Refurbished electronics?

[stevew]

Poll forthcoming

So, I'm wondering, what is the collective take on refurbs. Are they the Roxors, or the suxors? Personally I tend to shy away from them, although sometimes they are priced pretty good. I guess I tend to buy a lot of used Video games, although i'd hardly say those are "Refurbished." My daughter got a refurb'd Nintendo DS, and it's worked like a champ.

[Marc Vaughan]

I've bought some stuff second hand (which is what I presume 'refusbished' is?) ... generally if possible the games consoles tend to be second hand simply because they're cheaper (although for obvious personal reasons I tend to buy new games as much as possible because I like to give money to developers who make them).

I'd also buy TV's/Stereo's second hand if they were decent ones and looked in good condition .... so in summary if any of you are upgrading I'm the man to adopt all your old rubbish ;)

(and yes I know I'm a skinflint ;) )

[JonInMiddleGA]

The only refurbished electronic item I've ever bought that I can think of off-hand was my son's X-Box (a refurb was all I could find around Christmas that year). That's now been, what, three Christmas' ago & it's still running fine.

[DaddyTorgo]

I've bought some stuff second hand (which is what I presume 'refusbished' is?) ... generally if possible the games consoles tend to be second hand simply because they're cheaper (although for obvious personal reasons I tend to buy new games as much as possible because I like to give money to developers who make them).

I'd also buy TV's/Stereo's second hand if they were decent ones and looked in good condition .... so in summary if any of you are upgrading I'm the man to adopt all your old rubbish ;)

(and yes I know I'm a skinflint ;) )

really? why give money to game developers? You should see the stack of pirated copies that i have in my bedroom of this hideously expensive, somewhat shoddily done English soccer game..."football manager." Real piece of junk that. ;)

[DanGarion]

Refurbished, is much different then used guys.

definition - electronics that are refurbished usually means that it did not initially pass quality standards of the manufacturer. They then fix or recertify the unit and sell it at a discount price (Up to 30% off).

[Dr. Sak]

Why do you have to get all technical on us Dan? Dork! :)

[dawgfan]

Every computer and monitor I've bought from Dell (2 desktops, 1 laptop, 2 monitors) I've bought through their 'refurbished' program, and outside of a hard drive that died after 2.5 years, have had issues with them. The computers have all worked great and my first monitor, a 21" CRT lasted ~10 years before it died and I replaced it with a 'refurbished' 20" widescreen LCD.

I don't know about other electronics goods and manufacturers, but I have no reason to not go the refurbished route with Dell - they've worked great and I've saved a fair amount of money.

[DanGarion]

Why do you have to get all technical on us Dan? Dork! :)

Whatever Philly fan. ;)

[14ers]

Why do you have to get all technical on us Dan? Dork! :)
Because there is a huge difference between buying something used from Joe Blow and buying something refurbished from the manufacturer.


I buy most of all my electronics Refurbished or Open Box. They always seem to come with some kind of warranty that makes me happy. I would never buy electronics AS-IS or without a warranty.