Buying a Refurbished Laptop – What You Need To Know First

If you’re wanting to squeeze the most value for money out of every pound on your next laptop purchase then we’d recommend buying a refurbished laptop. While it’s true that you won’t always get the greatest and latest products, you can save money and get much better specification from a laptop that’s not fresh out of the factory.
But as you might expect, there are some risks involved with buying a refurbished unit. So if you’re in the market for a used laptop, we’ve put together just a few handy tips that you need to know first.

First, what’s the difference between ‘used’ and ‘refurbished’

It can be confusing trying to buy your next laptop when many sellers freely throw around the terms ‘used’, ‘second-hand’ or ‘refurbished.’ But in order to make sure you’re getting exactly what you want, it’s important to understand the difference.

A laptop that’s used, typically hasn’t undergone any serious checks before selling. Whereas a refurbished laptop will have been thoroughly checked, wiped, reinstalled, cleaned, inspected and returned back to its original condition. So basically, if a seller hasn’t followed this process then instead of being ‘refurbished’ it’s simply just ‘used.’

If possible get a one-year warranty

Ideally, try to make sure that your refurbished laptop comes with an assurance that the seller will guarantee the product. A one-year warranty is considered typical these days but is not always the case, so be sure to check before purchase.
Warranties for a refurbished laptop are often shorter than for new products and generally don’t cover the battery life. That being said, each seller is different, so make sure you read the fine print before committing to buy. Also, be sure to look for a generous return policy – that way you get to test the refurbished laptop and make sure its best suited to you while still within the return period.

Examine your laptop straight away

As soon as your refurbished laptop arrives, of course you’ll expect it to be visibly undamaged and unscratched. The keyboard should look like a new keyboard as opposed to specific keys looking worn or shiny. Along with that, the screen should be bright and clear – unless these flaws are otherwise stated. When buying online, you should expect to see a condition statement on the refurbished product page. For instance the flaws (if any) should be disclosed clearly within the description. So with that in mind, always be sure to check for anything less than standard such as dead pixels on your screen, squeaky or loose hinges, or noisy hard drives.

Above all, check that no one else’s user details are still on your laptop. The earlier this is done the better as it’s much easier to return your laptop straight away and unused.

At Advance Computers, we’d suggest buying a well-known brand and while you’ll probably expect to pay more buying your refurbished laptop in Hull or York from an established retailer, you’ll gain the peace of mind that if anything goes wrong, you’ll have somewhere to turn.

If you’re interested in saving money while still getting great specifications, buying a refurbished laptop in Hull or York might just be the way to go for you. If you’re unsure exactly what type of laptop would best suit your needs, contact us here at Advance Computer Systems on 01904 691 311 or fill in our contact form here. We’d be more than happy to chat through a few recommendations that will be tailored to your personal needs.