For a long as I can remember when someone mentioned buying a refurbished computer people would wince, it almost feels like someone had said something taboo. The very idea of buying something refurbished, especially a computer, seemed wrong, like you were buying something that is possibly defective.
That is mostly because when people think of the word refurbished, they think of used but this a common misconception. There is a big difference between something that is sold used as opposed to refurbished.
The Cambridge Dictionary describes refurbishment as something being made to look new again by work such as painting, repairing and cleaning. Of course, this would depend on what the item we were talking about was. In this instance, we are talking about technology. So, painting does not apply so much in this situation. But what about the other things mentioned?
Repairing A Refurbished Item
While a used item could have been owned by someone and used for an unspecified amount of time, only to then be sold with a note that it comes with scratches and damage, things are usually different with a refurbished item. Ok, we can get different grades of items so some may still have some scratches or damage, but work will have been put in to improve these. On many occasions, equipment has been changed, maybe a new screen has been added to repair the problem.
Sometimes, the item will still be new but may have received some slight damage in transport and so the damage has been repaired and the item is now sold as refurbished, regardless of the fact it has never been used at all.
Cleaning A Refurbished Item
This might seem obvious, but with a used product, the condition you receive it in can be unknown. With a refurbished product, it will have been well cleaned before you ever receive it. This might seem like a small thing, but it can make a big difference to how willing someone is to buy something. But, beyond cleaning and repairing a product, what else gives refurbished products an advantage, and makes them more the more appealing option?
Tried And Tested Refurbished Items
Ok, so in the world of refurbishment, this is not always possible, at least not in the same way. A product can be repaired, painted or cleaned, but you still will not know how good the product is or how long it will last you. A paint job may look fantastic when you first see it, but will it still look that way in a few months? However, in the world of computers, it is not the same gamble as it is with other things. It is much easier to determine the quality of the electronics as they can be tested as to standard. If there are any potential issues they are easy to identify and to fix before the item is offered to the public as a refurbished item. If an item has been returned because of a defect, this can be worked on, corrected, then tested, then tested again, to make sure it is no longer a problem. Often, it is not the most detailed of tests, they are just looking to see if it works or not, if the problem is fixed or not. But this is enough to make you much more confident in your purchase. The results are there to see.
Another thing worth mentioning is that if an electronic item is certified refurnished, it means that any parts that have been used to repair the product, or to improve it are manufacturer approved or branded items. So you can be sure that it isn’t a botched job basically. Because of the level that things will be refurbished at, because of the quality of materials used, this enables them to also provide guarantees with refurbished electronics. This is somewhere else that they differ from used products. While the guarantee, or warranty, might not be as long as a brand new item, it is certainly still a substantial amount of time, especially when compared with the lack of warranty of a used item, as just mentioned.
The Managing Director of Euro PC made the comment: “There have been massive strides in the refurbished market over the last 4 years and now, when budgets are tighter than ever coupled with the desire to reduce one’s impact on the environment, the term refurbished should no longer be considered a worry, but instead an informed choice. With a great range of Certified refurbished laptops and desktop PCs, europc.co.uk are committed to reducing the impact that computer equipment has on the environment.”
The fact that leaders in this industry, such as the company mentioned above, are fully involved in selling refurbished electronics, shows just how much the opinion has changed in recent times regarding electronic items. With a refurbished item, you get a cheaper option than buying brand new, but with the assurance of a warranty and knowing that the item has been tested and passes the standards required. If this is the option you choose to go for, shop around for the best deal for you and what you are looking for in a device. And be sure to check what warranty is on offer as they can vary from a few months to a few years.
