10-Point Checklist for Buying a Refurbished Product – Wow

The demand for refurbished tech products has significantly flourished over the years. India’s Refurbished Mobile Phone market was otherwise moving slowly until COVID-19. Reason? With the pandemic hitting, more people had to shift their work, school and colleges online. Hence, people are finding ways to cut expenses by buying affordable and quality pre-owned gadgets that will last long.  

So, if you’re thinking of jumping on the bandwagon, here are some recommendations for you to make a wise decision before you invest your money in a refurbished product.

• Is it an open-box or refurbished item?

You may ask what the difference between an open-box and a refurbished product is. Well, open-box items are the ones that are bought, opened and then returned for some reason, basically unused. However, the definition of Refurbished Mobile is items that have been used and repaired. Thankfully, companies are prevented from selling these returned products as brand new. Automatically, the price goes down (once the item is returned, it gets the label as refurbishment). You can take this advantage and ask about a product’s origins with the vendor and hope for an open-box item.

• Set high standards for a vendor.

Getting a good product also involves who are you getting it from. It is recommended to purchase products from a seller who has an extensive product range, live customer support as well as user-friendly return policies. Check out customer reviews and ensure they have a legitimate website and address. 

• Who was in charge of the refurb?

Before jumping on the bandwagon, always check if the product is renovated by the original company or by a third-party seller. It is usually recommended to stick with the original company, as they’ll have the proper packaging and parts to restore the product to its original condition. For further reassurance, look for terms like “factory-certified”.

• Try to remain with the same vendor or supplier.

Avoid going to different equipment sellers or vendors, as it may get you caught in a never-ending loop of documentation. You may end up with different prices, warranties and investigations. Therefore, it’s ideal to choose a single provider for all your equipment and devices. 

• What’s the condition of the product?

There is usually no rule to judge a second-hand product. We mean, of course, it’s been used and exploited. However, you can grade a product on how long it has been used and up to what level. It may have been reconditioned (cracked or scratched parts were replaced) and repaired to look ‘new’; therefore, before purchasing a product, look at these variations and conditions of the item. 

• Does the box come with all the accessories?

Not having all the accessories and attachments in a refurbished product is quite common, especially when buying it from an owner. That’s why it is recommended to buy a second-hand product from a direct vendor to get all the attachments in the box with almost an original packing. 

• Do a price comparison.

If you think all refurbished products are cheap, you are wrong. You may find a product for cheap on a site or a seller. Check with some other site or seller to compare the price of the same model and see if it’s available even cheaper or not. Saying that, don’t let the price be your only consideration. Sometimes you may have to pay a bit extra because you trust that dealer or website.

• Check for the warranty.

It is crucial to have a warranty on a device, whether new or second-hand. Even if it is second-hand, a device should be able to accomplish what it’s meant to. If a product is offered “as-is,” don’t buy it because it removes whatever implicit warranty it could have. You may end up risking your savings for a faulty product if a product cannot perform well. Therefore, before you buy a product, ask the seller/ owner if a new warranty (apart from the one given originally) is given to you. 

• Check the return policy.

Like any new product, refurbished items too should have a return policy. Some items that you purchase require a long time to notice the flaws. As a result, if you decide to buy a refurbished item, ask for at least two weeks to check it out and play with it, perform a full examination and return it for free if it has any flaws. If the seller declares “sale final,” don’t get into any agreement with the item unless you want to lose money on a faulty product.

• What refurbished items not to buy?

Before you decide to invest your hard-earned money into any refurbished tech item, these are the items we recommend avoiding buying:

• TVs (because it’s hard to determine how old the TV might be)
• Mechanical gadgets like a keyboard
• Hard drives
• Items like headphones and earbuds that come in contact with the skin.

Now that you know the tits and bits of purchasing refurbished tech gadgets, look for a trusted seller/vendor and get on with investing your money in genuine second-hand products!