Many consumers purchase a brand-new computer or printer, bring it home and open it up, and then, for whatever reason, they decide to return it to the store. Maybe there was a scratch on the computer tower’s case, maybe a USB cable was missing, or maybe the customer simply changed their mind on the brand or model and decided to purchase something different.
What happens to the original returned product? Even though it hasn’t been used, it is technically no longer new, so the store cannot simply re-package it and put it back on the shelf.
The answer: it becomes a refurbished model. A refurbished item is an item that technically is not new, but is in like-new condition. A refurb is a catch-all term for any item that has been opened and perhaps used, but is still in perfect working order. The store or company that wants to re-sell such an item will take the time to make sure it is clean, test all of its working parts, and then package it, mark down its price, and do their best to move the product off their shelves.
Some stores sell only refurbished products, while others may stock refurbished items side-by-side with new as well as legitimately used items. In any case, refurbs are just as good as their brand-new counterparts.
Purchasing refurbished hardware is a smart idea because there is a great deal of savings to be had. A typical refurbished item may be marked down by as much as 40 percent, simply because somebody else put their hands on it before it was sold to you. If you have a budget to keep to, then shopping among refurbished products means your money will go a lot farther.
In the computer industry, you can find just about anything refurbished: desktops, laptops, printers, servers and switches, and so on and so forth. You can even shop for smaller components like monitors, keyboards, mice, and ethernet cables.
Whether you want to upgrade your personal computing equipment, or you have a business to outfit with server hardware and other computer peripherals, go the refurbished route and you’ll be able to save a significant amount of money.
