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The Pros and Cons of Buying a Used Laptop (And How to Know If You’re Getting a Good Deal)

<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Laptops don’t come cheap&comma; and you’ll probably have to save up to get your hands on a good one&period; The average laptop buyer parts with around <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;electronics&period;costhelper&period;com&sol;computers-notebook&period;html" target&equals;"&lowbar;blank" rel&equals;"noopener">&dollar;300-&dollar;700<&sol;a> for a decent laptop&period; If you want a high-end laptop with top-tier specs&comma; be prepared to spend upwards of a thousand dollars&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">If you’re strapped for cash&comma; you can always get yourself a used laptop for a fraction of the price&period; Buying a used laptop is not only good for your pockets&semi; it’s also good for the environment&comma; plus they work fine&period; There is&comma; however&comma; some degree of risk that comes with buying a used laptop&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Unscrupulous characters may swindle you out of your money when all you’re looking for is a good deal&period; That’s why most people are super skeptical about buying used laptops&period; However&comma; if you tread softly and do your digging&comma; you might find a great deal on used laptops&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">In today&&num;8217&semi;s post&comma; we’ll be looking at the upsides and downsides of buying a used laptop&period; We’ll also break down a few things to consider before buying one to get your money’s worth&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2>Does Used and Refurbished Mean the Same Thing&quest;<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<hr &sol;>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Before we go any further&comma; it’s a good idea to understand what used and refurbished devices mean&period; If you think used and refurbished devices are the same&comma; you’re wrong&comma; but not entirely&period; All refurbished devices are used&comma; but vendors don’t sell them as such&comma; but why&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">As the name connotes&comma; a &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;used” device has been handled by another user who decided to sell the device as it is&period; A &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;refurbished” device&comma; on the other hand&comma; is a used device that has gone through various restoration processes so the retailer can sell it again&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Seems pretty straightforward&comma; right&quest; No&comma; it’s not as simple as you think&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Back then&comma; a refurbished device went back to the original manufacturer for comprehensive restoration before being put back in the market&period; That means refurbished devices were just a tiny step below new devices&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">These days&comma; it’s common to see tags like &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;seller refurbished&period;” Seller refurbished means that the seller has repaired the device in question and deemed it functional&period; You can’t really tell what you’re getting into when you buy a seller refurbished device&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">You can trust big-box retailers with refurbs&comma; but individuals from platforms like eBay and Swappa may be sketchy&period; Most refurbished devices come with a short warranty&comma; like a two or three-month warranty&period;  Any issues you encounter beyond the warranty date are your problem&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2>New vs Used Laptop&colon; Benefits of Buying a Used Laptop Computer<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<hr &sol;>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Buying a used computer has tons of benefits&period; Some of them include&colon;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Cost-Effective<&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">The primary reason why most folks buy used laptops is that it’s cheaper than a <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;newsforpublic&period;com&sol;buying-new-laptop&sol;">new one<&sol;a>&period; You could shave about &dollar;200-&dollar;300 off the retail price when you get a used laptop&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Used laptops are a great option when you’re on a tight budget&period; If you need a laptop for some temporary work&comma; buying a used one is the way to go&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Great for the Environment<&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">As the world stares at an impending climate disaster&comma; buying a used climate can help us sidestep this calamity&period; A used laptop might have ended up as electronic waste&comma; which breaks down and releases toxic chemical waste into the environment&period; What’s more&comma; you’ll be reducing the demand for new laptops&comma; which subsequently reduces the carbon footprint of laptop manufacturers&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">The lithium-ion batteries that our laptops use have far-reaching implications on wild-life and the environment&period; There have been reports that waste from lithium-ion battery plants is responsible for aquatic life deaths and has ruined agricultural soil in surrounding areas&period; You’ll be doing the environment a huge solid by buying your laptop second-hand&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Used Laptops Aren’t Old<&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Most people have this ill-conceived notion that buying a used laptop means buying a rundown laptop from the 90s or the early 2000s&period; This is far from the truth&period; Most people sell their laptops&comma; not because they’re old&comma; but because they’re upgrading&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">For instance&comma; when businesses upgrade their IT infrastructure&comma; they discard their previous laptops&period; That means you can get your hands on powerful machines that are fit for business&period; While it’s hard to find the latest laptop models&comma; it doesn’t mean that you’ll have to settle for archaic models&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">No Expensive Add-ons<&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Laptop manufacturers release newer models of the same laptop with additional features&period; Some of these extra features aren’t really necessary to the average consumer&period; To most people&comma; these features are just a marketing gimmick to hike the price&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">If you buy your laptop second-hand&comma; you don’t have to pay more for the extra features you don’t need&period; Whether you buy a used newer version or an older model&comma; you won’t spend a dime on unnecessary features&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Fewer