Laptops are fast becoming a necessity for professionals and students alike. Gone are typewriters, pen and papers and messy handwritings. One can easily take an office or a library anywhere he want with just a laptop.
High prices of brand new laptops however can be quite overwhelming for some people on a tight budget. So they can settle for cheaper kinds – used laptops or refurbished laptops. Used laptops are not highly recommend though, unlike refurbished laptops which are being raved on by many people today.
There are several advantages of buying Refurbished Laptop computers:
Reduced Cost: Buying refurbished laptop computers can save you 10 to 30 percent off the price of a new computer.
High Quality. Refurbished laptops go through high levels of performance standard tests at factories before they're repackaged and sent out for selling. You are assured of a high quality laptop even though they're refurbished.
Discounts. Usually, these refurbished laptops are offered at great discount prices for students, senior citizens, military personnel and etc. Aside from the 30 percent slash off, you can also get additional discounts!
Warranty Advantage. Oftentimes, these refurbished laptops come with longer warranty period. Normal warranties last for 1 year, while refurbished laptops can extended warranty period of up to 3 years.
Now you might be real excited to get that refurbished laptop for yourself. But wait, here are a few things to keep in mind before you buy a refurbished laptop:
First, you must check the date of the first purchase of the unit to know how old the hardware parts are – you don't want to end up with a laptop filled with almost obsolete parts that'll be difficult to repair or replace right?Second, you need to find out how many users the laptop had before. A laptop with 2 or more users probably will not be that good. The laptop's condition is very important because you have to get the same kind of performance capability such as that of a new or a newer laptop. Many buyers also prefer laptops previously owned by women.Make sure that you buy a refurbished laptop from your own country so can easily reach the dealer without much hassle. Shop around till you find a good price for great quality.And lastly, make sure you buy a refurbished laptop that comes with a warranty. If the manufacturer's warranty has already expired, the vendor then should give one. This way, you can reach the vendor if any problems, repairs or replacement arises.
Refurbished Laptops: Save on Cost, Not on Quality
Sometimes desktops and laptop computers seem to be priced real low. Descriptions of these products might include the term refurbished. Manufacturers and retailers offer refurbished systems much cheaper than normal PC and laptop costs, but are they safe to buy?
Refurbished laptops typically fall into two categories. First are the units which failed a quality control check during manufacturing. Rather than simply disposing them, manufacturers rebuild them to pass quality control checks but them sells them at discounted prices. Another kind is a rebuilt system from customer return maybe because of a certain component failure.
Refurbishment can be done by a manufacturer of a third party. While manufacturers rebuild the system with the same parts used in new laptops, third parties may use alternative parts to fix it up and get it running. These alternate parts may change the system from the original design so it is important for customers to read the specifications and compare them to the standard specs of the product.
And another type that customer will find discounted is an open box product, unlike refurbished laptops, these has not been rebuilt. The product is simply a customer return that was never opened and tested. Buyers should be very careful when purchasing any open box products.
Costs Savings
Primarily, cost savings is the one reason considered why many people purchase refurbished laptops. These are usually priced below average computer systems currently sold. But of course the reduced price is only relevant if you are looking at the same exact product. Most refurbished laptops available will typically be a bit older products that are being compared to the original suggested retail prices for the products on its first release. When looked at this way, deals may not always be the best.
When fishing for refurbished laptops, it is important to note if the model is still available for new sale. If it is, you can easily determine the price comparison. These usually have modest discounts of 10 to 25 percent off the retail prices. So long as they have similar warranties as the new ones, these can be an excellent way of having a laptop for a cheaper price.
However, customers are often tricked into paying for a unit that looks like a good deal but are actually not. This problem comes from older laptops that are no longer sold. This is where the specifications become tremendously important. Check out your prospective refurbished laptop's specifications and try to find a comparable brand new or newer system. If you can find one, them the cost analysis of 10 to 25 percent still holds. But if you can no longer find a comparable system, search for a comparably priced system and see what you can get. In this case, customers usually will find that they can have a better, newer product for that same price.
So try to be careful when choosing refurbished laptops. Go for those refurbished by manufacturers to get real cost savings and better quality for your money.
Warranties
The key to any refurbished computer system is the warranty. These are products that typically were returned or rejected due to a defect. While that defect may have been corrected and no further problems may develop you want to make sure that some coverage is included for potential faults. The problem is that warranties are typically modified for refurbished products.
First and foremost, the warranty should be a manufacturer one. If the warranty is not provided by the manufacturer it should raise a red flag for consumers. A manufacturer warranty will guarantee that the system will be repaired to the original specifications with manufacturer parts or certified replacements can be used with the system. Third party warranties can cause major problems as replacements parts may not be guaranteed and it may take longer for the system to be repaired.
The next thing to look at is the length of the warranty. It should provide the same length as if it was purchased new. If the manufacturer is not offering the same coverage consumers should once again beware. The lower cost of the system may be the result of them not offering to support the product.
Finally, be wary of extended warranties. If an optional warranty is offered for purchase with the system, it should be a manufacturer extended warranty and not one through a third party. Also be wary of the cost for extended warranties. If the cost of the extended warranties makes the system cost more than buying it new, avoid the purchase.
Conclusions
Refurbished laptops and desktops are one way consumers can find a good deal, but they have to be much more informed before the purchase. The key is to ask several key questions to know if it is really a good and safe deal:
Is it sold by the manufacturer or a retailer?What is the price relative to the same PC new?Is the system comparable to an equivalent priced new PC?What type of warranty comes with the PC?Who will handle warranty work?
If all of these can be answered satisfactorily, then consumers can generally feel secure in the purchase of a refurbished PC.
