Buying refurbished: what the grades mean and what to check

Refurbished phones, laptops, tablets and appliances can cost much less than new ones and work just as well. They can also be tired devices with a fresh coat of marketing. The difference is mostly in who sells them, what they promise, and how carefully you check the item when it arrives.

What the words mean

In most countries, “refurbished” isn’t a legally defined term, and neither are grades like “excellent”, “very good” or “A”, “B” and “C”. Each seller sets its own standards. In general use:

• Refurbished or renewed means a used or returned device that has been tested, repaired where needed, cleaned and reset.
• Manufacturer refurbished means the maker did that work itself, often with new parts, a new battery or a new casing.
• Used or pre-owned usually means sold as it is, with little or no testing.
• Open box usually means a returned item that’s close to new, sometimes never used.

Read the seller’s definition of its grades. A “good” device from one seller can be in better condition than an “excellent” one from another.

Your rights when you buy refurbished

In the EU, refurbished goods bought from a business get the same rights as new ones, including 14 days to change your mind when you buy online and the legal guarantee against faults. For second-hand goods, countries may let the seller and buyer agree a shorter guarantee, but not less than one year.

In the UK, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies to second-hand goods bought from a business. They must be of satisfactory quality, which takes account of age and price, and fit for purpose and as described.

In Australia, the consumer guarantees apply to second-hand goods bought from a business, again taking their age and price into account.

In the US, much depends on the seller’s written warranty. Implied warranties under state law can apply, unless the item is sold “as is” where the state allows it.

Buying from a private person gives you far fewer rights almost everywhere. Our guides on faulty goods and marketplaces explain why.

Before you buy

• Check the warranty. How long, from whom, and whether it covers the battery.
• Ask about the battery. For phones and laptops, it’s the part that wears out first. Look for a stated minimum battery health or a new battery. If the listing says nothing, assume nothing.
• Check what’s in the box. A charger and cable may not be included.
• Compare with the newer model. A two-year-old model refurbished isn’t always much cheaper than the current one on sale, and it will stop getting software updates sooner.
• Check the software support. Phones and laptops have a limited period of security updates. A device near the end of it is worth less.

The day it arrives

• Check the cosmetic condition against the grade you paid for, and photograph any marks.
• Make sure the device isn’t locked to someone else’s account. On a phone, you should be able to set it up with your own Apple ID or Google account without being asked for a previous owner’s.
• Check it isn’t locked to a mobile network if you were promised it was unlocked.
• On a phone, check the battery health in the settings. iPhones also show whether parts have been replaced under Settings, General, About.
• Test the basics: cameras, speakers, microphone, charging, buttons, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and the screen for dead pixels or burn-in.

Do these checks quickly. If you bought online from a business in the EU or the UK, you have 14 days to change your mind; after that, you rely on the guarantee. See returning something bought online.

Is it worth it?

For phones, tablets and laptops from a seller with a clear grading system and at least a year’s warranty, refurbished is often the best value there is. For devices where the battery can’t be replaced, or that are near the end of their software updates, the saving needs to be bigger to make sense.

Sources

1. Sale of Goods Directive (EU) 2019/771 (EUR-Lex)
2. Your Europe: Guarantees and returns
3. Consumer Rights Act 2015 (legislation.gov.uk)
4. FTC: Warranties
5. ACCC: Consumer rights and guarantees

Rules change. If something here is wrong or out of date, please tell us and we’ll fix it. This guide is general information, not legal advice.