The Difference Between Open-Box, Refurbished, and New - By Lea
What Does Open-Box Mean?
An open-box item looks and feels brand new, although its packaging can sometimes show some wear and tear. But you don’t really buy a product for the box it comes in, so do you really want to spend more money for prettier packaging?
Open-box products are often unused returns, or demo models from retail locations that just can’t be sold as “brand new” anymore. Some of the products may have never even been powered on, but have merely been removed from their packaging at some point. As a result, these products are heavily discounted even though you can expect them to function as if they were new.
BLINQ.com professionally tests all open-box products to ensure they are fully functional, and that they look and feel brand new.
”Open-box” deals are one of the best “open secrets” of the savvy shopper — it’s the perfect way to get a like-new product for a fraction of the original retail price.
What Does Refurbished Mean?
Refurbished products are returned items in excellent condition that have been reconditioned and repackaged. Most often, these are items that have been professionally inspected and repaired or reset by the manufacturer. As such, a refurbished item will work just as a brand new one would, only it may show minor signs of wear. Refurbished items may also come in special packaging.
Refurbished items are usually heavily discounted, even more so than “open-box” items.
What Does Used Mean?
Buying “used” is how you can find the cheapest prices, but not all used products are of the same quality. How can you guarantee that the lowest price is also the best deal? There’s a huge difference between buying a used item from an individual on Craigslist and buying a professionally inspected item from a retailer such as BLI