Rebuilt for school

In 2020, hundreds of thousands of students will need to fully or partially learn online – which means they will need computers. If your school or college isn’t supplying you with a laptop or computer for online learning in the fall, buying a refurbished one may be your most cost-effective option to access online learning. Our guide helps you shop with confidence.  

Better than back-to-school sale prices: You can usually find great deals on used electronics, getting something that’s like-new, but for a sizable discount. Technically, the minute you open a new device, it becomes used, so the difference between a used and new item can be negligible. At a time when many families and students are financially stressed from COVID, buying refurbished is becoming an even more attractive option to get high-quality devices.

Get around the computer shortage: The United States is facing a shortage of about 5 million laptops and computers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to supply chain disruptions. Buying refurbished is a great way to ensure you or your family have the equipment you’ll need to keep up in class. 

Buying used is a greener choice: Buying used electronics is better for the environment. Giving a new lease on electronics keeps their toxic waste out of the landfill and means fewer new products need to be manufactured. 

1) High-quality items are good investments. Not all electronics are made to last very long — and while you should always look for durable items to avoid waste, this is especially true when shopping refurbished. Things designed to last usually cost a little more upfront, but provide big savings over time. If you’re buying a computer for yourself or your child for the first time, buying a high-quality refurbished computer will be the better investment for the years ahead. 

2) The manufacturer has a track record of durability and repairability. It’s hard to know how long an item will last if it’s a relatively new product. One way is to check the track record of the brand. Consumer Reports tracks this data for electronics and appliances, and members can look up information there. You should also check iFixit’s repairability scores for phones, laptops and tablets. The easier an item is to repair, the more likely it will last.

3) Know what you want before your shop. When you’ve done a little homework, and you know the make and model of the item you want, it takes a lot of the guesswork out of buying refurbished. Otherwise, the number of similar items can be overwhelming. Check with your local school or University website to see if they recommend any models for online learning.

4) Can it run the school’s remote classroom software?  If you know the software your school uses, you can search online for the system requirements of that software. Most computers made in the last 10 years can run video conferencing software, though we recommend you get a device with at least 4 GB of RAM. 

1) Check to ensure the process of refurbishing is thorough. Terms such as “Like-New,” “Open-Box,” “Refurbished,” or “Certified Pre-Owned” can mean very different things. Some vendors claim that an item is refurbished, when all they have done is make sure it turns on and wipe it clean(ish) with a cloth. If the seller doesn’t know — or can’t be specific — about the process to make sure the item has been thoroughly checked, then you should have a lot less confidence that the item will last.

2) Find out about accessories. Items that, when new, come with earphones, connecting cables and charging stations, don’t always come with those important accessories when used. You should check to see what you are getting, and whether you will need to purchase other accessories. The fewer the accessories, the more of a discount you should expect.

3) How to know you are getting a good price.

• Generally speaking, the cost for a reliable, certified pre-owned piece of equipment is usually about 15-20% less than buying new, plus 10% per year since the original sale. So, a three year old tablet might be about half the price of that same tablet new.
• Make sure you know when the model came out. In addition to how old the device is, you should check when the specific model debuted. Prices for refurbished items are mostly set by the debut of the product, and not how long those specific items were in use. This matters less with devices that don’t require a lot of software updates, such as cameras; but with a device such as a tablet, the older the device, the more issues it may have with running the latest software. 
• Comparison shop, and don’t automatically choose the cheapest option. If you find one merchant selling the same item at a much lower cost, there is probably more risk.

4) Get protection — warranty, returns or purchase insurance. First you should get a sense of the return policy, and what the terms are. Most sellers will give you 30 days to return, but some give you just a couple of weeks, meaning you have to flag defective products very quickly. 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. Getting additional protection 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.

5) Check the item ASAP.  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. If the device has a camera, check the lens for scratches and take a test picture. If the seller doesn’t cooperate when you flag issues, try contesting the charge with your credit card company, which can often get your money back.

6) Use customer service to your advantage. If you buy online with a vendor such as Amazon, use the online chat feature to give feedback on the purchase. A lot of customers find they can get issues addressed quickly by flagging problems this way.

7) Don’t toss old electronics: Read more about how you can sell, donate or recycle those used items by checking our U.S. PIRG blog here.