outlet  renew, labeled, tested and certified.

6. Lenovo Outlet renew type, inspected and certified

7. HP Outle tested, provided with an updated guarantee.

8. Keh Repair  photo and video equipment are checked and certified

9. Sony

10. Canon

11. Epson

12. Corsair

13. Nikon