Should you buy renewed products on Amazon?
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Should you buy renewed products on Amazon?

Buyers are often wary of "renewed" or "refurbished" products. They don't want to end up with a pile of junk, especially if it can't be returned. But the Amazon Renewed program does a decent job of addressing those concerns — it's a quick and easy way to save money, and it's backed by a 90-day guarantee.

What does "Amazon Renewed" even mean?

The Amazon Renewed system is very simple. Sellers often end up with less than perfect products, including customer returns, used items, floor models, and items with damaged packaging. These products are not "new", so they are marked "Renewed" and are sold at a reduced price.

You will occasionally see an Amazon Renewed item appear among the normal listings. But they are also organized on the Amazon Renewed landing page. When you want to find a cheap phone, leaf blower, blender or anything else, you can find it in this renewed system.

Now, as Amazon customer service explains, all Renewed products are "professionally tested to work and look like new." Suppliers must subject a “renewed” item to diagnostic testing, deep cleaning and, if necessary, repairs. (Also, there should be no cosmetic flaws when holding a “renewed” item a foot away from your face.)

It's clear that Amazon isn't trying to sell trashy stuff. Amazon Renewed's goal is to sell items that work perfectly without any glaring cosmetic issues. That's why you can't see actual photos of these "renewed" products - they're supposed to be perfect.

For the most part, Amazon Renewed is a great program that serves its purpose. But Amazon isn't the one handling all that "professional testing," cleaning, or refurbishing. Often sellers are on their own and the quality of their work can be unpredictable (there are a lot of scammers, losers, and idiots selling things on Amazon). That's why Amazon Renewed items come with a nice little guarantee.

Renewed Amazon products come with a warranty

A very broken camera.

Every product sold through Amazon Renewed comes with a 90-day warranty. If you are not satisfied with the quality of a renewed item, you may return it within 90 days of delivery for a full refund or replacement. It's a very solid policy, and it's something that helps Amazon Renewed stand out from the competition.

Interestingly, all Amazon-made devices (Fire tablets, Kindles, Echo speakers, etc.) come with a one-year warranty under the Renewed program. This is the same warranty you get when buying these new items.

But renewed products rarely include the original manufacturer's warranty. That's usually not a problem – if something is broken, you'll figure it out pretty quickly. However, there are a few exceptions. Vacuum cleaners are prone to random issues, for example, but they often include a two-year warranty when purchased new.

If a long warranty is important to you, do some research. You may find it better to buy a new product. That said, Amazon Renewed's 90-day warranty is pretty generous.

But renewed products are not always perfect

A technician replaces an iPhone screen.

Some Amazon Renewed products are returns, floor models, and items with damaged packaging. These products are not "used" or "refurbished", but they cannot be sold as new items, so they come with an attractive discount.

That said, a large number of Amazon Renewed items (especially phones) are repaired or refurbished. And because third-party sellers are allowed to handle these repairs without Amazon's direct supervision, you could end up with something less than perfect. Scuffs and scratches, broken parts, and other issues are not unheard of when purchasing Amazon Renewed.

Even if a product is properly repaired, it may still be defective. Replacing the screen of a smartphone will, for example, reduce its resistance to dust and water. Sellers can also perform a repair using “third-party components,” which aren't made by the phone's original manufacturer — it's a bit of a gamble.

Unfortunately, Amazon does not specify how an individual product is "renewed". If you buy an Amazon Renewed smartphone, for example, there's no way to tell if it's a floor model, a return item, or a used device that received a screen replacement.

Should you buy renewed products on Amazon?

A close up of an Amazon package.

For the most part, buying renewed products on Amazon is a safe bet. You can save a ton of money on phones, computers, small appliances, lawn equipment, and other goods when buying Renewed, and the 90-day warranty ensures you can return a product if it is not what you expected.

But some renewed products are a bit risky. Remember that third-party storefronts may refurbish or renew products without Amazon's oversight. They may not do a good job replacing a laptop screen, for example, or they may use off-brand components when repairing a smartphone. (That said, a good portion of Amazon Renewed items are returns, floor models, or products with damaged packaging.)

If you want to play smart while renewing your purchases, I suggest sticking to simple products: internet routers, leaf blowers, hand mixers, etc. Unlike a smartphone or a laptop, these elements are quite basic. Even if they have undergone repairs, there is much less chance of anything going wrong.

Oh, you should also avoid the Amazon Renewed headphones. Chances are you'll end up with something that's been in someone's ears, which is disgusting.

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