This holiday season, two things will certainly be true. First, with so many households feeling cash-strapped this year, Pennsylvanians will be keeping an eye on their pocketbooks while doing their gift shopping. Secondly, there will be untold electronic and tech device gift purchases for kids or family members.
One way that consumers can save big is by buying refurbished electronic equipment instead of buying new, whether you’re purchasing your child a laptop or getting grandma a phone with a bigger screen. If having the newest device isn’t a priority, refurbished tech is an excellent, cost-effective option. This is especially true for children, who are prone to putting their devices through heavy wear and tear. Instead of spending top dollar on a new item that might get put through the ringer by active kids, choosing refurbished is a smart way to save money.
These days, the secondhand market offers options much nicer than what you’ll find at a garage sale. Generally speaking, the cost for a reliable, certified pre-owned piece of equipment is usually about 15-20% less than buying new, plus 10% off per year since the original sale. This means a 3-year-old tablet might be about half the price of the newest model of that same tablet. On top of that, buying used means less toxic e-waste that can contain mercury, lead and cadmium going to landfills.
To help Pennsylvanians find the best deals on refurbished tech — but also be able to avoid rip-offs — the PennPIRG Education Fund recently released “Fixed for the Holidays,” a consumer guide to buying secondhand electronics.
One main point in “Fixed for the Holidays” is that professionally refurbished gadgets often come with strong quality control, and excellent warranty and return policies. Both visually and quality-wise, the difference between a used and new item can be negligible — some electronic devices were even returned without ever being opened.
When shopping for refurbished products, it’s important to purchase from a trustworthy business with an established record of satisfied customers. Terms such as “Like-New,” “Open-Box,” “Refurbished,” or “Certified Pre-Owned” can mean very different things coming from different sellers.
Another “Fixed for the Holidays” tip is that just because something is inexpensive, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good deal.
For example, now is a time to be especially careful about buying laptops. Microsoft recently ended support for its Windows 10 operating system, and there are some 400 million computers that run on Microsoft 10 – but that can’t upgrade to Windows 11. Lots of different laptop brands — including Acer, Dell, HP, ASUS and Lenovo — run Windows, so that “great deal” could be a soon-to-be-obsolete computer that no longer receives necessary security updates (making them vulnerable to cyberattacks), and has reduced capabilities.
Another helpful tip in the guide is that more reputable professional refurbishers such as Back Market and Gazelle make it easy for you by grading the condition of the products they sell, and offering them in varying conditions at commensurate price points. As with anything you buy, to some degree, you get what you pay for. Things that are designed to last and/or easy to repair usually cost a little more upfront, but provide big savings over time.
Another important tip to remember: even if you’ve settled on a quality product from a trustworthy vendor, you’re not done. Make sure the length and terms of the return policy are clear. Most sellers will give you 30 days to return, but some give you just a couple of weeks. Make sure one of the first things you do once receiving your product is test it thoroughly. It’s much easier to get your money back for a defective product if you flag problems right away, and it’s harder for the seller to claim it was your fault.
In addition to a good return policy, you want at least a 90-day warranty in case the item needs service. Paying with some credit cards will extend your warranty and give you additional purchase protection, which is a good way to enjoy the cost savings without the risk. Your credit card company can also help get your money back if the seller won’t accept a return.
Once your kid gets their new laptop or grandma gets her new phone, what should you do with their old gadgets? If they’re kaput, find a reliable electronics recycling center to keep those toxic metals out of the water, air and soil. If they still work, consider giving them to a friend or donating them to a nonprofit. They’ll thank you, and so will Mother Nature.
This is a contributed opinion column. Kari Schmidt is an associated with PennPIRG. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author, and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication. Do you have a perspective to share? Learn more about how we handle guest opinion submissions at themorningcall.com/opinions.
