Tech giants release new models every few years, with thousands – if not millions clamoring to get their hands on the latest tech. But this need to have the newest and the best technology is having a devastating impact on the planet. The latest figures from the UN suggest we’re throwing away £50bn of electrical waste every year. And these devices aren’t going to people in need, they’re ending up in landfills – where they’ll stay. The complex electronics in your devices often contain precious metals and plastics that can pollute the air when sent to landfills, and also contaminate soil and drinking water.
So, if you’re looking to do your bit whilst still having the latest tech, then purchasing refurbished tech is the eco solution you’ve been looking for. Not only can you buy refurbished devices, but you can also sell the stuff you no longer need, from phones to PlayStations, laptops to tablets.
Still apprehensive about refurbished tech, we’ve got some pretty compelling reasons why you should rethink buying new and throwing away old – besides helping to save the planet!
Same functionality
One of the biggest worries people have when buying refurbished tech is that the device isn’t going to work as well as a brand new one – but that simply isn’t the case!
Yes, there might be the odd scratch, but these are purely cosmetic and don’t affect the functionality of the device. If you often buy refurbed tech you’ll have noticed that a lot of devices are graded from ‘New’ to ‘Good’.
Much cheaper
It’s thought that the average adult will spend around £40,000 on tech during their lifetime, and with children being introduced to and relying on technology at a much younger age, this figure is set to increase.
The obvious benefit of buying a refurbished device is that it will be a lot cheaper than buying a new model. Obviously, the exact amount you’ll save will depend on which model you’re buying. However, if you’re happy to go for a slightly older model, then you can end up saving hundreds of pounds on your purchase – and over a lifetime, this can soon add up to thousands of pounds.
Fully tested
If you buy your refurbed tech from a reputable seller, you can rest assured that it’s been extensively repaired and tested to ensure it’s in complete working order. It’s important to note that second-hand and refurbished are different.
The main difference between ‘refurbished’ and ‘second-hand’ or ‘used’ products is that refurbished products have been tested and verified to function properly, and are thus free of defects, while ‘used’ products may or may not be defective. Refurbished products may be unused customer returns that are essentially “new” items, or they may be defective products that were returned under warranty and resold by the manufacturer after repairing the defects and ensuring proper function.