Sep 25, 2008 2:27 pm US/Eastern
Buying A Computer: New Or Used?
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
You might be willing to buy a used car, but how about a used computer? A refurbished computer can save you some money if you know how to go about finding the right model.
When Katie Curri was in the market for a new computer, her tech-savvy brother gave her this advice: "He recommended that I go with a refurbished one just because of saving a little money."
C-Net editor Dan Ackerman says computers are now like most other consumer goods. The savings can be significant, often between 10%-50% off the original price.
Refurbished models are different than open box specials where a buyer simply changed his mind and returned it after a few days. A refurbished computer is slightly used, but is tested and repaired if necessary before being resold. These computers are usually sold by a manufacturer or a third party. Ackerman said that some manufacturers, like
Apple or
Dell, have outlet stores that have some models that have been returned. There are sites like
Tiger Direct that also offers refurbished models.
Be wary of units offered on sites like eBay or Craig's List. "You never really know what you're going to get," said Ackerman.
The more reputable outlets will offer various types of protection, so it is worth checking. "A lot of times when you buy a refurbished machine from a major manufacturer, they'll give you a 30 day money back guarantee, and they usually have a regular one year parts and labor warranty on it," Ackerman said.
Don't assume that a refurbished model is automatically the best deal. "You should check and make sure that even with the discount, you're not paying more for less power than you would if you just went and bought a new one that would be fresh right out of the box," cautions Ackerman.
There's one other thing to keep mind: check to make sure the previous owner's information has been cleared from the hard drive. Manufacturers usually handle this, but it's good to ask.
Read: Refurbishing Equals Recycling
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