I’m typing this post on a refurbished Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbook. I love it. I got it for my b-day a little over a month ago and I couldn’t be happier. Some of you might be thinking that was a risky move but we had a little experience under our belt on this one. Our family desktop computer is also a refurbished Dell. I think it’s about 3 years old now and it’s still humming along beautifully for us. We bought that one as a scratch and dent but we’ve still never been able to find a scratch or a dent on it 
My parents also bought a refurbished computer from Dell and had no problems with it. Pretty much, we’re fans!
Moving on from there, a year and a half ago I bought my husband a refurbished IPod Mini through Overstock.com. I got a GREAT deal on it. He uses it every work day on his 40-minute commute to work and hasn’t had one single glitch.
Our one bad refurbished experience: When the X-Box first came out my husband was DYING for one. They were completely out of our price range and I wouldn’t budge on the purchase. He was determined though and found a refurbished one on eBay that was discounted and bundled with some other things. I gave in. It worked perfectly for quite a while but then started to get glitchy on us (him). Then one day when he was using it I caught the scent of something electrical burning. Sure enough, it was the X-Box. It died.
The huge benefit to purchasing a refurbished electronic is that you can spend FAR less than if you purchsed it brand new – potentially hundreds of dollars. This is a big deal to me. Electronics in general are unbelievably expensive but they’ve become a normal part of life. If you purchase something that’s cheap then chances are good that it won’t last long while a pricier item will likely endure a lot longer. If you’re on a tight budget it can be a tough call. Buying refurbished can solve that problem.
The downsides include risk and preference. One way to waylay the risk factor is that many refrubished items still come with warranties. It doesn’t get much better than that! If you must have a lime green laptop with very particular software installed then you might be out of luck but if you’re fine with a few different colors and you’re flexible with the software/memory situation then you’ll probably be able to find something that meets your needs.
Speaking from my experience – I’m perfectly comfortable purchasing a refurbished electronic from a reputable place but not some random person. How do you feel about it?
Why I do what I do ~ Lately, Chloe has been doing something that completely melts my heart and makes my eyes well up with tears immediately. She grabs my face between her hands, making me look right at her face and says, “Mommy, you’re my best friend.” Then she kisses me right on the lips and hugs me. I could die. May I please freeze her just like she is right now forever?
If you enjoyed this post you may want to subscribe to free updates by RSS feed or Email.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I bought a refurbished Janome sewing machine from Overstock.com. It’s been great, and I truly believe it was brand new, just without the box. My husband often buys refurbished power tools at a Sears outlet. Many times, refurbished items have been tested more thoroughly (and thus work better) than brand new, never opened or used items.
Glad you’ve had good experiences with your Dells!
Annie Jones´s last blog ..Kat’s Birthday
I bought our Dyson refurbished from Amazon with free shipping about 5 years ago. It’s still running strong and we love it! I also bought our Bissel Pro-Heat Carpet Cleaner refurbished. We’ve only had it about 6 months but it seems to be doing okay.
Oh yes…warranty is a plus
My iPhone is refurbished and I haven’t had any problems…the only problem is that I wish I would have made these choices earlier in life…lol!
Britt´s last blog ..Blueberry Muffins
@Annie Jones – A sewing machine! I’ll be needing an upgrade in a year or two. This is a great idea!
@Kristi – I’ve always drooled a little over the Dyson, knowing I couldn’t afford it. Maybe this way I could!
@Britt – Believe me, I wish I had made these choices a little earlier too
Hi Nicki,
I’ve never really gotten into the refurbished electronics. Since I’m in the line for a laptop to do some writing on, I guess I should consider going that route?
Thanks for the idea. I think it is something that we should all consider more often.
Trey – Swollen Thumb Entertainment´s last blog ..The Star Wars Kid Is A Crybaby
I found a really great place, http://www.edexdeals.com for refurbished electronics. I am all about saving money these days and I only buy refurbished electronics. Only thing I say is to make sure it has some sort of a warranty.