Electronics are expensive, whether it’s a new phone, laptop, or digital camera. If you’re like most consumers, you’re always on the lookout for ways to save money on electronics. While sales and other discounts can help reduce purchasing costs, it can still seem like you’re not getting the best deal.
Have you considered going through a refurbished electronics wholesaler? You can get the same great electronics at a significantly lower price. If this sounds tempting, you’re not alone. Thousands of shoppers purchase their electronic devices through wholesalers.
However, before clicking on the purchase icon, you should know a few things about buying refurbished electronics.
The Type of Return Matters
Some returns are true refurbished items and others are open-box. What’s the difference? An open box return means the original purchaser may have opened the box but didn’t use the electronic device. An open-box return can also mean the packaging was damaged during shipping.
Instead of testing the electronic, the purchaser plays it safe and sends the item back—this type of return can be iffy for the next buyer. The electronic device isn’t refurbished, instead, it’s only repackaged. You hope the wholesaler ran a few tests on the item before reboxing it, however, there’s no guarantee. If the electronic device is damaged during its original shipping, you may end up with a defective product.
The other type of return is a refurbished one, which typically happens when the original buyer returns the device because of issues. The pros go to work fixing any issues and the wholesaler has a rebuilt electronic device ready for sale. Before purchasing electronics from a wholesaler, it’s a good idea to ask about the product’s origins.
Who Refurbished the Item?
A good tip to follow is to only purchase gently used electronics refurbished by the manufacturer. However, this isn’t implying a third party can’t refurbish electronics, only the manufacturer will have access to the parts and packaging to make the device look like new.
If you’re not sure how to tell who handled the refurbishing, look for a sticker labeled factory-certified. However, if price is your primary concern, a third-party refurbished electronic device will be noticeably cheaper than one rebuilt by the manufacturer.
What About Accessories?
You don’t want to open up a refurbished iPhone box only to discover the charger is missing. Now, you need to buy a charger, hopefully, before the phone’s battery dies.
Gaming consoles may be missing a controller, and laptops don’t always come with power cords. These are only a few examples of accessories that may be missing when you purchase refurbished electronics.
Avoiding this issue is relatively easy, but it may cost a little more. Look for refurbished electronics wholesalers that offer products close to their original packaging. You should also take a minute or two to read the product description, which usually lists what’s included in your purchase.
If you see a price that seems too good to be true, chances are, it’s missing some or all of the normally included accessories.
Does It Come With a Warranty?
Stuff happens, regardless of how careful you are. Phones slip out of hands, and this also applies to tablets. Screens are cracked and hardware can glitch. Your digital camera may suddenly lose its zoom function and graphics on monitors can look less than stellar. These are only a few examples of issues you can run into with various electronic devices.
Thankfully, most new electronics come with warranties. These warranties cover hardware and software glitches, cracked screens, and a host of other issues.
Most manufacturers offer warranties on their electronics for at least one year. However, these warranties are often void if the product is resold through a wholesaler. Before you panic and rethink your decision to purchase refurbished products from a wholesaler, some warranties carry over. This typically applies to electronics refurbished by the manufacturer. Some third-party wholesalers are also licensed and this may mean the warranty is still valid.
You can easily check with the wholesaler before making a purchase. If you can’t get a response, it may be a good idea to buy your refurbished electronics from another wholesaler.
Is There a Return Policy?
Simply because you’re buying a refurbished electronic device doesn’t mean you should be stuck with the product if there’s an issue with its performance. Refurbished electronics aren’t settling for someone’s castoffs. You’re simply purchasing a product that needs a little work before hitting the shelves.
Most reputable wholesalers offer return policies. While this is a good start, you also want to check the return policy’s time frame. You can figure out if there’s a problem with the power source pretty quickly but other issues can take longer to show up.
For example, the graphics on a gaming console can start to dim over time. While this is to be expected if you’ve been using the gaming console for years, it shouldn’t be a problem with a newly refurbished one. Look for wholesalers that have at least a 30-day return policy, as this should give you enough time to discover any potential issues.
What If the Electronic is Labeled ‘Like New’?
Both state and federal laws help protect consumers from purchasing fraudulent items. These laws extend to how wholesalers can advertise their products.
You’re probably going to see electronics advertised as just like new, which is a way to indicate the electronics are refurbished and in their original working condition. Even if the manufacturer is the entity performing the repairs, a previously sold item can’t be advertised as being brand new.
Some other examples of advertising include terms like ‘gently used’ and ‘almost like new’, to name a few. If any of these or other terms appear in the product advertising, you’re probably looking at a refurbished item and the price should be significantly lower than for a brand-new model.
Are the Savings Worth the Risk?
Even though there’s some risk when buying refurbished electronics from a wholesaler, the benefits usually make it worth it. As long as you stick with a reputable wholesaler, you’ll face very little risk. You can enjoy the latest electronic devices without paying full price.
Plus, many reputable wholesalers offer warranties and return policies, giving you extra peace of mind—this way, you can snag great deals on high-quality electronics with confidence.