(Credit: Elnur/Shutterstock)
There's a simple reason to buy refurbished tech instead of a brand-new device: to save money. And, depending on how the tariff situation plays out, new electronics could get very expensive very quickly.
As a bonus, if you go for refurbished products, they most likely won't be subject to shipping delays because, for the most part, they're already in the US. Finally, it's nice to avoid sending another gadget to the landfill.
The problem is that refurbished products had a life before you. Maybe it was a short existence with a careful original owner, but maybe not. What you do know is that the product was sent back, and it was given an overhaul to make it workable again—or at least checked to make sure it operated correctly.
That all happened under the original product warranty—a warranty you may not inherit. You might also have to forego the device's original accessories and deal with physical imperfections.
Here's a quick rundown of what you should know before you click the buy button on a renewed or revamped piece of hardware. If you can't get these questions answered to your satisfaction, stick with purchasing brand-new products, if possible (and affordable).
1. Is It a Refurb or Open-Box Return?
(Credit: Karolina Grabowska from Pexels)A typical open-box product was purchased and opened but returned before use. Maybe the buyer or recipient decided they didn't want it, or perhaps the packaging was damaged, so it was sent back unused as a precaution.
I'd argue that to be a true refurb, a device should require some kind of repair, cleaning, or sprucing up. Legally, though, there's no actual definition of "refurbished.” It can signify whatever a vendor or seller wants it to mean. You may also see terms like "pre-owned" and "reconditioned," which are synonyms—until they're not. All returned, resold products tend to be lumped together, no matter the condition.
Thankfully, US laws prevent companies from selling returned products as though they're brand-new. That's beneficial to you since the price should drop once the refurbished label is on a product. Ask the seller about a product’s origin and hope for an open-box product; you may not be the first owner, but you could be the first user.
2. Who Did the Refurbishing?
Not all restorations are alike. It's possible a third party did the work and is reselling the product. Sticking with the original company handling the work is the smarter move. It will have the right packaging and parts to make the product as close to new as possible. Look for "factory-certified" or similar nomenclature.
That said, you can see real savings from a third-party refurbishment. However, some describe this arena as the Wild West, as there's no way to determine a product's quality until you've already bought it. Buyer beware!
3. Does It Come With All the Stuff?
(Credit: Zhang Peng/LightRocket via Getty Images)Opening an iPhone box and not finding a charger is a sad experience (especially if the item is brand-new, but that's a different problem).
Refurbished products often lack the accessories included with a new purchase. That's another reason to try to find refurbs offered by the manufacturer; you're more likely to get all the parts. You might also get the product in something close to the original packaging, if that's important to you.
4. Does the Product Still Have a Warranty?
Don't buy any product marked "as-is," because that removes any implied warranty the product might carry. The buyer risks getting hardware that may not even work properly. Just because a device can turn on doesn't mean it can go online, get a signal, etc.
By law, used products in many states have an implied warranty. A device has to be able to do what it was designed to do, even if sold used. A phone has to make calls (phones still do that, so I'm told). A laptop must boot up and connect to the internet. A webcam had better make you look good in that Zoom meeting.
Your best bet is to ask the seller whether a warranty or guarantee exists. It's more likely if the original manufacturer refurbed the device. Without a warranty, the price discount may not be worth the risk.
Also, confirm the length of the warranty. Six months for a device that originally had one year's protection is risky.
5. What Does 'Like New' Mean?
(Credit: South Agency/E+ via Getty Images)There are no rules on how to grade a refurbished product beyond the fact that the seller can't say it's brand new. They can, however, say it's "like new."
That might mean the item was never used. It could also mean that the product was refurbished after a hard life. Maybe a scratched or cracked screen was replaced. If you can find out, it's worth knowing exactly what "like new" means.
After "like new," the options are all "used" in some form, from "gently" on down. You'll find variations on that language from site to site and vendor to vendor.
6. What's the Return Policy?
It takes a while to notice problems in some products. You want at least a month's window for returns (not much to ask for when companies selling giant mattresses give you 100 days). That should go for refurbished products as well. If you can't get at least two weeks to futz with a product with the option to return it at no cost, don't bother. Many sellers will say "sale final," and you don't want that (unless the savings are truly astronomical).
Always read the fine print. And the moment you open a refurbed product, thoroughly inspect it. You might want to take advantage of that return policy right away.
7. What Should I Not Buy Refurbished?
We recommend avoiding the following refurbed products:
- Items that touch your skin a lot, such as headphones and earbuds
- Mechanical items like keyboards
- Hard drives or solid-state drives (They can't really be reset to factory settings.)
- TVs (It's hard to tell how used a TV might be.)
Some of those purchases might be OK if you trust the company behind the product's renewal. Conversely, you should only buy refurbished products from select companies because their products are too expensive when new (cough, Apple, cough).
8. Does My Credit Card Offer Protection?
(Credit: wk1003mike/Shutterstock)Probably. Many credit cards extend warranty coverage, assuming a warranty came with the product. This includes refurbs—in most cases. Wallethub reports that 87% of all cards cover refurbished products with pre-existing warranties (up from 66% in 2017), while 42% will extend a separately purchased warranty (down from 47%).
Extended warranties are a perk on many cards, but not all. Look for it on cards from Citi, Chase, Capital One, American Express, and quite a few others. Even several no-fee cards offer it. (Wells Fargo won't offer warranties on refurbs; Discover does not offer any extended warranties.)
Before you buy a refurbished product—especially something high-end such as a smartphone or laptop—call your credit card company to be sure it has your back. When you purchase, keep the receipt and a copy of the original or refurbished warranty. You may need repair estimates in order to file a claim.
9. Are Refurbished Products Always Cheaper?
No. Do some price comparison. When you find a cheap refurbished item, go to another refurb site and see if the same or similar model is available for even less. That said, don't let price dictate everything. Sometimes, your trust in a site or vendor makes spending the extra money worthwhile.
10. Which Companies Do Refurbs?
Vendors
Here's a quick list of tech vendors that offer some of the best refurbished product programs. If your favorite vendor isn't on this list, Google its name along with "refurbished," and you'll likely find the (fixed) goods.
Retailers and Carriers
Retail stores and mobile carriers are also in the refurbishing business; many rebuild products to resell them. These sites are a good place to find an open-box returned item, as well.
- Amazon Renewed and Amazon Resale (Both could have refurbs or open-box products; Amazon refurbishes only its own products, and third parties do the rest.)
- AT&T Certified Pre-Owned
- Best Buy Outlet
- Walmart Restored
- Verizon
Refurbishing Specialists
Then there are the refurb-specific sellers, places that do nothing but sell renewed goods. Usually they even include a warranty.