How To Choose Reliable Online Shopping Site When Buying Refurbished Gadgets?

By Author: Angelika Muderris
Total Articles: 13
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How to Choose Reliable Online Shopping Site When Buying Refurbished Gadgets?

Meta description: Do you want the latest device but you don't have the budget or funds to buy brand new? Your best bet is to buy refurbished. This article talks about how you can choose a reliable online shopping site when purchasing refurbished electronics. This article also provides you with a list of some of the best refurbished electronics websites.

Everyone knows that buying refurbished devices can help you save money. However, this doesn't mean you should go into it blind. After all, there is still the possibility of being scammed.

You're probably doubting if it's safe to buy refurbished gadgets. Yes, there are always some risks when it comes to buying refurbished gadgets, like smartphones. But in most cases, it is safe, especially if you are planning on purchasing these devices from certified refurbished websites.

Generally, when selling refurbished products, the retailer or manufacturer checks each device for functionality before it is sold again in the market. There are also cases when minor adjustments ...
... or fixes are made, such as giving the device fresh packaging or a new battery.

Apart from that, if you buy refurbished phones, laptops, and other electronics, directly from the retailer directly or from a reputable dealer, you can be assured that you will get a great deal.

What are the advantages of refurbished gadgets?

When you buy refurbished phones, laptops, and other electronics, there is typically no way to tell what was wrong with it before it was returned. However, it shouldn't matter since a reputable refurbisher fixes all problems with a returned device before resale.

Here are some of the advantages of refurbished products over used or secondhand.

Like-new condition. You can be assured that when you buy refurbished items, what you will get will both look and run like new. Why? It's because retailers or Sellers of refurbished products repair everything that's damaged. After that, they will test the device to make sure it is working properly. The device will also be cleaned and, in several cases, replace worn exterior parts such as faceplate or buttons.
Warranty. Another guarantee for you is the fact that several refurbished products come with a warranty. Although, the length of the warranty will depend on who did the refurbishing. If the original manufacturer fixes and resells the product, it is likely that the warranty is at least a full year. However, products that are refurbished by a store have shorter warranties of 30 to 90 days.
Tech support. In most cases, refurbished electronics from the original manufacturer come with the same tech support as the brand new ones. However, the said feature is often available only for current models. As such, if what you bought is a recently discontinued gadget, don't expect that you will get manufacturer support unless the same listing specifically mentioned the benefit.

When should you buy refurbished gadgets?

The following are the scenarios on when you should buy refurbished phones, laptops, and other gadgets.

When you want the latest device but you don't have the budget or funds to buy brand new.
When you need to buy gadgets for your child.
When you are knowledgeable about technology and can easily tell straight away if the refurbished device is going to be a problem within its return period.
If you are a developer and in need of different phones, smartwatches, laptops, and other devices to test out your apps.

How to choose a reliable online shopping site when buying refurbished gadgets?

If you are wary of shopping refurbished gadgets on online shopping sites, there are ways you can protect yourself.

Buy from reputable sites or sellers. One way you can protect yourself is to make sure you are buying from reputable retailers or sellers. When you are planning to purchase your preferred refurbished product at the cheapest online shopping sites for electronics, you can't be sure that the items really have been repaired to like-new condition.
As such, it is a safer bet for you to buy refurbished phones, laptops, smartwatches and other electronics directly from the manufacturer. That way, you can be assured that the company you are dealing with wants you to be happy with the brand.
You can also shop from well-known retail outlets. There are several big online retailers that sell returned and refurbished products at substantial discounts. It is guaranteed that these devices are repaired and tested just like manufacturer-refurbished products. Although, keep in mind that they don't always come with a warranty.
Do some research. It is important that you do some research on the products itself and the seller if you are looking for the best refurbished electronics website to buy your preferred gadgets. What you can do is to read online reviews of the products to learn about its features and its strong and weak points.
As you read the reviews, you should make a list of problems other owners have had with the device. That way, when the product arrives, you can test it to see if it has any of the problems written on your list. You should do it right away so you can return it if there is anything wrong with it.
Before you check out your item, you should find out how much the same product would cost compared to the new ones. If the difference between new and refurbished is only a few dollars or pounds, the refurbished device is not really a bargain.
When you do comparison, you can check the model number to ensure that the new product is the same as the refurbished one.
Check what is included. Upon searching for the best electronics online shopping sites, you should check the listing carefully to ensure a refurb comes with all the extras you need to use it. For example, if you are shopping for a desktop computer, you should check that the keyboard, mouse, and power cables are included. Or if you are looking to buy refurbished phones, make sure that the charger and earphone are included with the unit.
If these accessories are not included, you should consider how much buying them would add to the price.
Warranty. Most refurbished products come with a warranty. Some of them are covered for only 30 to 90 days while others are for one year. There are some that don't include warranty coverage at all unless you pay for it separately. Before you purchase the refurbished product you want, you should check the warranty period. You should also steer clear of items that are listed "as is," which are usually used rather than refurbished.
Return Policy. You should know how to return your device and whether the merchant charges a restocking fee. Return policy will help you determine if you need to do any rigorous tests on the device to make sure it works.
Keep in mind that the return period varies by store. For example, the Apple Store gives you only 14 days for returns while Crutchfield allows 60 days for returns. However, Apple pays for return shipping, a bonus most retailers don't offer.

What are the best online shopping sites for refurbished electronics?

Technology experts are enthusiastic about refurbished electronics. As long as you buy from a reputable source, you can get a product that works just like new for a fraction of the cost.

The following are the best refurbished tech sites where you can get your preferred refurbished gadgets.

QwikFone. In QwikFone, you can buy refurbished phones that are pristine and come with the best deals. All refurbished devices from QwikFone come with a one-year warranty and a money back guarantee, as well as a full free set of accessories, a free shipping option, and the opportunity to pay in monthly installments using PayPal credit.
Gazelle. It is both a refurbished electronics seller and a trade-in electronics specializing in Apple iPhone, tablets, OnePlus, and Samsung Galaxy phones. You can be assured that Gazelle certified product is inspected on 30 points from speaker quality to WiFi signals.
Amazon Renewed. If you want to save some money and get working products, buying from this retailer or seller is a way to go. You might not be aware but Amazon has its own Amazon Renewed program. Believe it or not, the number of goods returned to Amazon is huge. There are a lot of product categories that Amazon offers, such as mobile phones, laptops and desktops, cameras, headphones, among others.
Best Buy. Another large retailer that sells refurbished electronics. Take the listing for a product with the same brand, model number, and color to your online store and Best Buy will match the price. A good place to find cheap electronics on the Best Buy site is on the individual item pages. You should look closely under the bold price and you will likely see an alternative price next to Open-Box.  
Walmart. One of the biggest retailers which has its own category for certified refurbished electronics. This includes mobile phones, laptops and desktop computers, wearable techs, tablets, headphones, among others. Certified refurbished devices from Walmart come with a 90-day warranty and original accessories.
Walmart claims that all of its devices are tested and inspected to function and appear like-new. All refurbished electronics on Walmart are grade A and proclaimed to be in full working order.  

Angelika Muderris is a passionate writer who heads the operations at QwikFone , A UK-based company for refurbished phones.