If you are anything like me you are always looking for a good deal. With the power of shopping online we have quite a few tools in our purchasing toolbox to fulfill those needs we have and hopefully not hit our pocket books too hard. Adam has reviewed two closeout sites in the past that you should check out and I’d like to share with you another of my personal favorites that I discovered when it was mentioned on a local news “consumer on your side” segment.
And yes, it’s a factory refurbished site. In the past this type of store has picked up a negative stigma with some people. But I strongly believe in a very old saying: Caveat Emptor. Let the buyer beware. It doesn’t matter what you are buying or from where, if you take your time, and carefully research your purchase using friends, family, the library, the internet, the chances of you getting a bad deal are reduced by a great deal.
There are many different reasons an item can be classified as factory refurbished. For our safety there are consumer laws that prevent manufacturers from selling anything that is considered refurbished by the law as new. Factory Refurbished items are returned to the manufacturer, inspected, tested, and repackaged like new.
- Brand new overstock items sometimes are labeled as refurbished.
- If the box is opened for any reason and not sold, it is required to be listed as a refurb.
- Demonstration models.
- There was a minor cosmetic blemish on the outside of the item that was returned then corrected.
- If there was a slight defect the product is returned to the manufacturer where the problem component was replaced and then tested and repackaged.
- If the box or casing was damaged in shipping it is returned to the manufacturer for repacking.
- Many stores have a 30-day money back guarantee. If for whatever reasons someone uses this the item is returned, inspected, tested and ready to be sold again, under the factory refurbished title.
Refurbished items have a much lower defect rate. From 10 units that come back for repair only 1 is usually a factory refurb, because refurbished units are tested before they are sold.
Buying refurb isn’t for everyone. You should have a good idea of what exactly you want to buy and especially in regards to electronics what type of performance you want from your item. Overall refurb items tend to be slightly older models than you will find at your local brick and mortar shop or online super store. Make sure you are aware of the warranty, both the one your new purchase comes with and the possible optional warranty you can purchase.
Take your time, be smart, do your research, read up and compare products and shop around for the same or similar items available to you. If you do this I think you will feel much more confident in spending your hard earned money on the best deal you can find.