Compatibility Issues<&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">There’s always the fear that when you buy a used laptop&comma; it won’t be compatible with some of the latest software&period;  Compatibility is a legitimate concern&comma; but not a major one&period; That’s because most software applications nowadays are <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;whatis&period;techtarget&period;com&sol;definition&sol;backward-compatible-backward-compatibility&num;&colon;~&colon;text&equals;Backward&percnt;20compatible&percnt;20&lpar;or&percnt;20sometimes&percnt;20backward&comma;system&percnt;20or&percnt;20with&percnt;20other&percnt;20systems&period;" target&equals;"&lowbar;blank" rel&equals;"noopener">backward compatible<&sol;a>&comma; meaning they can work on older models&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">What’s more&comma; if you’re concerned with compatibility&comma; all you have to do is look for a laptop with specs that can run the software in question&period;  Plus&comma; the hardware upgrades on the latest laptop models aren&&num;8217&semi;t necessary for running most software&period; All they do is boost the software’s performance&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Cons of Buying a Used laptop<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<hr &sol;>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Despite all the benefits&comma; there are still a few downsides to buying a used laptop&period; The downside of buying a used laptop include&colon;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Lack of Variety<&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Your options are pretty limited when you’re in the market for a used laptop&period;  The chances of finding someone that’s selling the exact laptop you want are very slim&period; This means you’ll have to contend with the available laptops&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">No warranties<&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">You don’t get warranties when you buy a used laptop&period; Should the laptop break down a few weeks or months after use&comma; you’ll have to use your own cash to repair it&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">May Have Viruses<&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">There’s also the risk that the used laptop you buy may be riddled with viruses&period; However&comma; all you have to do is install an effective antivirus&comma; and you’ll be good to go&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Poor Battery Life<&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Second-hand laptops aren’t known for their stellar battery life&period; With consistent usage&comma; a laptop’s battery tends to deteriorate&period; You may end up buying a laptop with poor battery life&period; Check here<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">No Guarantee of a Long-Life Span<&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">You may buy a used laptop that ends up dead within four months&period; Because the laptop has been under the care of the seller&comma; there&semi; no guarantee that it will last as long as you want it to&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Are you concerned that you might not get a good used laptop deal but still worried about the price of a new one&quest; Don&&num;8217&semi;t worry&excl; You can still <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;lenovo&period;com&sol;us&sol;en&sol;d&sol;deals&sol;laptops" target&equals;"&lowbar;blank" rel&equals;"noopener">find a good price<&sol;a> from a leading brand like Lenovo&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2>How Can you Tell You’re Getting a Good Deal on Your Used Laptop&quest;<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<hr &sol;>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">There are several places where you can buy a used laptop&period; In fact&comma; an online search will expose you to a plethora of used laptop sellers&period; Once you find a reputable seller&comma; how will you know&comma; you’re getting the best deal for the laptop&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Here are a few indicators that you’re getting bang for the buck on your used laptop&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">First-Party Warranty<&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Most used laptops don’t have warranties&comma; but if you find one with a valid warranty&comma; you’ve struck gold&period; However&comma; make sure that the warranty is a first-party warranty and not a third-party&period; Most sellers create their own bogus warranties with ridiculous terms that don’t make the warranty worthwhile&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Warranties from the manufacturer give you a sense of security and assurance that you’re buying a genuine product&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Face-to-Face Transactions<&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">If you’re buying from an individual you met online&comma; plan a face-to-face meeting for the best results&period; Arrange to meet in a neutral public place on a date that’s convenient for both of you&period;  Physically inspecting the laptop before closing the deal ensures that you get what you want&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">A face-to-face meeting also allows you to put your haggling skills to work&period; If you’re a good bargainer&comma; you can shave off the price a little&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Reputable Source<&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">If you choose to buy a used laptop online&comma; only buy one from reputable sources&period; Avoid the newer sites and go for more established ones like Swapper or eBay that have put in place measures to protect buyers&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Sensible Price<&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Remember&comma; when the deal is too good&comma; think twice&period; A MacBook selling for less than &dollar;300 is an obvious scam&period; Although you’re looking for the best deal&comma; don’t let your frugality blindside you&period; Find a used laptop that sells at a reasonable price&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2>Used Laptops Can Be Good Laptops<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<hr &sol;>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">If you’re extra careful&comma; you can get an amazing deal on a used laptop&period; However&comma; remember to take the above to heart for the greatest effect&period; Consider getting a used laptop for your next laptop and see how it works for you&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">For more informative content&comma; check out the other articles on the site&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;

Hardik Patel

Hardik Patel is a Digital Marketing Consultant and professional Blogger. He has 16+ years experience in SEO, SMO, SEM, Online reputation management, Affiliated Marketing and Content Marketing.

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