The Truth About Amazon Renewed: Is It Actually Worth It?

Amazon Renewed is a great option for buying inexpensive electronics and appliances. This is true, especially if you’re not picky about having the very latest model in your hands. In many cases, these renewed items are in great condition, they’re just pre-owned and refurbished. In recent years, we’ve seen savings like $250 off renewed robot vacuums, 30% off refurbished cameras and accessories, and even Apple iPads and watches discounted at under $200.

But are these refurbished tech goods worth it? How can you know if Amazon Renewed products are actually reliable? If you have questions about Amazon Renewed, I got you.

And if you want to know how to get awesome Amazon deals, be sure to check out our other stories on what Amazon Prime offers, tips and tricks for rocking Amazon Prime Day, and more. Plus, download the KCL app to stay close and get notifications when all the hot deals happen. You can also text HACKS to 57299 for more money-saving tips.

 

What is Amazon Renewed?

Amazon Renewed products are pre-owned, but they’ve been refurbished so any potential defects are checked for and fixed. They’re also subject to inspection and testing to meet high-quality standards. The items are all backed by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee (kind of like a warranty). So in most cases, you’ll end up with perfectly working, but older, models of electronics and home goods at a discount.

Bonus: Sometimes you can find coupons on an Amazon Renewed product listing that you can stack on top of the already lower price. Just look out for green Amazon digital coupons on the product page.

 

Find discounted iPhones, robot vacuums, video game systems, and more.

Here are some examples of deals available now:

SHOP AMAZON RENEWED

All Amazon Renewed items have at least 80% battery capacity, and most have no visible blemishes.

You’ll find one of the following conditions listed with every Amazon Renewed product listing: Premium, Excellent, Good, and Acceptable. Amazon guarantees that all products, except those in the “Acceptable” category, are free from visible blemishes when viewed from 12 inches away.

Premium condition

• Backed by a one-year guarantee
• Battery life capacity will exceed 90% of the same device as new

Excellent condition

• Backed by a 90-day guarantee
• Battery life capacity will exceed 80% of the same device as new

Good condition

• Backed by a 90-day guarantee
• Battery life capacity will exceed 80% of the same device as new

Acceptable condition

• Backed by a 90-day guarantee
• Battery life capacity will exceed 80% of the same device as new
• Scratches may be visible, even from 12 inches away

 

 

You can return Amazon Renewed items within 90 days of purchase.

Every item comes with at least a 90-day money-back guarantee. This means you’ll have 90 days to decide if you want to keep your purchase or not. (That’s three times as long as the regular Amazon returns deadline.) You can return it within that window for a full refund. Items in “Premium” condition come with a one-year guarantee (which is kind of like a warranty).

With the guarantee, you’ll also receive tech support and free troubleshooting for any of your items. The team can troubleshoot tech problems and also help you initiate a return. To navigate to customer support, tap on “Get Product Support” under “Your Orders,” or just directly chat with them.

Note: Your Amazon Renewed item ins’t exactly a warranty per se, but the money-back guarantee amounts to, in some cases, a whole year in which you can still return your purchase if it’s defective. Or if you just change your mind.

 

Check prices at other big retailers to make sure you’re getting a good deal.

Although you can save a significant amount of money by purchasing refurbished products through Amazon Renewed, it’s still a good idea to compare prices with other retailers. The program often has excellent deals, but it’s not always the cheapest option for refurbished goods. Here are a couple of scenarios that show why you should always check:

• An Apple iPhone 12, 64 GB costs $270 through Amazon Renewed. The exact same refurbished phone on the Apple site is $449. You stand to save $179 when you buy on Amazon.
• An Amazon Renewed PlayStation 4 console is $218, compared to the same one at GameStop (also refurbished) for as low as $189.99. You’ll save a little over $28 when you buy it at GameStop.

But, this is where the Amazon Renewed Guarantee helps sweeten the deal. GameStop only offers a 7-day money-back guarantee, whereas Amazon offers 90 days for this particular console. You also get free troubleshooting support with Amazon Renewed.

Related: Buying Dyson Refurbished Will Save You Hundreds — Here’s How

 

Amazon Renewed items are refurbished — which is different than used.

Amazon Renewed items are pre-owned, so while they’re “used,” they’re also refurbished. This means they’ve been tested, optimized, and certified to work “like new”. So, the main difference between Amazon Renewed and used products in general, is that used products have mileage and wear and haven’t had any servicing done to them.