Refurbished Items

Refurbished items are items that have been returned to the manufacturer for a particular reason, where it is inspected restored to original specification (if that is that required) and then tested, and repackaged for selling. They can be a lot cheaper than buying something brand new, although there are some things to be taken into consideration.

When items are returned, it can be for various reasons:

· Just an old-fashioned return – the customer takes advantage of the time allocated in which to return an item they don’t want (if the item requires fixing, it is fixed and then tested and repackaged)

· If an item is opened at the store but not purchased, theoretically, that item cannot be sold as new. It must be shipped back to the manufacturer to be tested, cleaned, tested again, and marked as ‘refurbished’

· Damage during shipping – sometimes the packing is damaged with no damage to the item inside, but rather than put a damaged box on sale the seller returns the item to the manufacturer (the item is reboxed and sold as refurbished)

· Cosmetic damage – sometimes it is only a slight nick or ding, scratch or dent (as long as the item still performs the function for which it was intended, either the cosmetic flaw is repaired, or the item is given new casing/covering)

· Demonstration units (these cannot be sold as ‘new’, so as long as they are working, they can be sold once they have been tested and repackaged)

· Other reasons see items returned to the manufacturer to be repackaged and sold, such as surplus stock.

When you purchase a refurbished item, there are a few questions you should ask, in order to make sure you don’t get a bad deal.

The most important question is: does the seller offer an extended warranty with the item? This tells you that the seller stands by the refurbished product. If they don’t offer an extended warranty then they can’t believe in their product too much. Also, if the seller is not an authorized reseller of the product they will be hesitant to offer you an extended warranty. Following on from this, is the seller an authorized seller of new products made by the same company as the refurbished product? If not, you need to ask yourself how they came across this ‘refurbished’ item.

Does the seller offer an exchange or return on the item? If the item is faulty in a way that is not disclosed to you when you purchased the item, can you return it or have it exchanged for a new one? Bear in mind if there is a fault with the item, it should be disclosed to you when you purchase it, and you buy it knowing of the fault.

Many refurbished items are returned to an authorized repair center, sometimes the manufacturer itself, so the repairs are always trustworthy and complete. If an item has been used (only for a very short period of time) before it was returned, it will be cleaned, and sanitized, before being tested again. Sometimes they are tested several times before being released for sale – making them sometimes a better deal than a ‘brand new’ item.

Refurbished items make a great deal, as long as you are aware of the conditions attached to the sale of the item. The fact that they undergo such rigorous testing before going back on the shelf makes them a safe bargain – the best kind!