What are the downsides to buying electronics that are re-certified or reconditioned?

Question

What are the downsides to buying electronics that are re-certified or reconditioned?

Answer 1

The repair/refurb facility may not have found all the problems with the unit. The unit may have been abused by the previous owner and have hidden damage.

With that said, I've purchased used and refurb computers and audio equipment. Only one item (a Philips programmable remote control) was bad. All the others worked and lasted as if they were new.

Look for the longest warranty you can find, in case there is a problem. If you can, use a Visa or MasterCard to charge the purchase, since that may extend the warranty by a year.

Answer 2

My experience is that they have had at least one problem that may or may not have been found and corrected, and you may get the one that still has a problem or has a repeat issue.

Answer 3

While Recertified or reconditioned electronics are said to be just as good as new items that are sent from the factories, I beg to differ.  Reconditioned items sometimes may pass a quality control process even without being reconditioned correctly.  I've bought two items reconditioned to save on both money and time (would have had to go to another store to get them), since then never again.  My last was a Reconditioned video camera, it was missing the lense cap, and when i charged it, the charge wouldnt work properly, it ended up melting a tape in it too...  

so the downside is, you're buying something that at one time didnt work, and is more likely to not work as designed.

Answer 4

Downsides:

Can you be truly sure they will work for as long as new?  (then again, can you be sure new ones will work longer?)

Usually a substantially smaller warranty (30 days)

Usually not returnable

More wear and tear.