Tips For Buying a Refurbished PC

GO WITH WHAT YOU KNOW. If you have a favorite brand, check the manufacturer's site first. It can be more convenient buying from the maker, especially if you have to return the product.
HOW MUCH SPEED DO YOU NEED? A good deal on a refurbished system might mean getting a processor with slightly lower clock speed than the latest version. Will the difference between, say, 1.6 and 2.3 GHz matter? If the user is going to be running standard business applications, surfing the Web, and e-mailing, probably not.
LOOK FOR SYSTEMS WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF RAM. Then, for a performance boost, go fill up with brand-name memory from your favorite supplier.
WHAT'S THE SOFTWARE SITUATION? Make sure an older machine will fit into your OS and application upgrade plans.
REMEMBER THE MONITOR. Most refurb packages do not include one, so factor in that additional cost. See if the vendor is bundling a monitor with a new model; you could end up with a better deal.
ALREADY HAVE A MONITOR? Make sure the video connectors on the refurb are compatible before you buy.
FIND OUT WHICH ACCESSORIES ARE INCLUDED. Refurbed desktops might come without a keyboard or mouse, and some refurbed laptops are sold without power cord or backup battery—little things that add up to offset savings.
ALWAYS CHECK THE PRICE OF THE COMPARABLE NEVER-BEEN-OWNED MODEL. You can't assume that new will necessarily cost more.
TRY TO BUY MANUFACTURER-REFURBISHED. They're typically rebuilt with approved components. Third-party refurbishers might use alternative parts.
"OPEN BOX" GOOD? Sometimes you might see an "open box" system for sale. So, the customer opened the box—and then what happened? Verify that such systems have been retested and, if needed, refurbished.
GET THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. Even if it's been modified for a refurbished system, that should at least guarantee the system will be restored to proper working order, without a runaround, and repaired with genuine parts.
CHECK THE WARRANTY PERIOD. Find out how long you will have support. If you're not getting the same protection you'd be offered with a new system, look elsewhere.
CHECK AND DOUBLE-CHECK THE RETURN POLICY. Some sellers give you 7 days, some give you 21. If you don't find the return policy clearly stated, shop elsewhere.
BROWSE CUSTOMER FORUMS. The comments tend to be negative (the crankiest customers are the most vocal). Take the complaints with a grain of salt; there's some useful information in the aggregate.