Pros & Cons of Refurbished Laptops

Weigh the pros and cons when deciding between a new and refurbished laptop.

A brand new laptop travels directly from the manufacturer to a retail outlet, where a consumer purchases it. A refurbished laptop begins on this same path. However, after purchase, a refurbished laptop travels back to the store where it is inspected, fixed and resold as a refurbished item. Although purchasing a refurbished laptop can seem risky, it may not be as risky as consumers believe.

Need Versus Desire

Brand new laptops can cost $1,000 or more. These laptops often include programs and features that drive costs upwards but are not necessary for daily computing tasks. The website Gizmodo.com conducted a survey asking readers whether they needed a brand new, expensive laptop. Of 9,000 respondents, 42 percent said they did not. Based on the survey, Gizmodo concluded many consumers are paying extra money for features they do not need.

Customization

While consumers should think twice about spending extra money on features they don't need, they also should consider the features they do need. New laptops can be customized before they even ship to the consumer. For example, Dell allows consumers to choose processors, storage and memory on new laptops. Because refurbished laptops are sold from an existing supply, consumers are forced to sacrifice personalization for low cost.

Variations of Refurbished

Retail outlets sell laptops as refurbished even if the merchandise was out less than 30 days before being returned to the store. Once a laptop is returned, technicians inspect the merchandise for defects. Brand new laptops are inspected by their manufacturers but do not typically undergo an inspection by the store that sells them. New laptops can incur defects during transport, but no one would know it until a consumer takes the machine out for use. Furthermore, refurbished laptops include products that were on display at the store or products that are overstocked. In such cases, laptops labeled as refurbished might never have left the store or have come in contact with consumer hands.

Older Models

Some retailers sell new, returned laptops as refurbished stock, but not all. With refurbished laptops, stock is limited, and some retailers sell only older models as refurbished merchandise. When purchasing a refurbished laptop that comes from a discontinued or older product line, make sure a fair warranty and return policy are available to protect you. If the refurbished laptop contains defects, your rights as a consumer are protected.

References

• Gizmodo: Why You Should Buy a Refurbished Laptop: Sean Fallon: November 4, 2008.
• PC World: Mobile Computing: Refurbished Notebooks: James A. Martin: May 13, 2004.