How to Buy a Used Laptop Online

Connecting to the Internet is like bringing the world’s biggest store into your living room. Shopping is so much easier now; instead of spending a couple of hours visiting different stores to get the best prices, you can comparison shop online to get the best deal, order from an online store and get your item delivered to you within a few days. Shopping for a used laptop is no different, and you’re likely to get a better deal shopping online than you are by visiting stores or checking the classifieds in your local paper.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet access
• Computer

1. Make a list of Web sites where you can comparison shop for used laptops (see the Resources section of this article for suggestions).

2. Navigate to each site in turn and search for laptops. If you want a particular brand or model, include the details in your search terms.

3. Compare laptops from your list of search results by checking the boxes next to the links for individual models and then clicking the “Compare” button.

4. Evaluate the features and prices of the computers you’re looking at to get the best deal for your money.

5. Select a laptop and contact the seller. At most comparison shopping sites, you’ll find a link to a Web site by clicking on individual product links.

Tips & Warnings

• Depending on whether you want it for gaming, work or just as an all-purpose portable computer, you’re going to need quite different features.
• Regular laptops are the cheapest option and allow you to perform most tasks, including word processing, connecting to the Internet and using email. You’ll need a more powerful laptop if you want to play movies, manipulate video, audio or image files or play graphic-intensive games. If you need a laptop for these applications, you should buy a model with a faster processor, more RAM or advanced graphics capability. More powerful models also tend to have longer battery life, so this is a good option if you’re going to be using your laptop extensively in places where you don’t have access to another power supply.
• Most new models are Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) enabled, which gives you increased mobility because you can connect to the Internet wirelessly anywhere in your home or office (within around 100 feet of your network). Not all used laptops will have this feature so check before you buy.
• Laptops tend to be more expensive than desktops to upgrade, and you have fewer upgrade options available. Comparison shopping is really important when buying a used laptop—you want to try and get as many features as possible for your money, since it probably won’t be cost-efficient to upgrade.
• To prevent future problems, make sure you find out as much as possible about the laptop and the store you’re buying from before your purchase, including the store’s return policy and the warranty on the item.