How to Save Up to 50 Percent on Electronics

Most people have a love hate relationship with their electronic gadgets. They love getting new toys and learning how each device can make their life easier, but they hate paying the high price these gadgets demand.

Take an iPad mini for example. You might have to pony up $429. That's a steep price to pay for something that will be considered outdated in a year or two.

Instead of paying the full sticker price for your favorite electronic toys, what if you could save from 20 to up to 50 percent? You'd do it in a heartbeat right?

Well, it turns out saving money on gadgets is incredibly easy if you're willing to buy it refurbished.

Buying a refurbished electronic device is a simple way to save money without sacrificing quality.

Going back to the iPad mini example, a new device will cost $429. A refurbished one costs $319. That's a savings of $110 without sacrificing quality.

Both devices come in the Apple box, both are shipped directly from the Apple store and both come with new accessories, a new battery and a one-year warranty.

So why doesn't everyone jumpingon the refurbished bandwagon? There seems to be a stigma with refurbished items. Many people believe these items are inferior and defective. But that's simply not the case.

What Does Refurbished Mean?

Refurbished electronics are items that have been opened before and used at least one time. The person that bought the item then returned it because of one of the following reasons:

“¢ They didn't like it or the reason for the return was unspecified.
“¢ It had a cosmetic defect like a scratch or dent.
“¢ It had a functional defect that made some or all of the features of the product not work properly.
“¢ It was a display or demo item that was used in the store.
“¢ It was recalled because of a problem detected in this particular model.

Remember that any of these reasons could be what gets a product labeled as refurbished. A 2011 report found that only 5 percent of returned electronics had an actual defect. User error was the leading cause of misdiagnosed defects.

Beforereselling an itemthat has been returned,manufacturers will testthem to see what, if anything, is wrong with it.

The ones that are defective are repaired and the ones that aren't are cleaned up, marked down and given a second chance at life. Minor cosmetic issues such as scratches and discoloration are left alone.

Where to Buy Refurbished Items

Refurbished items can be found many different places, but it's important to buy from a trusted source with a solid return policy.You can look at major retailers likeAmazonor you can head straight to the manufacturer.

ShoppingeBaycan also yield some refurbished devices, but there's little recourse that can be taken if you purchase a lemon. It's important to note that unauthorized resellers like those on eBay may also have different standards for refurbishing an item, resulting in a product that doesn't meet your expectations.

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