Do you dream of using the latest electronics and saving hundreds of dollars? You can start with buying refurbished electronics. With refurbished electronics, you get the best devices, at half or 70% the cost.
Still not sold on the idea? We’ll show you how to go about buying refurbished elctronics successfully from certified refurbished websites.
At then end of this article, you’ll be comfortable enough to buy that new Apple Macbook you’ve wanted to buy for a while or the iPhone XS Max or for that matter the latest Xbox X or PlayStation Pro. You will also learn which websites offer you the best deals for your products as well as what the different grades and conditions mean for refurbished devices.
Guide to Buying Refurbished Electronics
Here’s a brief guide where we’ll cover what to look for when buying refurbished devices online or in-store.
Is It Safe to Buy Refurbished Electronics?
In most cases, yes. There are always some risks when it comes to buying refurbished electronics. However, buying refurbished electronics can get you a great deal. We suggest buying from the retailer directly or a reputable dealer from the list below. If you’re unsure, spend extra and get a longer warranty coverage to cover any problems.
Is Refurbished better than Used?
Used devices are just that; used. They are being sold without warranty and may only cover returns if they are Dead on Arrival [DOA]. We don’t suggest buying used electronics. Used books are fine, but not electronics such as phones, laptops and gaming devices. Memory cards and USB memory is fine when getting used.
What Does Grade A Refurbished Mean?
Refurbished electronics are given grades based on their wear and tear, device use, accessories etc. Grades are assigned after refurbished devices have gone through the ringer and a professional has thoroughly checked out everything from Hard drive, ports, buttons and battery to screen / display. Grade A is near mint condition and is the best you can hope for when buying a refurbished device. Newer products are generally available in Grade A.
When Should I Buy Refurbished Electronics?
You should consider buying refurbished electronics in the following scenarios:
- When you don’t have the budget for brand new but want the latest device.
- When you need to buy electronics for a child.
- When you are knowledgeable about technology and can easily tell straightaway if the refurbished device is going to be a problem within its return period.
- If you are a developer and need different phones, smart watches, devices etc to test out your mobile apps.
What To Look Out For When Buying Refurbished Electronics?
Whether you are buying from the manufacturer or, from a trusted site, there are some things to keep in mind when buying refurbished electronics online.
- Device Warranty: First, confirm the warranty. You’ll want to know how long you have to exchange something if it doesn’t work.
- Return Policy: See what the return policy is, if there is one at all. This will help you determine if you need to do any rigorous tests on the device to make sure it works. As a rule of thumb, refurbished electronics carry a 90 day to 1 year warranty period during which time any problems will be covered by them for free.
- Refurbished Type: Also, check to see if the device is factory refurbished or not. Plenty of businesses fix electronics for re-sale, but a factory certification means it has been tried and tested by the manufacturer. If you want a guarantee on quality, make sure it is factory refurbished.
- Warranty Claim Process: In the event you are looking to buy a refurbished device from an online store, then check how easy it is to claim warranty and understand what is covered and what isn’t during the warranty period. This is important since they will certify the device according to their standards and the claim will also be handled by their store or authorised outlet.
Always purchase keeping the worst case scenario in mind. It may seem like a lot of trouble but don’t forget the savings!
Now with out further ado, here are 10 best places to buy refurbished electronics.
10 Best Websites to Buy Refurbished Electronics
If you’re in the market for refurbished consumer electronics, make sure you get them from these services.
CeX
CeX stores is all over the UK and has a fairly decent presence in Australia, Canary Islands, Italy Mexico, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Netherland, Poland and India as well. Online capabilities, prices and in-store facilities vary by each country so be sure to call into the store to enquire about a product before making the trek. They carry everything from refurbished phones, gaming consoles, TV screens, laptops and photography equipment, to games, DVDs and BluRay. Also, if you’re looking for unlocked handsets or have physically damaged your carrier locked phone then they are ideal for replacement.
It was by far my favourite hangout in the UK. For items such as flash memory and external storage, it is better to buy here than brand new. CeX also has in-store credit which gives an additional 15-25% of the items value when selling. So they are also a great place to Trade-In your electronics, games and DVDs.
Gazelle
Gazelle is both a refurbished electronics seller and a Trade-In electronics specialising in iPhones, Tablets and Samsung Galaxy phones. A Gazelle certified product is inspected on 30 points from speaker quality to wifi signals. With each device, you have a 30 day return period which is unfortunate since a warranty to should go beyond 30 or 60 days esp with refurbished products. They run campaigns now and then so its always good to check them out if you’re looking to buy any of the above-mentioned devices.
JemJem.com
JemJem is another refurbished electronics seller, though they mostly specialise in Apple products. You’ll find some great deals on Macs, iPads, iPhones, Apple watches, Samsung & Pixel, Chromebooks and some accessories. You will find some other items as well. However, they would be new or simply marked clearance; not JemJem Certified Refurbished. Based out of the US, they ship only within the US and for FREE. If you want to get your devices delivered outside the US (and avoid large customs fees on new items) choose a package forwarding service that fits your needs. With a great support staff, you can be sure to get your queries answered on time. In case you are not satisfied, you can even get a refund for free in the first 30 days. They also run Daily deals so you should check them out before purchasing elsewhere.
