The second-hand market can offer us a huge opportunity to save a lot of money.However, when purchasing refurbished gadgets, we have to take several things into consideration if we do not want to have a bad experience.
Prior to buy refurbished gadgets we must know some things; Although it is always a gamble, the odds are with us. We got a good product and saved quite a bit of money. But for this to work out, we’re going to have to pay attention to some important details.
We all know that purchasing a refurbished technology product helps us save a good amount of money. Although considering that it is a device that has a “second life” instead of being recycled, we have to take into account some important things.
We must consider that, if it was reconditioned, the product was faulty or damaged enough to justify a repair. It may even mean that a person who bought it did not want it and simply decided to return it. The definition varies depending on the seller.
What you should know before buying refurbished gadgets
If we buy a refurbished product from the original manufacturer, it is very unlikely that we will be scammed or find any other surprises. The manufacturer may have higher standards when it comes to updating and repackaging the product. Most important? Possibly, you have access to better materials and tools to be able to repair the product in question. This kind of sale is rare to find and they usually sell out in a short time.
However, there are several companies that are solely dedicated to restoring different products. We must stay more attentive than usual, ask the right questions and have all of these answered. As for the questions we should ask, we can start with the following:
What condition is it in? It’s like New? Was it used for a considerable amount of time? Do you have all the original accessories, manuals and documentation? What kind of warranty do you have and who provides it?
The answers to the above questions are not necessarily the most obvious. On many occasions we can find a product that has a physical mark, is in a different box or has a guarantee of a few months. There is nothing wrong with any of these, as long as we know and buy the product, being aware of this.
An open box product
Sometimes the products appear as “open box”. It is a term that can mean something different depending, again, on the seller. But for the vast majority it indicates that the product was opened and tested by a customer who later changed his mind and decided to return it to the store in its original box with its accessories.
Basically, these kinds of products do not need to be restored because they were only opened for testing. Generally, when we see open box products, it’s safe to assume it’s in fair condition; but we do not deny that it would be a good idea to review it and ask a few questions to be 100% sure.
Are there some things you shouldn’t buy refurbished?
The big problem would come with, for example, headphones. The reason? They are quite personal accessories and where hygiene is essential. Many companies claim that they thoroughly clean refurbished products before selling them. However, it is a matter of taste, for many people these kinds of gadgets should not be bought second-hand.
In summary, the most important thing when we are going to acquire a restored product is to make sure that it really works, that it has no damage of any kind and, above all, that the guarantee is really good to help us if we need it.
