3 top stores for refurbished products

To the uninitiated, buying a refurbished product may seem like a compromise, as if you’re settling for a product likely to have dents, scratches, or unknown problems. In fact, buying refurbished allows you to knock a sizeable chunk off the purchase price of a PC, digital camera, or MP3 player, and still have a product that’s essentially new, often with a warranty from the manufacturer.

And now it’s a lot easier to locate refurbished merchandise.

Until the late 1990s, finding refurbished products was a hit-or-miss affair, requiring you to scan mail-order catalogues and ads. Now, with scores of retailers offering refurbs online, anyone with patience and a talent for online sleuthing can scour the web to find just the right deal.

In fact, the name “refurbished” is something of a misnomer. Typically, they’re products returned by customers, for any number of reasons, and then tested at the factory to make sure they’re in tip-top shape. Defective or damaged parts will be replaced. But you should exercise a certain vigilance in buying a refurb.

For instance, you might want to buy only “factory-certified” refurbished products. These products have been returned to the manufacturer and tested by them. They also typically carry a manufacturer’s warranty.

And be wary of products labeled “reconditioned.” These may be used products, such as a group of computers previously under lease, then repaired and resold by a retailer.