Used & Refurbished Computers Buyer's Guide

What is a "refurbished computer"?

A refurbished computer is a computer that's been returned to the manufacturer who repairs any items that are defective. Refurbishing gives you a new warranty too. It's really important if you're buying a refurbished item to make sure that it does come with a warranty.

Are refurbished computer systems a good idea?

If the computer does come with a warranty, I have no problem buying refurbished. For example, Apple Computer does sell refurbished computers on their website and they do come with one-year warranties. It's the same warranty as a brand new machine. So if you're going to buy a refurbished machine that comes with a warranty as good as a new one, I'd have no problem with it because you're covered and you do save yourself a few hundred dollars.

If buying from a private seller, what questions do I need to ask?

Buying from a private seller, the first question that I would ask is: is there any warranty left on the machine? because if there is no warranty on it, any piece of hardware that goes wrong will generally cost you as much to repair it as you paid for the machine. That's the problem with used machines. Since the machine is not refurbished, it doesn't carry any manufacturer's warranty unless the machine you are buying from the private seller still has any remaining warranty left on it from the original sale.

Do I need to inquire about the brand and speed of the internal CD/ DVD drive?

If the brand of the internal CD/DVD drive is a name brand then generally it's not a problem. The faster the drive is, the less time it will take you to burn CDs or burn DVDs. Most computers now come with at least 8 speed or 16 speed DVD burners, and 52 speed CD burners; those are the items you want to look at on an internal CD or DVD drive to make sure that you're getting the fastest speed possible.

What are "gray market" parts?

Gray market parts are items that are not authorized by the manufacturer for sale. They could be parts that were intended for sale in different countries, and often computer stores will sell you parts or computers that are gray market items, which are items that are not authorized by the manufacturer for sale. This doesn't mean that the parts are bad, they're often the same as parts that are used in non-gray market computers, but there are no warranties associated with them so you have to be careful. It's also difficult to really tell if you're getting a gray market item or a non-gray market item. So, you want to make sure when you're buying your parts or your computers you're buying them from a reputable store.

Why are risks of gray market parts?

The risk of gray market parts is generally the warranty. With gray market parts, the manufacturer's will not warrant their items. So, you may be able to buy that for a reduced price, but the risk is if something goes wrong with it the manufacturer will not cover that gray item under warranty.