People turn to refurbished electronics to save money and keep items out of landfills. However, consumers must take care when purchasing these items, as they have been used before. If the original owner mishandled the item, the buyer could have problems with the device. Many refurbished items don’t come with a warranty or have a warranty that is only good for a short period. What should consumers know when purchasing refurbished electronics to ensure they get their money’s worth?
Refurbished or Open-Box Return?
The first thing a consumer should check is whether the item has been refurbished or is an open-box return. Why does this matter? Most open-box items were purchased and never used. The original owner decided they didn’t want the item and returned it before using it. Damage to the packaging can also lead to the item being sold as an open-box return.
Refurbished items have been used, but the seller repaired and cleaned these items before making them available for sale. Unfortunately, there is no standard definition for refurbished items, so a buyer should always ask what the seller has done to restore the refurbished MacBook or other item they plan to purchase. However, a company must legally share when a product has been returned. They cannot sell it as brand-new.
The Refurbishment Process
As previously mentioned, always ask about the refurbishment process. Who did the work, and what did they do? Learn what experience and training they have in refurbishing the item being purchased. Discuss whether all accessories and add-ons will come with the item. Often, refurbished items don’t come with these things, so the buyer will need to factor in the cost of purchasing them separately to determine the true price for the refurbished device.
Warranty
Any product sold as-is does not come with a stated or implied warranty. The buyer may get an expensive paperweight because the device doesn’t work. Many states require sellers to ensure their products work as designed. Ask the seller about any warranty that comes with the product and how long this warranty will remain valid.
Like New?
Many sellers claim their items are like new, but there are no rules regarding grading a refurbished product. The only thing a seller cannot do is say the item is brand-new. They can claim it is like new, but this term may mean different things to the buyer and seller. Ask them to clarify how they restored the item to eliminate any confusion.
Return Policy?
Does the seller offer a return policy if the item is not as expected? How long is this return policy? Only buy refurbished items that have a 30-day return policy or longer. A product may appear to work fine initially but start acting up two weeks later. Avoid items that say final sale on them. Read the fine print and thoroughly inspect the product when it arrives, as the product might need to go back immediately.
When Not To Buy Refurbished
Don’t purchase used items that will frequently touch the skin or mechanical items. Hard and solid-state drives cannot be factory reset, so avoid buying them used. However, it’s always wise to purchase second-hand expensive products, such as certain smartphones or laptops, when a reputable company has refurbished them.
Before purchasing a refurbished item, check the price of a brand-new one. A seller might try to get top dollar for a refurbished item, hoping the buyer will pay what they ask. Conduct a quick internet search to ensure the asking price is fair for a refurbished product and purchase only from reputable sellers. They treat customers fairly, which allows them to stay in business.
