Shopping for a refurbished system quite than a brand new one can prevent a ton of cash. It will also be a savvy technique of getting what you need throughout yet one more second of worldwide commerce instability, with the newest blow coming from the Trump administration’s intense tariffs on US imports from China. Nonetheless, these merchandise don’t often obtain any highlight from retailers like Greatest Purchase, Amazon, and B&H Picture. You additionally gained’t discover them sitting on the homepage of Apple, Google, Nintendo, Sonos, or Microsoft, to call a number of. However that doesn’t imply you’ll be able to’t discover refurbs on these websites.
First, a fast description of what “refurbished” means. If a product has been refurbished and is on the market once more, that doubtless means the product was both damaged or roughed up sufficient to warrant a restore. It may additionally imply that whoever purchased it merely determined they didn’t need it and returned it to the shop. The definition of what makes for a refurbished product varies relying on the vendor, although one thing which will ease some fear is that there are US laws that prevent once-used tech from being sold as new, even when it’s in new situation.
For extra info on what defines a refurbished product and what the perfect technique is when looking for refurbished units and different gadgets, take a look at our detailed information on the right way to buy refurbished electronics. Should you’ve already determined that you simply’d wish to go the refurb route, listed here are some locations to strive.
Picture: Umar Shakir
Best Buy Outlet, because it’s known as, is the retailer’s devoted web site for refurbished tech. Right here’s Greatest Purchase’s declare for its refurbs:
Refurbished merchandise have been restored to like-new situation. All very important elements and equipment that may have been included with the unique product are current, and our thorough inspection course of ensures that the product is clear and in working situation.
Merchandise bought by way of Greatest Purchase Outlet are topic to the company’s standard return policy. By way of guarantee protection, it says that refurbished merchandise offered by way of its Outlet “usually embrace a restricted guarantee by way of Greatest Purchase.” Provided that it doesn’t broadly present all refurbished merchandise with a guaranty, it’s value investigating a product before you purchase it.
You may also browse for the product you’re really in search of on Greatest Purchase’s web site, then scroll down the web page till you see the “Extra Shopping for Choices” part. Click on it to see another, extra reasonably priced choices for purchasing related units. Generally what you’ll see are refurbs, however more often than not, they’re merely open-box returns in various states of situation.
Amazon Warehouse is the part of the retailer’s web site devoted to used, refurbished merchandise — or “renewed,” as Amazon calls it. Should you store frequently for tech on Amazon, you stand to avoid wasting cash right here. There are generally particular reductions throughout Prime Day and different seasonal gross sales. Right here is the high quality print from Amazon on its renewed units:
Amazon Renewed is your trusted vacation spot for pre-owned, refurbished merchandise. Merchandise offered on Amazon Renewed are professionally inspected and examined to work as anticipated by an Amazon certified and performance-managed provider. If we supply merchandise from a third-party vendor, the third-party vendor checks and inspects the product.
You’ll find renewed variations of a number of tech gadgets right here, all of which have a 90-day money-back assure. You may also discover Warehouse offers by trying on the “New & Used” choices on the product web page of the system you’re fascinated about. If Amazon presents a refurbished or used choice, will probably be listed proper on the prime. Within the “situation” part listed subsequent to the worth, it should embrace any disclaimers you ought to be conscious of in relation to the product’s situation.
As if Amazon didn’t already dominate sufficient of the net commerce area, it additionally owns a web-based retailer known as Woot that usually has interesting offers on refurbished tech. That web site is often upfront about guarantee info for every system, in addition to the situation that it’s in. Woot applies a 90-day restricted guarantee to most of its merchandise (in some circumstances, tech comes with the unique producer guarantee).
Moreover, eBay has a certified refurbished program, which offers a one- or two-year guarantee from Allstate for every product listed. The web vendor guarantees hassle-free returns should you’re sad with the acquisition or a money-back assure in case your merchandise arrives in a situation that doesn’t match the itemizing description. Usually, you could find gadgets from Bose, Acer, iRobot, Lenovo, Razer, and a spread of different merchandise on eBay’s refurbished web page. It ensures that you simply’ll get new equipment, new manuals, and manufacturer-sealed packaging with every buy.
