All of us consider buying the refurbished products to save money instead of getting the new one. Generally, refurbished products are used for some time and then returned to the manufacturer due to a minor manufacturing defect. But in this case, you will not get any kind of warranty as the defect was covered for the first time. In this case, you get the item with fewer imperfections and without any original accessories, especially in the case of refurbished Macbooks and iPhones. Here we will be talking about a few of the facts you should know before buying any refurbished electronic product.
Check whether the product was open box return or refurb.
Generally, the open box product is known as the one purchased and opened but got returned before any usage. This could be either buy did not want it or due to the damaged packaging, but the product is working fine. When we talk about refurbishment, the product has undergone various stages such as repair, cleaning, etc. These products are also referred to as reconditioned or pre-owned. Here you can ask the seller about the product’s origin and make sure it is the refurbished one and not the open box one.
Check the refurb source.
The original manufacture itself does most of the time the refurbishment or the restoration, but sometimes the third party also gets involved in it and resells the product. It is always the preferred choice to stick to the original company as they will provide you with the right parts and the right packaging, which makes the product look as new as possible. You can look for the factory-certified tag on the packaging for the same.
Check for all the accessories.
This check is applicable if you are buying an iPhone. Most people tend to buy the refurbished iPhone considering its huge cost for the new piece. But what if you get the refurbished iPhone without a charger or earbuds? Hence it is recommended to get it from the direct vendor instead of a third party, due to you will get the accessories along with the phone.
Check for the availability of a warranty.
Though it is a refurbished product, you can always ask for the applicable new guarantee or warranty from the seller. If the device or the product is refurbished or reconditioned by the original manufacturer, you are more likely to get the same. It is not recommended to get any refurbished product without any warranty or guarantee. Here you would also need to confirm the overall length of the warranty.
Check for the overall condition.
We understand that you are the refurbished product, but there are no certain ways to grade it. Most of the sellers would inform you that it is like a new item, but it is still your responsibility to check the product’s overall condition. The product might have had a few scratches or cracks before it got reconditioned.
Check for the return policy.
Generally, it takes around a time of one month to notice the functional issues with any of the refurbished products. If you feel that the product is not worth using even in the first week, you should have the facility return it. Hence it is always advisable to check for the return policy at the time of buying the product.
Which refurbished items you should not buy.
Though there are no restrictions on buying any kind of refurbished products, here are few ones that you should consider not buying. Ensure not to buy items that can touch your skin a lot, such as earbuds or headphones. You can also consider not buying mechanical items like keyboards and hard drives. Since it is difficult to tell the difference between the used and the old one, it is also advised not to buy the refurbished TV. But the sole decision would be yours. If you feel that the manufacturer or the brand that sells these products is genuine and trustworthy, you can certainly go ahead with the purchase. Some of the best vendors you can consider while buying refurbished products are Google, Apple, Dell, Samsung, and Microsoft.