Are you considering purchasing a refurbished laptop? If you are, then you need to read this guide to ensure that you get the best possible deal. The refurbished laptop industry is huge in the United States and across the world. Demand is not showing any signs of slowing down either.
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A Refurbished Laptop Defined
A refurbished laptop can actually mean a number of different things. Sometimes a customer will make a laptop purchase and then return it to the store for some reason. This cannot be repackaged and sold as brand new because it isn’t. Therefore, this is an example of a refurbished laptop. The original customer may not have ever used it, but they took it out of the box.
All laptop manufacturers perform quality tests on the machines they create. If a laptop fails this test then the company can refurbish it and sell it as such. They will ensure that this time it meets their quality standards.
There are other forms of refurbished laptops, such as:
- Overstock
- Models used for demonstration in stores
- Canceled orders for machines
- Laptops removed from their box but never used
- Minor scratches or other minor damage
If you are in the market for a refurbished laptop then you might be lucky and get a model removed from its box and never used or that has a couple of minor scratches. A high-quality laptop purchased at a refurbished price can last you a long time.
You also need to bear in mind that refurbished laptops can be older models, which have seen use. Maybe a company has upgraded all of their laptops and have traded the old machines in as part of the deal. Usually, most refurbished laptops are like this.
Why Should You Consider a Refurbished Laptop?
If you want a high-quality laptop these days, you need to make an investment. These laptops are not cheap but they do offer the prospect of years of good service if you take good care of them. Are refurbished laptops a good investment too?
Most people that are interested in refurbished laptops are looking for good quality models at a lower price. You will certainly save money purchasing a refurbished laptop over a new one. It is possible to pick up a good quality refurbished laptop for as much as 40% below the price of a new one.
There are tons of refurbished options online from well-known brands like Dell and Apple. As a general rule, make sure to check the product description thoroughly before buying so that you know exactly what you’re getting. Contact customer service if there is information that you need that’s not in the description. It’s better to be sure when it comes to buying refurbished IT items, especially expensive ones like laptops and computers.
So, from that point of view, a refurbished laptop is a good investment. Imagine getting a machine worth $1,000 for just $600. Not only will you save money but you will help the environment at the same time. Instead of disposing of laptop parts, refurbishing companies use working parts in their products.
Usually, a refurbished laptop is stronger than a new laptop. The reason for this is that when refurbished, they are likely to have reinforcing repairs to make them tougher. It is normal to receive a warranty with a refurbished laptop as well.
Many online providers of refurbished laptops will help you to find the model that you are looking for. All you need to do is to complete a form or send an email with your requirements. Be sure to include your budget here.
Things to Consider with Refurbished Laptops
Almost everyone who is interested in buying a refurbished laptop will consider the cost first. We encourage you to do this as well as you do not want to overstretch yourself financially. However, you need to do more than just consider the money you are prepared to spend.
Think about what your computing needs will be right now and for the next few years. This will go a long way in deciding the specifications of the laptop that you want. It can also help with determining the right budget.
You need to know what condition the battery and the body of the laptop are in. Do the screen hinges work properly or does the laptop have a lot of scratches? Quality refurbishment companies should fix any laptop body issues prior to selling you a laptop.
Ask if the refurbishment company is going to replace the existing laptop battery with a new one. Some companies will do this as a matter of course but others will not. You need to check if the refurbished laptop includes the latest technology as well, such as the newest CPU and SSD drive, for example.
When you purchase a new laptop, you will usually get some accessories with it as part of the deal, such as a power adapter, free mouse, and so on. Some refurbishment companies will provide similar accessories when you purchase a laptop from them and others won’t.
One last thing to consider is whether you can upgrade any of the hardware with your refurbished laptop. What is the maximum amount of RAM that the laptop can accommodate? Can you update the CPU or graphics card?
Refurbished Laptop Buying Tips
When you are ready to buy your refurbished laptop, you need to know that certain things are in place before you part with the cash. It is a lot more common for a company to receive a laptop return due to a hardware issue than it is for a software problem.
Before choosing a laptop refurbishing company to make a purchase from, check out online reviews. If people had a bad experience, they will not usually be shy about adding a bad review. No company is perfect and things will go wrong from time to time, but avoid refurbishment companies that have mainly negative reviews.
Is the refurbishment company you are considering certified and authorized? Find out as much as you can about the company before making a commitment. You do not want to be in a situation where you receive a poor quality refurbished laptop and then have to fight the company for a replacement or your money back.
We recommend that you go for a refurbished laptop that has the operating system pre-installed. When a refurbished laptop has a working operating system, it is usually a good sign that all is well with the hardware.
One thing that you need to be aware of is that the parts used in a refurbished laptop may not be exactly the same as if you purchased it new. You might find that some components do not match the manufacturer’s original specifications. This is not something that you need to be overly concerned about as long as everything is working properly.
If you are concerned about this and want a refurbished machine that is very close to the manufacturer’s original specifications, then you will need to make a comparison. You can question the refurbishment company about any components that do not match the original spec. A search online of the component will tell you if it is a quality replacement.
You will find many laptop refurbishment companies online. Some of these have thousands of good customer reviews and they are worth checking out first. Look for the warranty period on the refurbished laptop that you are interested in. A year is always a good length of time for a refurbished laptop warranty.
Did you know that Amazon is certified to refurbish laptops? Many people will buy a refurbished laptop from Amazon due to their excellent reputation and good prices. They will also receive a one-year warranty with the machine. Customers also know that Amazon will gladly handle returns if you are not happy with your purchase.
Refurbished Laptop Myths
If you talk to people about refurbished laptops, some of them are going to tell you not to bother. They will recount stories to you about others having major problems with a refurbished laptop. But are these stories really true?
You will find the same thing if you search online. The thing to bear in mind here is that there are many instances of people having trouble with brand new laptops as well, so don’t be misled by these supposed incidents.
Here are some of the most common myths about refurbished laptops:
- Many people believe that a refurbished laptop will perform poorly and be slow. This is not true as many refurbished laptops are canceled orders or have minor scratches on them. Neither of these things will impair performance.
- Another popular myth about refurbished laptops is that they will not last as long as a new laptop will. Just because you are paying less for a refurbished laptop does not mean that the quality will be inferior to a new one. As long as you look after it, a refurbished laptop will usually last just as long.
- The next myth is that a refurbished laptop is more likely to have issues than a new one. There is no real evidence to support this. As we said before, a new laptop can have problems too. In fact, it is often the case that refurbished laptops are stronger than new models.
- Finally, there is a myth about refurbished laptops that says that they do not have the same amount of power that a new laptop will have. This really doesn’t make much sense at all. Refurbished laptops are just as powerful as new ones with the same specification.
So, if you come across any of these myths, our advice is to ignore them as they are not true. Refurbished laptops often get a bashing that they do not deserve. The people that circulate these myths have probably never owned a refurbished laptop.
Final words
There are many good reasons to go for a refurbished laptop over a new one. The most obvious of these is the lower price. If you use a laptop for general business, such as word processing, spreadsheets, sending emails, and surfing the web, then a refurbished laptop makes a lot of sense.
Although refurbished laptops are a good idea, you need to do your homework when it comes to purchasing one. Always go with a reputable seller that offers a guarantee for a year, such as Amazon. Identify what kind of laptop you will need for the next few years before you dive in and buy a refurbished one.
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