Walmart
Walmat has an entire subsection on their website dedicated to certified refurbished electronics. Within refurbished electronics, they carry, phones, smartwatches, TVs, printers, laptops, headphones, Desktop PCs, Tablets and wearable tech.
Certified refurbished devices from Walmart come with a 90 day warranty and original accessories. The only drawback of their website, is that you cannot sort by grade or condition, though they claim that all devices ‘are tested and inspected to function and appear like new’ – their words, not mine. So, all refurbished electronics on walmart are grade A.
NewEgg
NewEgg sells everything under the sun, and this includes a variety of Refurbished electronics as well. They are also a Microsoft Authorised Refurbisher hence they have great deals in refurbished Windows Desktops & Laptops. They sell Gaming consoles, Cellphones, Tablets, Computer hardware and household electronics. Each NewEgg refurbished device has its warranty specification and covered under different return policies.
When you find the device you’re looking for, simply check the link for the item’s return policy and the specifications tab to see the warranty information.
Mac Of All Trades
Mac of All trades is a certified refurbished online store for Apple devices. They sell these devices at a low cost, which lets you save approx 50%. This includes Apple’s updated and new products too.
They buy and sell the products in an excellent condition with a 90 day warranty which can be extended to 2 years by purchasing their platinum warranty. If you’re looking into buying any apple product for a cheaper price, you should definitely check them as they offer weekly discounts too! They provide shipment to USA, UK, Australia and Canada.
If you are looking to ship to a country not covered by a website on this list, consider using a package forwarding service.
TechForLess
Techforless has all the new & branded, refurbished and open box electronic devices except for mobile phones. These are checked by experienced technicians. The website ships within the US only, however provides CPS warranty worldwide at an additional cost.
They promise quality at the lowest price in the industry and if not, you get the money back instantly. If you’re looking for a used, good in condition laptop, monitor, smart watch, gaming console or anything tech related make sure you check out techforless. You can avail discounts upto 60% off on all the products. You will also find different discounts & deals everyday.
All sales carry a manufacturer warranty and 30 days’ back money warranty.
Refurb.IO
RefurbIO provides services in US and Canada only. They too are a Microsoft Authorised Refurbisher which means that these electronics will carry a one-year warranty. They also only deal with Laptops and Desktops hence if you’re looking for variety and don’t want to be distracted by other products then this maybe for you. There is a $15 off Discount Code on all orders over $200 at the US store.
Refurb.Me
Refurb.Me is another refurbished electronics marketplace for Apple products and devices. Its a comparison site that pulls products from a variety of stores (including some on this list). They claim that buyers can save upto 50% off apple products. Users can browse 1000s of products available and setup alerts for products that have sold out. This allows them to come back to the site if their device is back in stock.
Refurb.Me has a clean and easy to shop interface that makes decision making and purchasing a breeze. Warranty for each device is listed according to the seller/store you are eventually buying from.
Original Equipment Manufacturer
Often manufacturers will sell refurbished electronics on their website. The most notable of these is Apple, who completely replace the battery and outer shell, as well as offer a one year warranty. Plus buyers can save up to 30%. Many manufacturers offer similar deals on their websites. Dell, HP, and Sony are some major ones, just to name a few.
If you want to get a trustworthy refurbished electronics, the manufacturer is usually the best place to start with. They will have limited options, though, which is why we sometimes end up looking for reputable sellers.
Buying refurbished electronics online is easy. You just have to know what to look for and where to buy from.
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Which website would you recommend the best to buy an iPhone? Gazelle or Jem Jem? Or maybe other? And why? I checked both websites but the prices for an unlocked iPhone SE 16 GB are quite different:
JEM JEM || REFURBISHED IPHONE SE GSM UNLOCKED SPACE GRAY 16GB(A1662) | $193.99
GAZELLE || Certified Used iPhone se 16 GB | eXCELLENT CONDITION | $268 / GOOD CONDITION | $238 / FAIR | $208
If you were to pick Gazelle, which condition would you recommend to buy? Do you think that the excellent condition is worth it or would a case make up for a good condition iPhone?
Your article has been helpful to me as it gives a brief description of each refurbished website. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to find an article that compared Gazelle and Jam Jam. I am clueless about refurbished cell phones, and I am new to iPhones. Great post!
Thank you for appreciating our article. A lot of effort went into it 🙂
To answer your question, both are good choices because both give you devices with a 30 day return window and provide 90 days of warranty on devices. If we get into details, I suspect Gazelle is more expensive mostly because they put devices through a 30 point quality inspection that includes both functional and cosmetic inspection.
My 2 cents would be that get a device in excellent condition. If you decide to go with Jem Jem, then, if the description says ‘acceptable condition’ anywhere in the text, please pass on that deal. Usually cosmetic damage is in direct proprotion to device usage / abuse.
Hope this helps.
Awesome!! Thank you so much for replying! Your answer is so helpful that now I can choose. I will go for Gazelle since it is more rigorous on the quality check. And although it is a little out of my budget, it seems to be worth the bucks. Thank you so, so much!!
Please where can I get bulk used phone and laptop for sale.I am bulk buyer