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You should never buy these 4 things refurbished

But here are some things you definitely should.

refurbished products Credit: 97 / Getty Images

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Everyone likes to save money—it’s one of the biggest reasons why we spend so much time researching the best deals here at Reviewed. But sometimes that amazing product you’ve had your eye on—like a new laptop or a massive flat-screen television—just never goes on sale. Or worse, when it does, it's still out of your price range. What then?

For many shoppers, buying items refurbished seems like the perfect solution. Products that are labeled “refurbished” are fully functional but they can’t technically be sold as “new” anymore, for reasons that vary by manufacturer. Because of this, they’re typically cheaper and you could save hundreds of dollars depending on your purchase. However, not everyone is so quick to trust.

Worried that refurbished items seem like a deal that’s too good to be true? Here’s everything you need to know before you start looking for refurbished items, including what the term itself really means and which products are worth the risk—plus which ones to avoid at all costs.

What does “refurbished” mean?

refurbished products
Credit: Filipovic018 / Getty Images

Shopping for refurbished products can save you a ton of money—if you know what to look for.

Refurbished can mean different things from different manufacturers, but usually it means that a product was purchased by a customer and eventually returned while it was still under warranty, often because the buyer had an issue.

Beyond product defects, a product might end up labeled as “refurbished” for other reasons, such as:

Shipping and/or exterior damage: If a shipment arrives with dents, scratches, or other surface damage, a customer might send it back, and in turn a retailer may direct it back to the manufacturer, where it ends up in the refurb pool.

Open box: These are products that were purchased, used, then returned by a customer and might show small signs of wear and cosmetic damage, but may be considered “refurbished” because they were examined and found to be in resale condition.

Unopened/returned: Sometimes, a customer might return something they never even opened, but it could still end up categorized as a “refurbished” item, even though there’s technically nothing wrong with it.

Demo models: Products that were used in stores, displayed at trade shows, or loaned to reviewers might be repackaged and eventually sold as refurbished items.

Things that are safe to buy refurbished

what products are good to buy refurbished
Credit: Apple / Amazon

Some products—like laptops and vacuum cleaners—can be a great option to buy refurbished.

Laptops and tablets: Apple is the gold standard when it comes to shopping for refurbished items, and you can save hundreds depending on what you’re shopping for—for instance, a MacBook Pro 14 M2 Pro (Save $240) (which is currently our favorite Macbook), and this iPad Pro 5th Generation (Save $160) are both terrific deals. But Apple isn’t the only manufacturer where you can get high-quality refurbished laptops or tablets. Refurbished HP Laptops offer a great way to save, which is especially nice if you prefer PCs to Macs.

Product image of MacBook Pro 14 M2 Pro Refurbished
MacBook Pro 14 M2 Pro Refurbished

This powerful MacBook Pro swept our tests.

$1,359.00 at Apple (Save $240)

Vacuums: Having a good vacuum around is pretty essential, and regardless of which type you prefer, you can find a ton of refurbished vacuums out there. Amazon has a massive selection, but a word of caution: this authorized reseller only offers a 90-day warranty on refurbs, not a full year warranty (only a select number of retailers offer a full year warranty on refurbs, but those are the places to go). Dyson has a ton of refurbished models, but their warranty is also slightly skewed: instead of the standard five-year warranty they offer on new models, these are only covered for six months.

Product image of Dyson VII Torque +
Dyson VII Torque +

The VII Torque + is an upgrade version of the best cordless vacuum we've tested—save $130 when you buy refurbished.

$300 at Dyson (Save $130)

Headphones: I lose headphones like it’s my job. That said, I still care about having a good set. Thankfully, many of the best headphones are widely available refurbished online at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. You can get our absolute favorite over-ear headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM4, refurbished on Amazon and save 12%. If AirPods are more your thing, get Geek Squad refurbished Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) from BestBuy and save $80.

Product image of Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones

These over ear headphones offer an unparalleled combination of good sound, noise cancellation, and useful features.

$218 at Amazon (Save $30)

Household appliances: Looking for a new washer and dryer, or perhaps just a new microwave or a similar small household appliance? Best Buy offers a huge selection of open box appliances, like the solid Samsung WF45T6000AW Washing Machine which we reviewed and like, and which you can get open box and save $205.

