Finding deals for expensive items on Amazon can be a bit of a pain. If you try and buy items like mobile phones or exercise equipment second-hand, how do you know the item is in good condition?
Nobody wants to buy scuffed-up items that hardly work. Luckily, Amazon has a couple different programs to help ensure buyer confidence when looking for used items.
One of these programs is Amazon Renewed. When buying renewed items on Amazon, you can be sure that some level of stringent quality control is in place to help guarantee the quality of the items you purchase.
However, some people might wonder about the exact details for Amazon Renewed. It can be a bit confusing for those who haven’t looked into it before.
What Does Renewed Mean On Amazon?
Amazon Renewed is a feature where used items are sold through Amazon with a guarantee. There is a stringent confirmation process that items must go through to meet the standards of the program, and it generally guarantees that used items are in agreeable condition for re-sale. Specifically, this means that the item is inspected by Amazon according to a set of guidelines, and is approved for guarantee by a specialized inspector or refurbisher.
Amazon is pretty confident in their quality assurance. Reports online show that most customers are completely satisfied with their order from Amazon renewed. There are some caveats, however.
For example, items inspected for re-sale through the renewed program are confirmed to be free of blemishes at a distance of 12 inches. That means there’s a possibility that smaller scratches or dents could possibly pass inspection.
In the end, Amazon Renewed is a great way to get deals on potentially expensive items. They even come with a six-month warranty if the product does not work as expected.
If you want to learn everything about Amazon and renewed products, keep reading…
Is Amazon Renewed Used Or Not?
The Amazon Renewed program is meant to increase buyer confidence when purchasing returned items, but were the items actually used by previous buyers before being returned?
It’s a bit tough to answer this question, since different customers have different standards for the items they purchase. Something that one person wants to return may be perfectly fine for somebody else.
So are Amazon Renewed items actually used or not? Basically, it depends on the item, and the person that returned it. Amazon inspects all of the items listed as “Renewed”, so the quality and functionality of the items is usually perfectly fine.
However, some items may have been used by their previous owners more than others, so it’s always good to keep an open mind when shopping for Amazon Renewed items.
What Is The Difference Between Renewed And Refurbished On Amazon?
Some readers may have noticed that Amazon also displays a certified “Refurbished” designation. This can cause some confusion, since Amazon renewed and Certified refurbished are not the same thing, but they are very similar.
Basically, when something is returned or listed used, the Renewed program ensures that the product is in good working order and looks almost new.
Refurbished, however, is a bit different. Refurbished items are also certified by Amazon, but they are specifically restored to working order from a less-than-optimal state.
For some items, this can make a big difference, since replacing original parts can have an impact on the value of many collector’s items.
The refurbishing process is also typically performed by the manufacturer, rather than Amazon. In some cases, the items will have been refurbished by a third party refurbishing service.
What Is Certified Refurbished On Amazon?
Items that have been “Certified Refurbished” have been inspected by Amazon’s qualified experts, and restored to good working order by certified technicians.
Amazon’s staff is top-notch when it comes to this stuff, and the certified refurbished items come with a limited warranty just like if they were purchased new. Unlike Amazon Renewed, these items are refurbished by the manufacturer, or by a third party.
It’s important to note that the main point of Certified Refurbished is that the item has been restored to proper working condition. This means that visual blemishes, scratches, dents, and things like that are secondary to the actual operation of the item.
Reports online show a good amount of satisfaction from customers buying certified refurbished items, but it’s still important to keep this in mind when looking for items if you want them to be perfect.
Does Amazon Certified Mean Refurbished?
Amazon “Certified Refurbished” is the designation given to refurbished items that have been returned to Amazon for re-sale. They are refurbished by the manufacturer or a qualified refurbisher and returned to an agreeable condition.
Some confusion can occur between this and AWS Certification. AWS Certification is a technical certification for IT professionals handled by Amazon Web Services. If you’re just looking for Amazon Certified Refurbished, then simply search for it on Amazon.com.
Which One Is Better, Renewed Or Refurbished On Amazon?
Since Amazon has certifications for both renewed and refurbished items, it can be confusing which one is better. Really, there is no rule-of-thumb for which one would be better, but in general it will depend on the type of item you’re looking for. I
f you want an office chair, for example, you can simply go for whichever option is cheaper for that specific item.
However, if you’re looking for something collectible like an antique bicycle, you don’t want to have the original parts replaced with new ones, since this affects the value of the piece.
For this reason, renewed is arguably better than refurbished for collector’s items. However, it will still depend on the specific item in question, and will not always be consistent for every item.
As always, it’s the buyer’s responsibility to scrutinize the product they purchase, even if Amazon is willing to give you a warranty on both renewed and refurbished items.
Hopefully this guide has cleared up some of the details for the Amazon Renewed. If you’ve got any questions or concerns, feel free to let us know in the comments section!
Want to learn more about Amazon? Check out these related posts to find out if Amazon accepts Care Credit, does Kohls take Amazon returns, and whether or not you should tip Amazon delivery drivers.
Conclusion…
‘Amazon Renewed’ means the items is used but is being sold with an Amazon guarantee. The items has been inspected by Amazon and has gotten their stamp as approval.
Often times these items are practically ‘open box’ and have never been used. It is a great way to get practically new items at a discount.