Apple has among the finest refurbishment packages round. All merchandise offered as refurbished will arrive in “like new” situation with no less than 15 p.c in financial savings in comparison with the price of a brand-new system. Merchandise will ship in a field with the entire authentic equipment. Along with coming with a one-year restricted guarantee, you should buy AppleCare to your refurbished buy. Simply to present you an concept of the extent of care Apple places into its refurbs: it replaces the battery and the outer shell of all iOS units, they usually all obtain new cables.
The Google Store has lengthy had a refurbished part on its web site, although it remained principally dormant with no refurbished merchandise for what appeared like years. As of 2025, it’s populated with telephones, starting from the Pixel 6A to the Pixel 7 Professional. The costs aren’t as low-cost as you’d doubtless be capable to discover shopping for a secondhand telephone through Craigslist or Swappa. Nonetheless, every telephone comes with a one-year Google guarantee.
Sonos sells refurbished audio merchandise on its web site, every of which comes with a one-year guarantee from the corporate and a 30-day return coverage. Moreover, Sonos says every product has obtained inner and exterior cleansing and inspection, and it is available in a brand-new field with all the unique equipment and cables.
Nintendo sells refurbished Change consoles, they usually’re listed on the backside of this page. When this was initially written, it was offered out as a result of demand spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that offer and demand have principally stabilized, it can save you some cash on a refurbished unit of the Change, Change OLED, and Change Lite. Right here’s what Nintendo says of the method on every of its refurbished product pages:
The Nintendo Change is now obtainable as an Genuine Nintendo Refurbished set solely from Nintendo, and it comes with our normal one year warranty. Though it might have minor beauty blemishes, it’s assured to be absolutely practical. We expect you’ll find the requirements for Genuine Nintendo Refurbished Merchandise are VERY excessive.
Valve’s Steam Deck (each the LCD and OLED fashions) is obtainable in refurbished situation. Inventory rapidly sells out, however you’ll be able to generally discover handhelds beginning at $279, going as much as $519. Whichever one you discover, the probabilities are good that it’s over $100 off its authentic value. And but, it’ll include a one-year guarantee, a refurbished energy provide, and a carrying case.
Microsoft has part of its retailer particularly devoted to merchandise that it has refurbished. There, you’ll discover the likes of the newest Floor Professional tablets and laptops, together with Xbox consoles. Microsoft says that individuals who purchase refurbished merchandise get the identical form of tech assist as those that buy new merchandise. Whereas Floor merchandise get a yr of guarantee service, Xbox consoles are solely coated for 90 days, although there’s an choice to increase protection at a price.
BackMarket is certainly one of many on-line storefronts that sells refurbished tech at steeply discounted costs. Every product web page clearly lists what situation the system is in, what sort of guarantee it comes with, and precisely which refurbishment firm helped to revive it. It’s one of many extra clear resellers, and it presents one-year warranties on all of its merchandise with a 30-day money-back assure on purchases should you aren’t completely happy.
Undecided in case your favourite model sells refurbished? Simply search!
The probabilities are in your favor that your favourite model sells refurbished tech. I used to be out there for an upgraded desktop graphics card not too long ago, and I discovered that Zotac has a considerably common restocking cadence of refurbished graphics playing cards. The PC builder iBuyPower additionally sells refurbished graphics playing cards on its web site, in addition to laptops and PCs. The percentages had been additionally in my favor after I was in search of refurbished lenses for my Olympus digital camera (they’re offered on an OM System Outlet eBay web page now). Nikon presents its personal refurbished merchandise, too. Simply search!
It’s potential that some manufacturers don’t supply their very own devoted store for refurbished items. In that case, websites like Decluttr and others supply refurbs — and often with a great guarantee. Should you’re simply in search of secondhand merchandise that, most often, haven’t been restored and are being offered as-is, take a look at Swappa.
Replace April fifteenth, 2025: This text was initially printed on Could fifteenth, 2020. The data for varied distributors has been up to date, together with some hyperlinks and pictures.