PCA Forums

Maybe I am missing something here, if so clue me in.

Why would people want to buy refurbished parts with little or no warrunty for just a few dollars less than new parts with full warrunty??

Now I realize if you need an odd ball part you have to get what you can get, but for normal parts?

I see so many surplus/used/refurbs stores around with pathitic little discounts compared to prices on new similar items, they must be selling them but why are people buying them?

Like Tiger direct, refurbed monitors 30 day warruanty but only about $20-$30 less than a new one if that? Same shipping cost.

Refurb hard drives 20gig for $50? Whats a new one cost, $60?? Refurbed network cards $15-$20?? New ones cost less even!

Sure if you need old IBM Micro Channel stuff, or looking to rebuild your first Xt/At system you need old parts you probably can't find new or are extremely highpriced. But is it just consumers are suckers that so much refurb stuff is being sold so close to new prices? With only 15-30 day warruanties most the time instead of the 1-3yr for new.

Sure, I like a bargian too. I'd most likley buy a 17" monitor refurbed from a reputible dealer for $50 with a 90 warrunty. But I won't pay $100 plus shipping, 30 days waruanty, when I can buy brand new same Item for $120 and get 3yrs on it! So why are other people doing it? Are they just suckers??

Perfect example is the monitor. A friend bought a used/refurb 17" KDS Xflat (same as my 2) and said what a great deal he got. Had minor blemishes so far working fine, 30 days garuuntee. He paid $100 plus high shipping. I bought both mine at wallmart, new full waraunty (3yr I think) for $140 plus tax. I can now buy the same thing at a Sams Club for $120 plus tax.
Figuring tax on mine/ shipping on his, he saved maybe $15 tops! In another few days if his dies he's s.o.l but I have several years for mine to die and still be covered. Plus mine has no blemishes or flaws that his has.
Being nice as I am, I did not tell him I thought he was suckerd on the deal. Just kinda grunted and gritted my teeth when he told me what he got and for how much!

I buy used/refurb stuff too when the deals are good. Heck I'm about to buy a 49 Plymouth that needs an engine, but I'm not paying the price of a new car for it! And this one is nearly rust free!

canton_kid

I rarely buy refurbished, it has to be a good deal.
My 21" Sony CPD-G500 is refurbished, I got it at an online auction. It was a great deal, $580 shipped when it was new around $1000. It had only a 90 day warranty but it is still running no prob after 20 months.

I buy refurbed stuff at newegg. Besides the ocasional trade on PCA and what not...besides that everything else is brand spanking new.

Greg

Refurbished parts I have a problem with. I have no problem with refurbished items like whole computers or monitors, assuming they give you a decent warranty.

For instance Dell gives you the standard one year at home warranty on any refurbished system. That's as good as a new machine. If a refurb is going to go sour on you it'll probably do it in the first 30 - 60 days anyway.

Refurbs aren't always items that didn't work. Often they're just returns and by law you're not supposed to sell a returned item as new.

I often recommend a Dell refurb to my clients who want to save a little money. Heck, when they had a big refurb sale going in December I saw people pay around $450 for a nicely loaded 1200 Mhz tower that was selling for $700 new.

I do admit I don't see the point, however, in taking the risk on a refurb mobo with little warranty just to save $20.

I geuss we think the same on this one then.

I buy some stuff reburbed, like weed eaters and vacum cleaners but normally save around 50% and get at least a 90 return policy.

I just wasn't sure if I was missing something on those high priced low warruanty reburb computer parts someone else might have caught as a good point to them.

canton_kid