The Rising Popularity of Refurbished Electronics

Why is this the Case?

Going back only a decade if you suggested to someone the concept of purchasing a used laptop or phone, their reaction would be quite different from the answer you might receive nowadays. There will always be those who prefer new, fresh-off production line items, those who prefer to pay considerably more but have the additional security on the investment. There's certainly nothing wrong with this choice. However, general perception has certainly shifted in recent years to a more generally accepted practice of not necessarily always getting the very latest model.

There are plenty of reasons for this but what really seems to be helping to spread this new acceptance of recycled tech is that after many years of swapping out for the latest model every year or two, the veneer of each model being superior and entirely justifiable in their ever-increasing prices is, at last, wearing off. Consumers are often growing more comfortable with holding onto their existing model for another couple of years and focusing their investments elsewhere rather than on a new model that is only going to 'do the job' slightly better than what they already have.

Apple devices in particular hold their value far better than other mainline electronics of the same category as their entire catalogue has always been rather capable, and recently you could argue that for the average user, Apple laptops and desktops are becoming too capable even. 

Does 1.5 TB of RAM sound crazy? The 2019 Mac Pro begs to differ!

 

You did read that correctly...1.5 TB of RAM. It may sound excessive and also have very limited usage in the general market but the upshot of this unbridled tech is they can still easily bear the brunt of strenuous work years after their release. They will often easily handle several macOS versions ahead of what they were designed for.

As well as maintaining their capabilities, ageing Macs are often robust machines that will keep on running for many years bar a few ranges that hold more common issues but these are easily avoidable when seeking to purchase refurbished products. The very fact that we sometimes speak to customers running critical work on PowerMac G5's (2003-2006) is just a testament to the resilience of Apple's hardware.

While the vast majority of customers are not going to be purchasing all that RAM, even the more commonly purchased machines are considerably powerful and future-proof, especially the MacBook Pro ranges or iMacs. For general use, 2013 machines still do an excellent job all these years later which is quite remarkable in the computer market of today. Most of the team here use Apple machines at home that are many years old at this point but continue to do their job as effectively as one could need.

The Benefits of Choosing Refurbished

An important aspect of 'used' machines becoming more accepted by today's standards is the distinction between simply 'used' machines and refurbished.  Both of these machines are technically used but refurbished machines typically carry noticeable benefits. Used machines have been common for a long time really, typically being sold across sites like eBay for very low prices as opposed to their retail price. However, the vast majority of them are listed and sold by individual end-users with no company ties or guarantees for quality. Refurbished items however have become a much larger part of the market in recent years with more and more companies being set up to sell refurbished laptops, desktops etc. So what kind of benefits can you expect from refurbished products?

Greater Buyer Protection & User Support

As briefly mentioned, most used items on auction sites and the like are a much riskier purchase than a reputable refurbishing store. A lot of the time the only protection you have is PayPal's buyer protection but this can be quite a hassle and is far from the ideal level of support you'd expect when purchasing a computer and if any issues crop up, you will often be caught out with no assistance and sometimes even hostility from the sellers in extreme cases.

On top of that you can expect to find far lengthier warranties attached to refurbished products than you would typically find on used listings as these are guaranteed by easily identifiable companies who want to maintain their reputation and they will often go above and beyond to not only honour said warranties but to also provide an extra layer of general support both with suggesting the best machine to buy for what you need and for help with any issues once the device is in your hands.

This support layer and peace of mind is one of the greatest differences between used and refurbished that you will find and it's a big reason why refurbished products are becoming a safer purchase for many, even if the cost is higher than used products.

After all, you can't put a price on peace of mind!

We personally provide 12 months warranty on the vast majority of our selection, which as highlighted above you can quickly see whilst browsing Click4Mac so you can be sure of what support you will receive. Beyond this date, we will still be on hand to provide any general assistance when needed. This level of on-hand support is something you simply won't find with standard 'used' purchases online.

Better Conditioning & Quality Standards

With refurbished items, users will often find greater information on the product's functional and cosmetic condition and will have greater access to request any additional information they may find important. Not only that but cosmetics and any blemishes or minor problems the machine may have are far more likely to be clearly outlined on refurbished stores. Used listings can often result in buyer's remorse with something not being noted on the listing or it simply wasn't described clearly enough.

Refurbished stores will also typically put a lot more labour time into prepping their products for sale with extensive cleaning and testing to ensure the best experience for the buyer, solidifying the warranties that are offered with good work behind them. The end product that arrives at your door will likely be far cleaner than any used item you might find and what you purchased will truly be what you get.

With our refurbished machines, in particular, you know that not only are you purchasing a fully tested and reliable product. You're also buying from and receiving the support of industry experts with over 15 years of experience. Behind the scenes of Click4Mac are the dependable team of TheBookyard Ltd. who have been offering recycled Mac parts over these many years with a well known and respected reputation across the industry. 

Final Word

One final important point to note when purchasing refurbished devices is the price differences to 'used' machines. Used machines will often save you a considerable amount initially. However, it's important to factor in the added bonus of customer support, a reliable warranty as well as quality standards you can trust that comes with a refurbished product. With all of this included in the extra cost of a refurbished product, if anything you can end up saving a lot more in the long term with the added security in your purchase. Not to mention the headache it can save you!

Refurbished Apple products are certainly on the rise and for good reason! The days of having to either settle with a new product or gambling your money on eBay purchases are behind us. Now that the refurbished option becoming far more popular it's adding a 3rd option into that mix which offers a fantastic 'best of both worlds' choice for anyone shopping for a new device whether for home or work use.

Not only this but the rising popularity in the refurbished sector is slowly benefitting all consumers. As more customers begin to wait for refurbished ranges rather than buying new products outright, this helps to bring down overall refurbished prices, away from being a premium and towards becoming widely accessible to many more individuals. This also slowly increases the overall communal trust within refurbs which in turn is clearing away the negative stigma they may have from being associated with older 'used' machines and the pitfalls that can come with them.

If you want to truly see the value of refurbished machines then look no further than Apple themselves, who run their own refurbished store online which is steadily growing in scope and affordability.

If you're interested in looking into refurbished Macs, feel free to browse our store and see what options we may have for you! Our site is designed to present all the crucial information at a glance but if you find yourself wanting more specific details we're always on hand to help. Whether over the phone or via email, we can help find that perfect machine that fits your needs.