Buying a refurbished device instead of a brand new one can save you a ton of money. However, these products often do not attract attention from retailers such as Best Buy, Amazon or B&H Photo. You also won’t find them on the homepage of Apple, Google, Nintendo, Sonos or Olympus, to name a few. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find refreshes on these sites.
First, a brief explanation of what “refurbished” means. If refurbished, this likely means that the product is either broken or has hardened enough to require repair. It could also mean that the person who bought it decided they didn’t want it and returned it to the store. The definition of what constitutes a refurbished item varies by retailer, but something that might ease the concern is in the US. laws that prevent once-used technology from being sold as new.
For more on what defines a refurbished product and what the best strategy is when shopping for refurbished devices and other items, check out our guide:
In the meantime, if you’ve decided to save some money by buying refurbished, here are some places you can try.
Best Buy’s Outlet, as it is called, is the retailer’s site for refurbished technology. Here are Best Buy’s renewal requests:
Refurbished items are repaired and restored to like-new condition. All parts and accessories included with the original product are available, and our thorough inspection process ensures that the product is clean and in good working order.
Products purchased through the outlet, Best Buy’s standard return policy. In terms of warranty coverage, it says refurbished products sold through Outlet “usually include a limited warranty through Best Buy.” Given that it does not generally offer a warranty on all refurbished products, it is worth researching before purchasing a product.
You can also search for the item you’re really looking for on Best Buy’s website and then scroll down until you see the “Purchase Options” tab. Click to see other more affordable options for purchasing similar devices. Sometimes what you will see is renewals, but most of the time they are just open box returns.
Amazon Warehouse is the section of the retailer’s site dedicated to used, refurbished products, or “refurbished” products as Amazon calls it. If you regularly shop for tech on Amazon, you can save some money here. Here’s the fine print on Amazon’s refurbished devices:
[Amazon Renewed products] Professionally audited and tested to work and look like new by Amazon-approved and performance-managed vendors. The inspection and testing process typically includes a full diagnostic test, replacement of defective parts, and a thorough cleaning by the supplier or Amazon. There are no visible cosmetic imperfections when products are held 12 inches away. Products may be packaged in a generic box and come with the accessories expected of a new product, if any, with the exceptions noted on the product detail page.
You can discover the renewed products for many technology products here. You can also find Warehouse deals by looking at the “used” options on the product page of the device you’re interested in. If Amazon offers a refurbished or used option, it will be listed at the top. The “condition” section listed next to the price will contain all the disclaimers you need to know about the condition of the product.
Amazon also owns a company called Amazon. woot often host attractive opportunities in refurbished technology. This site is generally clear about warranty information and condition for each device. Woot runs a 90-day limited warranty on most of its products, but you can purchase a SquareTrade protection plan at checkout.
eBay recently launched a new certified refurbished program that provides a two-year warranty from Allstate on every product listed. The online seller promises a hassle-free refund if you’re not satisfied with your purchase, or a money-back guarantee if your item arrives in a condition that doesn’t match the listing description. You can find Bose, Acer, iRobot, Lenovo, Razer, and more on its refurbished page, and eBay guarantees you’ll get new accessories, new manuals, and manufacturer-sealed packaging with every purchase.
Apple It has one of the best renovation programs around. All items sold refurbished will be “like new” with a savings of at least 15 percent compared to the cost of a brand new device. Items will be shipped in a white box with all original accessories. In addition to the one-year warranty, you can purchase AppleCare for your refurbished purchase. Just to give you an idea of the level of care Apple puts into its refreshes: it replaces the battery and outer shell of all iOS devices.
Drawing by Alex Castro / Moyens I/O
Google sells several refurbished devices (at the time of this writing, it was only selling the Pixelbook and a three-pack of Google Wifi routers) via the Google Store. It says that these products are in like new condition and have been cleaned and repaired. They come with a one-year warranty directly from Google.
sonos sells refurbished audio products on its site, each of which comes with a one-year warranty from the company and a 45-day money-back guarantee. In addition, Sonos says that every product has undergone internal and external cleaning and inspection, and comes in a brand new box with all original accessories and cables.
Nintendo usually sells refurbished Nintendo Switch consoles through a somewhat hidden page. At the time of this writing, it was sold out due to demand spurred by the coronavirus pandemic. In normal cases, you can save some money on a refurbished unit. Here’s what Nintendo had to say about the renewal process:
The Nintendo Switch is now only available as an Authentic Nintendo Refurbished set from Nintendo and comes with our standard. one year warranty. While it has minor cosmetic flaws, it is guaranteed to be fully functional. We think you’ll find that the standards for authentic Nintendo Refurbished Products are VERY high.
Photograph by Amelia Holowaty Krales / Moyens I/O
Microsoft now the store has a section dedicated to the renewed products. Here you’ll find the likes of the latest Surface Pro and Surface Go tablets, along with other Surface products like laptops, all-in-one desktops, and more. Microsoft says that people who buy refurbished products get the same type of technical support as people who buy new products. More importantly, all refurbished products include a one-year warranty with the option to extend for a fee.
BackMarket It is one of many online stores that sell refurbished technology at very discounted prices. Each product page clearly lists what condition the device is in, what kind of warranty it comes with, and exactly which replacement company helped restore the device. It is one of the more transparent vendors and offers one-year warranties on all its products and a 30-day money-back guarantee on purchases if you are not satisfied.
Not sure if your favorite brand sells refurbished? Just call!
The odds of your favorite brand selling refurbished technology are in your favor. I was recently in the market for a desktop graphics card upgrade and both EVGA and Zotac it had constantly upgraded (sometimes referred to as B-stock) graphics cards. The odds were also on my side when I was looking for refurbished lenses for my Olympus camera. Nikon It also offers its own refurbished products. Just call!
It is possible that some brands do not offer their own specialty stores for refurbished products. In this case, sites like Decluttr, Daily Steals, and others offer renewals – and often with a good warranty. If you are looking for second-hand items that have not been restored in most cases, check them out. swap.
Update Oct 23, 4:05 pm ET: This article was originally part of an article titled “How to buy refurbished items” published on May 15, 2020. Some of the entries have been updated.