We live in an age where we literally have the world in our palms. Thanks to smartphones; the radio, the television, the next purchase, money transfer, medical appointment, business meetup, and a host of others are but mere clicks away.
In order to enjoy this sophistication and digitization of the world brought about by smartphones and devices of its like, one has to be up to speed with the latest smart devices available in the market. This thus begs the question: Which should you invest your money in, brand new devices or refurbished devices? It is completely important to know which of the two will give you the best value for money, both in the short and long run.
A brand new device, just like its name, is a device that is new straight, from the manufacturer. On the other hand, a refurbished device has probably developed a fault, was taken back to the manufacturer, inspected for the fault, serviced to rectify the fault, tested, and repackaged by the manufacturer to meet the original product specification.
Most times, when buying devices, people mistakenly identify used devices with refurbished devices without taking into consideration the features of refurbished devices. Though, this is understandable as the definition of “used” is very wide and broad, and varies from person to person.
With this background, what then are the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing both new and refurbished devices?
Advantages and Disadvantages of Purchasing New Devices
The major advantage of choosing new devices is the promise of guarantee on that device irrespective of the brand or the outlet you purchase the device from. Both have reputations to protect, so their best offer is quality and guaranteed products. The disadvantage on the other hand is, if you are on a tight budget, the device may be tad a bit expensive.
Advantages of Purchasing Refurbished Devices
When a sleek new phone is released, most times, it is outrageously expensive, that is if you are on a moderate budget. A refurbished phone most times is way cheaper than the new ones, so, there is the cost advantage with investing in refurbished devices.
Also, environmentalists argue that using refurbished devices protect the environment from pollution, as “used” devices will find their way back into the market as refurbished devices instead of ending in the junkyard.
Disadvantages of Purchasing Refurbished Devices
There isn’t much debate about the disadvantages of buying and using refurbished devices, which are broadly just two. One of the disadvantages with buying refurbished devices is that they might end up developing the same fault they had developed before they were taken for repairs, or even worse. It is important to say this is quite rare though. Another point to consider is that the devices may not come with the accessories a new device normally has, which could be a turn off for some folks.
As an addition, there may be no warranty when you buy from some retailers, and considering the importance of warranties on goods, this might be a bit of an issue. However, the solution to this issue is to buy only from reputable retailers which offer some forms of warranties on the products they sell.
It’s important to say both new and refurbished devices come with distinct advantages and disadvantages. The most important thing is to get your devices from trusted and authorized dealers and sellers, and there shouldn’t be an issue going forward.