Discover the Top Benefits of Buying Refurb
There's a lot of new tech out there. This means there are also a lot of less-than-new technology and electronics out there today that are still completely viable and ready to be used.
We might have fallen under disposable razer syndrome, where we use items that seem to be ready to dispose of to get the latest gadgets out there. This is especially true with smartphones and accessories, leaving complete inventories of items that are still in excellent working condition but just slightly older than what "just came out." Here are seven benefits of buying refurbished electronics.
The Price Cannot Be Beat
Of course, we'll start with the most apparent benefit for many: the price. Buying something used and repaired or refurbished means buying it below market price. At the rate that some of these brands are producing upgrades one to two times a year, it's easy to get last year's model without paying this year's price.
This means you're still able to get a high-quality item that comes with all the bells and whistles but doesn't have to feel like you're going to have to get a second job to pay for it. In fact, you can probably grab a refurbished item with some accessories and still come under the sticker price of a new release.
You're Not Behind On The Tech
Another thing to note with electronics such as smartphones, wearables, and other peripherals is that each iteration is only slightly different than the last. It's always the same parameters depending on what we're talking about.
For example, if we're talking about smartwatches, then at the most, you'll be sacrificing battery life and possibly need a smaller screen size. Yet wearables tend to fall in price between new releases and refurbished items at a higher rate, meaning if you look around, you can score a pretty nice deal with it and not have to worry if it's going to be compatible with your existing equipment load.
At the rate that some of these brands are producing upgrades one to two times a year, it's easy to get last year's model without paying this year's price.
The tech will last the current cycles
When shopping with professional refurbishment companies, they know what is ready to be sold and that there's a market for it. Yes, it's true, especially with companies such as Apple, where eventually, the technology of the item, whether it's an older version of an iPhone or a Macbook Pro approaching a decade in age, that there's a chance the next software upgrade may make that refurbished electronic obsolete.
However, there is a large window for these electronics, especially with the laptops and the wearables. There's always plenty of advance notice (sometimes up to a couple of years) to let people know if and when they may no longer support these items. Comparing the price point to the useability timeframe, you'll see you're still coming out ahead.
You’re helping save the environment
Guess what? Reusing is just as important as recycling, and getting a refurbished electronic is checking off the list of supporting an eco-friendly mission towards sustainability.
The US dumps between 300-400 million electronic items per year. While e-waste may only represent 2% of all trash, it equals about 70% of overall toxic waste. As mentioned earlier, there is already a lot of technology and electronics out there, and when you don't buy a new piece, you won't add to the existing supply. That's a significant step forward in the overall scheme of reusability.
Furthermore, since refurbished items are meant to work like new or as new as possible, then you're not really sacrificing a lot in terms of functionality when it comes to a refurbished item versus how much you're able to eliminate the excessive waste caused by simply too many electronics.
The US dumps between 300-400 million electronic items per year. While e-waste may only represent 2% of all trash, it equals about 70% of overall toxic waste. As mentioned earlier, there is already a lot of technology and electronics out there, and when you don't buy a new piece, you won't add to the existing supply. That's a significant step forward in the overall scheme of reusability.
Checking the warranty is key. Some refurbished stores offer stellar extended product warranties.
You can extend that warranty
That's right! Not only do refurbished items from the original source or reseller have warranties many times, but these warranties are pretty extensive, knowing that the item is already used.
That means that you'll be covered to keep that refurbished electronic working for quite some time to make sure that there's a viable market for refurbished items. There are also ways to extend the warranty on these refurbished electronics, as many credit cards count refurbished items as covered under their extended warranty coverage benefit.
It's built to work
Refurbished electronics sometimes are used in the same sentence as used electronics. In fact, they are very different from used electronics because certified experts test them to work and have had significant repairs done to them, if necessary, to get them operating as optimal as if it was their first day being opened.
There's also the possibility that some of these refurbished items simply had an initial defect at launch. That defect has since been repaired and corrected, meaning that it's very close to being an open box or rarely used before. It's even better than an open box option, as open box items are returned items that may have a short unknown history but have simply been returned within the possible window.
Open-box electronics usually just go through basic testing, such as turning on and trying certain functionalities. Certified Refurbished items go through rigorous testing and repairs.
It's a great gift option
Never forget that getting a refurbished electronic, especially for a loved one, is always a big win. This is certainly the case if you want to get many loved ones gifts or have that friend fighting to save the environment. You can rest assured that purchasing a refurbished electronic for them can be just as good as buying it new right off the shelf.
So what are you waiting for? Getting refurbished electronics these days is a great way as well to test out the functionality of electronics you may have never had the chance to use before, all with it fully functional and at a small portion of the cost to buy a newer model.
With refurbished electronics through reputable vendors, you'll also have time to try out the items to see if they're even to your liking, and many times you're able to return those items hassle-free. If you're interested in looking at our offering of refurbished electronics, where we simply offer terms like that, then check us out here. We’ve also partnered with WeThrift.com to give you an exclusive discount on your next refurbished electronic purchase.