With the economy in its current state, it’s no surprise that more consumers are paying a little more attention to maximizing their money on each and every purchase. Considered luxury or “extra” items to many, computers and technology items are especially scrutinized by value-conscious consumers looking to get the most out of their technology investment. Such consumers are increasingly moving away from factory new items in favor of products like factory recertified computers and refurbished items. Others, fearful of the unknown, bet on new items and choose the “better safe than sorry” route. But a little understanding of the non-new and refurbished categories can save you bucks without losing any sleep.
If you are among the skeptics, you are in good company. The reason for the uncertainty is probably a result of such a huge difference in the quality and state of aftermarket computers and technology. Much of this confusion centers on misunderstandings of the categories of these products. Being in the industry I am often asked questions like “is there a difference between refurbished and factory recertified products?” or “are open box laptops new or used?” This article will try to provide the answers to these questions and hopefully several more.
The crux of this task is to demystify the meaning of the general product condition categories. However, it’s important to realize that different companies may have slightly different meanings, so it’s best to ask questions about the products you’re considering. However, the following definitions are generally considered industry standard.
New, factory sealed: Not too much of a problem here. This usually refers to new products with that new computer smell. However, you should be sure to read the fine print, as some vendors don’t always view new and factory-sealed as the same thing. Make sure the description states that your product is factory sealed. If it does not indicate it, ask; otherwise, you may be buying an entirely new product, as in “well, I only used it a few times.” However, for featured vendors, new means new and never used, either in a sealed retail box or plain OEM box. Be sure to ask questions, especially if you buy a laptop or computer from an online vendor.
open box:
Typically this refers to an item that has been opened and repackaged in new condition. Open-box computer products are typically items that have been opened and possibly turned on/used for a minimal amount of time. Many are customer returns where someone buys the product, discovers it wasn’t exactly what they needed, and returns it. Most of these products have not been used or have been used minimally. Other examples of open-box items are those that have been taken out of the box for testing, showing to customers, or demonstrating a particular function or feature.
Factory Recertified
These items are generally in much better condition than plain refurbished products. Factory recertified computers and related products are those that have had some repair, touch-up, or cleaning that has rendered them identical, or nearly identical, to new products. While some of these products have been used and returned, many factory recertified technology products have never even left the factory. For example, let’s say a battery recall is issued with a certain model of laptop. Computers that have been completed and are waiting to be shipped by the company will be removed and upgraded with the battery (or other component) and repackaged. However, since this could sometimes cause minor scratches etc., the company will sell it as recertified to avoid possible (and expensive) returns. Other examples of factory recertification include touching up a demo model, upgrading to a cooler part (like a CPU), repairing a surface defect, etc. In other words, factory recertified products are often almost new with only a minor upgrade, repair, or touch-up. I have purchased many lots of these types of products that look and work like new. Most of our company’s factory recertified laptops still have screen protectors on the screen and have to be fully configured to use them!
Renew:
If the item simply says refurbished (as opposed to factory refurbished), then the item has been sold, returned, and repaired by someone other than the manufacturer. While it could be the factory or a licensed/authorized repair shop, it could also be a guy named Jeb who knows a little bit about computers from the class he took in high school 15 years ago. Refurbished computers and technology products CAN be a good buy IF you ask questions and do your research. Make sure there is a VALID Guarantee and that it is redeemable. It’s also a good idea to ask the seller who the refurbisher is. It might also be a good idea to purchase additional warranty coverage, if available. Of course, this would only be a good buy if the price of the product is low enough to buy insurance without going over the price of an open box or factory recertified item.
For my money, Open Box and Factory Re-certified Computers and Technology products are generally a better value than refurbished items. In my experience, most open box items are practically new and recertifications are usually very close. There are huge savings to be had on these types of products and you can put hundreds of dollars back in your pocket on substantial purchases like laptops or desktop computers. Yes, I have found good buys on simple refurbished items. At the same time, I found that this category has the most variance in product condition and was burned on a couple of occasions. However, as I’ve gotten smarter in terms of what to look for and what questions to ask, my experiences with buying these products have also been positive. Quite simply, if I can’t get a straight answer on an item in question, I’ll move on.