But what exactly is a refurbished product? Is it the same as buying used? What drawbacks does it have in when compared to buying new? In this article, our aim is to help you get a better understanding of "what does refurbished mean" and the advantages it comes with. A refurbished electronic is a used product that has been serviced by a manufacturer or a 3rd party and was consequently restored to like-new condition.
During this process, old parts could be swapped out for new ones. It takes a little more work, and you have to examine both the goods and the seller with care.
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By Amy Livingston. Top 20 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars of Jump to. Stay financially healthy with our weekly newsletter.
Amy Livingston. Amy Livingston is a freelance writer who can actually answer yes to the question, "And from that you make a living? She also maintains a personal blog, Ecofrugal Living , on ways to save money and live green at the same time.
If you're really done with that old machine, consider donating it. Many charities accept old computers and refurbish them for use by others. It may be a local religious organization, a kids' club or a school. But with a little polish, you may be surprised what your old machine can do for someone who doesn't have one. If you don't have a local favorite, the Environmental Protection Agency maintains a list of places that might be interested in your cast-off electronics [source: EPA ].
Refurbishing and selling electronic products back on the market can make an environmental impact, but it makes little difference if no one buys it. You've already discovered one of the biggest problems with refurbished products, the label itself.
Think back to the last time you saw the term "used cars " at your local dealership. Has their signage been changed now, to "certified used cars," "pre-owned cars" or even "pre-loved cars? The perception that there might be a problem with the product lasting a long time prevents many from taking a chance on a refurbished item. That's why refurbished merchandise sells for less. But that's not the only problem with getting the items back on store shelves.
Manufacturers have to figure out ways to get the products back to their warehouses and refurbish them in the first place.
Those channels may be different from the main distribution channel. This process is called reverse logistics , as the products to be refurbished have to travel upstream to the manufacturer to be prepared for sale again.
Taking the items apart and reassembling them to work properly -- in a sellable condition -- means having experts available who can take the electronics apart, identify the problem, replace the offending parts and reassemble them.
Expert help, of course, costs more than someone who will smash the items open with a sledgehammer. The cost of labor, transportation, replacement parts and repackaging and reshipping are all things a company has to consider when implementing its refurbishing program. But when taking into account the costs of recycling defective materials, buying new ones and the cost of losing customers over a string of defective products, it can be in a company's best interest to bring used and broken electronics back to market in top-notch condition.
As the world starts to embrace recycling and learns about the environmental costs of dumping electronic waste and haphazard recycling techniques, more companies are feeling pressure from individuals and organizations to make their operations more environmentally friendly.
Greenpeace is one industry watchdog, releasing its ranking on green electronics in [source: Greenpeace]. In its ranking, Nokia and Dell were the leaders, though their green credentials were still far away from the nonprofit's most positive rating. But not all refurbishing has to be done by a manufacturer. Any time you upgrade a used piece of equipment yourself, you're refurbishing it. If your hard drive crashes you back up your data regularly, right?
Or would you speed up your old machine if you added some new memory? But not always. We take a look at the economics of refurbished phones. Do refurbished phones come with a warranty? Can you buy in confidence? It depends on where you buy from. What's better refurbished or used? Know the difference and you won't make a costly mistake. Refurbished phones grading How do retailers and networks assess and rank the quality of refurbished phones?
We take a look. Refurbished iPhone 7 sticker blemishes hero size. Refurbished iPhone 7 and 6s in hand screens. Refurbished iPhone 7 gold scratch back. Refurbished iPhone 7 and 6s in hand back hero size. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge vs refurbished phone back of handset. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge vs refurbished phone handsets hero size.
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge refurbished phone. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge refurbished phone on box. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge vs refurbished phone sealed boxes 2. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge vs refurbished phone unopened boxes sealed. Join millions of savers. Was this article helpful? Read next How can I get the best price when I sell my phone?
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