Micro Center's web site has some good reasons for buying Refurbished products so we can feel more comfortable with buying them, but we always have Woot's 90-day warranty, too:
Good Reasons to Buy Refurbished
There are many reasons to purchase a refurbished item, but the best reason is the opportunity to get a great deal on a great product. So, put aside your doubts long enough to read this introduction to refurbished products and you’ll see how you can save money and get some amazing stuff.
Good Reason #1: Good Things Come in Refurbished Packages
First, forget the idea that all refurbished products are low-end, defective goods that aren’t worth the risk; absolutely not true. Refurbished products come from a variety of sources including:
Overstocked inventory
Opened box items
Customer returns
Demonstration units
Packaging or cosmetic damage
In many of these scenarios, the items labeled as refurbished are brand new or like new products that require no refurbishing. Such situations can include overstock items that simply need to be sold to make room for new products or new products opened by a retailer for a customer who wanted to see more and then bought something else. Items like these offer you all of the same functionality, features, and capabilities as the same product purchased new at full price, but you’ll pay a lot less. Smart.
Good Reason #2: One Man’s Return is Another Man’s Treasure
Not all customer returns are prompted by a product defect. Many times a product is returned because it just didn’t meet the customer’s needs. But, if there is a product defect, the product is returned to the manufacturer, inspected, the defect is corrected, and the item is repackaged as refurbished so it can be resold. Another opportunity to get a good-as-new product at a discounted price.
Good Reason #3: You Can Hit the Ground Running
Demonstration units are products that have been used in some capacity prior to resale. In most cases the product has been used in manufacturer tests or to demonstrate it at a tradeshow, or it has been used by a retailer to let customers see and try a product before they buy it. When the next new product comes to market, demo units are returned to the manufacturer where qualified technicians inspect each product’s functionality, clean, and repackage the item for sale as a refurbished product. A refurbished demo unit can be a great find as these items have previously performed at least to manufacturer standards. Think of it like buying a refurbished car. A car that already runs well is a great selling point.
Good Reason #4: It’s what’s Inside That Counts
Sometimes a product’s packaging gets damaged during shipping but the items inside are well protected and unaffected by damage to the box. Maybe a box has gotten wet, or the corner is crumpled. In some cases the product may have minor cosmetic damage like dents and scratches which rarely affect product functionality. Whatever the reason, if the item has to be repackaged either by the store or the manufacturer, the product will be inspected to be sure it has not been damaged and chances are it will be labeled as refurbished. Once again an opportunity to get a brand new item at a reduced price.
