Save money on reconditioned items |
|
|
Not all reconditioned items come with warranties. If you have to pay extra for one, weigh the price of the item against the cost of the warranty.
You don't always get to choose colors. Some items are sold like a grab bag -- you get what they send you.
Not every reconditioned item is a bargain. Carefully research the price. Sometimes manufacturers mark down new merchandise in anticipation of the release of newer versions. Compare prices before clicking on "buy now."
Read the description carefully and make certain your purchase comes complete with all the accessories in the original packaging.
Don't forget that many times, the merchandise you're buying reconditioned has had issues, says Ken Colburn, president of Data Doctors Computer Services. He calls it "pre-broken," although of course, not all reconditioned merchandise has been broken. But Colburn's point is that buying preconditioned isn't without risk.
Ready, set: Go bargain shopping
Whether you're trying for the most bang for your holiday shopping buck or you simply want to cheer your favorite team to victory on an upgraded flat screen television, here are some places to look for reconditioned deals from manufacturers:
Apple offers discounts as high as 40 percent and more on its computers and iPods, and they come with the same warranty as the new ones.
Look for deals on everything Dell sells, from laptops to monitors. Click on home or office, then the link to the Dell Outlet.
Search for reconditioned items on Sony's site. Like many manufacturers, Sony also has outlet stores that stock reconditioned merchandise.
You can find your favorite reconditioned TiVo products at its site, along with some great discounts.
Looking for other brands? Try their Web sites. If they don't carry reconditioned products online, then look for brick-and-mortar outlets.
Other sites that sell or offer links to reconditioned merchandise include:
Amazon carries a huge selection. Just put "reconditioned" or "refurbished" in the search line. KitchenAid and Dyson offer refurbished goods through Amazon. Often, you can also get free shipping and no taxes.
Lots of reconditioned items are for sale on TigerDirect.
At BradsDeals, Brad Wilson checks out the bargains, including reconditioned items, and reports back with easy-to-follow links to the best of the best.
Overstock.com boasts tons of merchandise and charges the same low fee for shipping no matter how much you buy. Check out the buyer ratings for the 4-1-1 on products you like.
Looking for reconditioned power tools? Tool King carries every brand imaginable in new and reconditioned form.
Dyscern offers lots of reconditioned electronics and their accessories on the cheap. Dyscern differs from some other reconditioned merchants in that it obtains its products from big-box stores and the Dyscern staff does the reconditioning themselves.
|
