| u decide you can't afford a brand new high end | | | | the best price for what you are buying. The brand |
| laptop from one of the major manufacturers all is not | | | | name, as in all things, tends to raise the price. They |
| lost. You should be considering used laptop or | | | | will also try to sell you additional warranties, support |
| refurbished laptop which can get you most if not all | | | | contracts and the like so that your great deal on a |
| the features you want, without paying full price. But | | | | refurbished laptop suddenly becomes a lot more |
| what is the difference between a used notebook | | | | money. |
| and a refurbished laptop? How do you choose which | | | | Buying from EBay, smaller used laptop websites and |
| one is right for you? Who do you buy from? All of | | | | other purveyors can be successful; you just need to |
| these questions can get make you impatient and | | | | know what to look for. A lot of people have heard |
| frustrated and ready to just ditch the whole plan and | | | | horror stories, and they can happen. EBay fraud does |
| overextend yourself for a new laptop, but stop! | | | | occur and sometimes if you opt for buying off a site |
| First, let's tackle the difference between a used | | | | like Craig's List you'll pay very little money and get |
| laptop and a refurbished laptop. Used laptops are just | | | | very little for it. If you go with a smaller site, make |
| like used cars. Someone bought new and eventually | | | | sure they have been in business for a while and that |
| decided to trade up but the laptop was still working | | | | they are up front about their warranty and their |
| well and fully functional. The first owner sold the | | | | practices. Will they take the laptop back if there is |
| laptop on EBay or to another source and went on | | | | something seriously wrong? Are “All Sales |
| their merry way. Your friendly used laptop dealer | | | | Final”? What kind of operating system are |
| checked out the machine and priced according to | | | | you getting? Do they have responsive customer |
| features, brand and age and is now offering it to you | | | | service? Do they have secure ordering? You can find |
| at a significantly lower price then when it was first | | | | the answers to all of these questions. Call the |
| offered. Typically, you can find used laptops for as | | | | customer service lines before you buy so you can |
| little as $200.00. Bear in mind that you will have a | | | | see how they operate as a company. Make sure you |
| smaller hard drive, less memory and older technology | | | | see “https” in the URL string when |
| with an option like this, but if you are just planning to | | | | you are going through the ordering process. You can |
| play on the internet and use basic applications, it may | | | | look or insignias from BBB Online (Better Business |
| very well be all you need. | | | | Bureau) online and other services like Verisign that |
| A refurbished laptop can come from a variety of | | | | act as third party validations of a site's business |
| sources. In some cases, when someone gets a brand | | | | practices. Make sure you feel comfortable with the |
| new laptop it has a flaw, they send it back to the | | | | site before you buy a machine from them and in |
| manufacturer who fixes the flaw (or leaves the flaw) | | | | most cases you'll be perfectly happy with your |
| and then they will sell the laptop as “open | | | | purchase. |
| box” or “refurbished” at a | | | | Choosing the right used laptop or refurbished laptop |
| discount. Perhaps someone had a laptop on warranty | | | | may take a little legwork. Establish what you want to |
| and the hard drive failed. They send it in and the | | | | do with the machine and then purchase accordingly. |
| manufacturer sends them a new one; the old | | | | Seek outside advice so you know what you really |
| machine goes to the refurbishment center and gets a | | | | need for successful web surfing, wireless capability, |
| new hard drive, is cleaned up and sold as a | | | | gaming, programming or word processing. If you go |
| refurbished machine. In many cases, a refurbished | | | | into the buying process with knowledge you'll come |
| laptop is a used laptop with replacement parts which | | | | out with what you need for the right price. The |
| can make it more reliable and typically means that | | | | process may seem daunting, but think of how |
| newer technology is installed. | | | | capable you'll be of maintaining your new to you |
| You can buy refurbished laptops from most | | | | laptop when you know exactly what it has, what |
| manufacturers and when you do, you'll often get a | | | | you need and where it came from. |
| special warranty attached to the machine that gives | | | | Don't get pulled into the “new” buying |
| you more peace of mind. They won't even call them | | | | craze if you don't need to. You can find a great |
| “used laptops” even though that's | | | | bargain and have a great laptop if you consider a |
| what they are. They also won't sell laptops that are | | | | used laptop or refurbished laptop. Buy smart and buy |
| a lot older and a lot cheaper which is when you need | | | | educated and you can't go wrong! |
| to look at smaller websites. You also may not get | | | | |