How and where to buy refurbished gadgets

If it has been refurbished, that likely means the product was either broken or roughed up enough to warrant a repair. It could also mean that whoever bought it simply decided they didn’t want it and returned it to the store. The definition of what makes for a refurbished product varies depending on the seller.

Buying a refurbished tech product will save you money compared to buying it new. It also gives a device a second life instead of sending it off to be recycled. And especially during these times when demand is high for all kinds of tech, buying refurbished is sometimes the only way to get your hands on a product.

Good things, yet “refurbished” is still a loaded word for a lot of people. New means new, a product that nobody else has used. On the other hand, buying something refurbished can be a gamble, despite the fact that the product is probably more affordable.

Off-course, buying refurbished brings up a lot of questions in mind.

• Did the original manufacturer refurbish the product, or was it done by a third-party company?
• Was the product restored to a like-new state, or will it look visibly used when you receive it?
• Was it professionally cleaned and sanitized, and does it come with new accessories?
• Does it have a warranty ?
• who will be accountable if it breaks?

It’s possible to both save money and not get swindled when buying refurbished products. 

some tips that you can follow when buying refurbished tech as well as links to trustworthy retailers. None of this is fail-proof, but it will make the process a lot safer and you can end up with some great devices at lower prices.

What to look for while buying Refurbished ?

if you purchase a refurbished product from its original manufacturer, it’s far less of a gamble than buying from a third-party retailer. The manufacturer is likely to have higher standards for refreshing and repackaging the product, and crucially should have access to authentic materials and components. But there are also many companies that exist solely to refurbish products, and they can do a good job, too. You’ll just need to be extra vigilant, ask the right questions, and make sure all of your questions get answered

 if you’re buying a refurbished product, it helps to have criteria. This will quickly become second nature once you start making a habit of looking at refurbished tech. Here are some questions to start with:

• What condition is it in? Is it in like-new condition or somewhat used?
• Does it come with all original accessories and documentation?
• What kind of warranty does it have, and who is providing it?

The answers to those questions aren’t necessarily obvious. Sometimes, the product might be visibly damaged, come in a different box, or only have a six-month warranty.

That’s all right, so long as you know in advance of buying it. In fact, you can often use this info to your advantage to save some money, as resellers may sometimes lower the cost if the product isn’t in perfect condition.

What is an OPEN-BOX product ?

Sometimes products will be listed as “open-box.” This term can mean something different depending on the retailer, but most use it to mean that the product was opened by a customer who bought it, then it was returned to the store in its original box with all of its accessories. In other words, it didn’t need to be refurbished because the assumption is that it either wasn’t used at all or was only used once and then repackaged. Generally, it’s safe to assume that an open-box product will be in good condition, though it never hurts to ask for clarification or seek the info somewhere on the webpage.

Is there anything one shouldn’t buy Refurbished?

In the end, It is your call to make. Some don’t like to use refurbished headphones, especially in-ear headphones. Many, but not all, companies thoroughly clean refurbished products before reselling them. Though, for some people, something that has been used that way is forever unclean.

In my opinion, the most important thing to make sure of when buying a refurbished product is that the warranty is good enough to support you if the device fails. And if the retailer says that your product will arrive in a clean, well-packaged state, make sure that what you receive is representative of their claims.

Where can i find Refurbished products ?

Refurbished products don’t usually get the spotlight from retailers. You also won’t find them on the homepage of Apple, Google, Nintendo, Sonos, or Olympus, to name a few. 

Here are some places to try:

• BestBuy as it’s called, is the retailer’s dedicated site for refurbished tech. Here’s Best Buy’s claim for its refurbs.
• Amazon Warehouse is the section of the retailer’s site dedicated to used, refurbished products — or “renewed,” as Amazon calls it. 
• eBay is another good source for refurbished tech of all kinds.
• Apple has one of the best refurbishment programs around. All of the products sold as refurbished will arrive in “like new” condition with at least 15 percent in savings compared to the cost of a brand-new device. Products will ship in a white box with all of the original accessories. In addition to having a one-year warranty, you can purchase AppleCare for your refurbished purchase. Just to give you an idea of the level of care Apple puts into its refurbs: it replaces the battery and the outer shell of all iOS devices.
• Google sells a few refurbished devices. It says that these products are in like-new condition and have been cleaned and repaired. They come with a one-year warranty directly through Google.
• Nintendo usually sells refurbished Nintendo Switch consoles through a page that’s somewhat hidden.