Product image of Samsung WF45T6000AW 4.5 Cu. Ft. High Efficiency Stackable Smart Front Load Washer
Samsung WF45T6000AW 4.5 Cu. Ft. High Efficiency Stackable Smart Front Load Washer

Appealingly designed, and capable of handling hearty stains, the Samsung WF45T6000AW is a solid, modern dryer.

$650 at Amazon (Save $205)

Other products that we think are okay to buy refurbished include Vitamix blenders, camera lenses and bodies (especially from Canon), and game consoles. Just remember to check the return policy before you order!

Things you should avoid buying refurbished

smartphone shopping
Credit: mihailomilovanovic / Getty Images

You're probably better off buying a new smartphone over a refurbished one.

Shopping refurbished can potentially save you a boatload of money It’s also a more environmentally friendly way to shop, since you’re actually helping reduce waste.

But with some refurbished items, you absolutely should be wary. Unauthorized third-party resellers and retailers that don’t offer warranties send off major red flags. One of the biggest places for unauthorized third-party resellers is on eBay. While some major retailers like Dyson sell through the site, it’s largely a hub for private resellers, which can be dicey. Even if resellers claim that something is refurbished directly from the manufacturer, there’s no way to truly confirm this, so you definitely want to use caution.

Retailers that don’t offer a return policy are best avoided, since you have no guarantee that you’ll actually get your money’s worth or have support in the event that something malfunctions. Refurbished items being sold “as-is” are also a gamble.

Even assuming you’ll get the best warranties available, there are still a few items that you’re better off buying new:

HDDs or SSDs: When it comes to hard drives or solid state drives, everything that’s good about the refurbished process goes out the window. The logic behind buying refurbished items (beyond saving money) is that you’re getting something that should be in like-new, resellable condition for less. But there’s no real way to restore a hard drive or SSD to its factory condition. Rather, you’re better off shopping for laptop SSDs and budget SSDs new.

Phones: Thinking of buying a refurbished phone? You might be asking for trouble. Reputable sellers like Apple are fine, but warranties on refurbished phones from other sellers often aren’t very good. (For example, at AT&T a standard warranty on new phones is a year; for certified restored, it’s 90 days and for certified pre-owns, there is no warranty.) Getting a refurbished phone fixed if and when it starts to go haywire may be tricky as a result. All in all, if you need to buy a phone, you’re probably better off just going for a newer model, since at least that way it’s less likely to malfunction.

Televisions: There’s a lot of debate about whether or not TVs are safe to buy refurbished. The advantages are clear from the jump: you could be saving hundreds of dollars and end up with an impressive flat-screen that would be out of your budget otherwise. However, there’s no way to know how much use that TV had before you laid hands on it, and you might run into screen issues, especially as time wears on. Shopping for refurbished TVs could be a toss-up, but the risk is much lower if you’re able to go to a store and see the unit in person before you buy. Regardless, we think that the best TVs are bought new.

Printers: Buying a refurbished printer might not seem like the worst idea, but the same argument stated above applies. It might be hard to tell if your newly purchased printer for your home is in factory-new condition. Ink and toner could have worn down the innards, making it less of a good deal than you thought. However, we don't rule it out, with the right deal and warranty, it might be worthwhile to take a chance.

How do I know refurbished items will even work?

shopping for refurbished products
Credit: alvarez / Getty

It's always a good idea to inspect refurbished products thoroughly before purchasing.

Thinking about buying refurbished products? Your best bet is to shop directly from the manufacturer.

Why? Because once the manufacturer gets a product back, they begin a process of reconditioning so that the product is in like-new condition again. That could be as straightforward as replacing a box or battery, or it could be something more extensive, like a total overhaul or rebuild. If you don’t go through the original manufacturer, you’re likely getting a product that was repaired by a third-party, and it could have foreign parts.

“Certified refurbished” is usually the gold standard, denoting that a product is up to the manufacturer’s quality standards. Don't forget to look for warranties when you do buy. While 90-day warranties are generally the most common, finding a full warranty (ex. a year) can help with peace of mind and will keep you covered in case anything goes wrong.

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