Black Friday & The Business of Refurbished Laptops

Once again, Black Friday is here, which only means one thing: sales.

Most big and small merchants use this chance to flog their goods at a discount price before the Christmas rush. Throughout the world, sale stickers will be affixed to laptops, TVs, tablets, and phones, among other items.

But given the unsustainable levels of e-waste we’re producing now, we must start acting more sustainably. W isetek Store, part of the Wisetek Group is already doing that.

Wisetek Store has entered the UK market, providing refurbished laptops, refurbished tablets and even smartphones to the masses, but what exactly does refurbished actually mean?

“A refurbished equipment has been reclaimed, thoroughly inspected, cleaned, and repaired as needed to restore it to a condition where it performs like new.” Notes eCommerce Manager @ Wisetek Store Paula Napolitano “Some people might assume that buying used laptops means getting an old, beaten-up piece of technology, but that isn’t the case at all. Since Wisetek has been recycling and reusing IT equipment for almost 15 years, we’d like to think we know what we’re doing. Even better, all our reconditioned products come with a complimentary 12-month warranty in addition to 2- or 3-year extended warranties.”

Going Green

You not only save money by choosing a refurbished product over a brand-new one, but you also save the environment. Most of the minerals and metals used in the electrical equipment we use daily, like neodymium, terbium, and cerium, are truly finite resources. Unfortunately, these resources are currently in increasingly short supply due to the rapid advancement of technology, which means that reuse and recycling are now more important than ever. By buying a refurbished item, you actively avoid having electronic trash going into a landfill.

“Financially speaking, it also simply makes more sense. When you choose a refurbished model, you may be able to save up to 60% off the RRP in some areas. A huge number of people simply buy new products for the sake of it.”

Refurbished V Used – Is there a difference?

The typical desktop or laptop computer contains roughly 15 essential components, including the motherboard, hard drive, processors, RAM, chassis, and more. Each of these individual components can be examined, taken out, and enhanced. Even if every other component of a device continues to function flawlessly, people frequently decide to replace the entire thing when one component fails. Today, this is simply not feasible. For instance, if a unit has a bad hard disk, we may replace it, and the device will function flawlessly. The primary distinction in the reconditioned market can be attributed to the capacity to disassemble a device and repair each distinctive, independent component.

“We often say that although a laptop or tablet may have once belonged to someone else, it is in perfect working condition! We’re pleased to guarantee that these devices are just as fast as those you’d buy brand new from the manufacturers because of the extensive testing that goes into our refurbished products” – continues Napolitano

The strides being made in all fields demonstrate that technology does evolve quickly. Manufacturers continue to release inventive goods, experiment with features, modify components, and introduce new services. However, all of these improvements have a cost, and not everyone can always pay that cost. Do you need to replace your gadget just because the camera has been somewhat improved? Generally speaking, the response is no! Many consumers are more than glad to select a little older, more modestly equipped device that is just as effective as the more recent model.

Categorization

For its items, Wisetek Store offers a variety of categories or “grades.” This holds true for all the gadgets mentioned on the website. Furthermore, it’s crucial to understand that the term “refurbished” does not equate to “used” or “secondhand.” Instead, only highly skilled technicians who replace and test parts may describe a gadget as “refurbished.” Here is how Wisetek Store shows various devices, even though some of them do come in at different price points.

1. NEW

In light of everything that has been mentioned so far, it might seem contradictory, but occasionally new products do make their way onto the Wisetek Store. These are typically products that have been bought from manufacturers but never used, remaining in their original, sealed packing.

2. New/Opened Box

This is as new as it gets short of being purchased directly from the manufacturer in a store. Even though it won’t be in its original box, this device is practically brand new because it has never been used.

3. Excellent

This is a device that shows no physical or cosmetic evidence of usage; generally speaking, this occurs when a product has only been opened and briefly used, making it technically brand new.

4. Very Good

These do precisely as they claim to! Work incredibly well, are trustworthy, and have a very solid overall performance. However, these frequently have a few dings, chips, and marks. At first glance, this might not be immediately apparent, but if you look more closely, you will see them.

5. Good

It’s important to remember that all devices have been rigorously tested, cleaned, examined, reset to factory settings and come with that crucial 12-month guarantee even though this category of devices tends to show the most signs of use.

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