Ask anyone who knows me and they’ll say I’m frugal. Heck, you can call me cheap — I won’t be offended.
I’ll let you in a little secret, too. Sometimes, buying used is totally the way to go. There are some things I would only buy new, but tech isn’t one of them. There are some darn good deals out there if you’re willing to find them, from Apple, Amazon, eBay, you name it.
Before you jump into the world of refurbished items, there are a few things to keep in mind. Yes, there’s a chance of getting a counterfeit item or ending up with a busted product on delivery. But now I’m gonna flip the script — let’s look at the signs you can trust a refurbished product and save some moolah.
1. It’s official
This is a must: Always check for brand-level certification on refurbished products. Apple-certified refurbishments, for example, go through a rigorous restoration process.
Third parties can sell these certified used products, but Apple (and other brands) ultimately ensures the quality is up to code in every component. Dyson, iRobot, KitchenAid and many other stores have these certified refurbishments.
Pay attention to the fact that I am specifying brand-certified. Some sites try to get around this by offering special “certifications” of their own, like Gazelle-certified — but that’s not the same. You want certification from the brand that manufactured the product.
2. No funny business with returns
Fun fact: By federal law, secondhand goods are required to have a return policy. Sounds great, but a lot of sites don’t follow that rule. To guarantee a good buy, look for a return policy that’s at least 14 days and totally free to use. If you can’t find a return policy, nope, right out of there.
Look for a warranty, too. While the original one may not apply to refurbished goods, you can usually find a refurbished warranty for around three months. That’s really important, guys and gals. Refurbished products tend to be older, so open them immediately and watch for unexpected problems or malfunctions before that period ends.
Let’s look at Amazon’s refurbished products. They call it Amazon Renewed. You have 90 days from when the product ships to make sure all is well. If anything goes wrong, you can get a replacement or refund. And you can save big time on popular stuff.
- Beats Studio3 wireless headphones – Save $50!
- Nintendo Switch – OLED model – $40 bucks off.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 – Nearly $180 savings!
3. “I changed my mind”
An open-box return is just what it sounds like. Someone got the product, opened the box, said “Nah,” and returned it for whatever reason. These deals need basically no refurbishment and can still save you plenty of money. It’s really the top-shelf option to look for if you’re worried about quality.
Here’s a link to Amazon’s open-box deals. Most sites use grades or ratings, by the way. For example, a “Grade A” smartphone is the closest to like new with just a bit of wear. For electronics, I’d stick with Grade A or “Like New.” Amazon open-box products are fully functional and in one of four conditions: Used – Like New, Very Good, Good or Acceptable.
4. Go for touchscreens
One of the biggest risks with refurbished tech products is that they, you know, break. Issues usually come from mechanical parts like keyboards, hinges, locks and dials.
Stick with touchscreens on phones, tablets, coffeemakers, whatever you’re looking at. The more a device uses a touchscreen, the fewer moving parts it has and the less you need to worry about that hidden wear and tear.
