Find a Certified Refurbished Deal
(The Acer Predator XB271HU; An excellent gaming monitor but notorious for returns due to backlight bleeding, but rarely found on sale as a refurbished gaming monitor since once it appears, someone buys it right away)
Refurbished gaming monitors are one of the most attractive deals we see on retailers every day. A great alternative is to buy refurbished gaming monitors to save a chunk of cash. This article points out the pros and cons of buying these cheaper offerings and how you can avoid losing your hard-earned money.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Buying Refurbished Gaming Monitors
There are even bigger benefits other than reduced pricing when you buy a refurbished gaming monitor. First, each particular product goes through a rigorous quality assurance process for the second time which helps eliminate issues. Companies tend to replace defective components such as panels, control boards or furniture before doing a retest, so you can rest assured that these refurbished gaming monitors are free of issues.
Customers return displays for common reasons such as dead pixels or backlight bleeding, so getting refurbished gaming monitors somehow frees willing buyers from the hassles of these everyday issues. Most of the time, the worst problems come out within the first few weeks of usage, so if the device you bought functions properly in normal usage, chances are, it should last through to its expected lifespan.
On the other hand, you can also take the statement above with a grain of salt since neither the companies behind these products nor we can explicitly guarantee that each of the refurbished gaming monitors waiting to be sold will uphold the advantages. Much like buying IPS monitors, the whole thing is still based on a lottery system where you can win or lose.
There are horror stories of some refurbished monitors which were improperly packed increasing the risk of damage. There are also instances where a purchase from an excellent computer monitor deal functions for a bit, then fails just right after the reduced warranty expires. Some items may also have small physical damages such as dings and scratches, and if you can’t live with minor imperfection, refurbished gaming monitors might not be your cup of tea.
Of course, there is always a smart way to go about things. There are some points to consider as enumerated in the next section of this article. Our most important tip, however, is to make sure you know the risks and to manage your expectations and test the hell out of the product before settling on it as your gaming rig’s new display.
The Acer XB241H is a highly sought-after gaming model which usually goes for more or less $400, but as seen in the link below, a certified refurbished will only cost you around $340. The $60 savings can go a long way especially if you are building a new rig, making the pros weigh more than the cons.
What Should I Consider Before Buying a Refurbished Gaming Monitor?
1. Warranties
Take the time to read and understand each product’s terms and conditions before actually pulling the trigger. If you are buying refurbished gaming monitors or open-boxed offerings, chances are the coverage period already shortened, or some minor details like rules for money-back guarantees and exchanges have been slightly modified.
Reputable resellers typically allow 30 to 90 days for returns, exchange, and refunds. To some, this shorter period is a too much of a risk to take while others would gladly take the plunge but take extra care and effort to weed out any hidden defects before settling.
2. Pricing
Yes, refurbished gaming monitors already appear cheaper than they normally would be, but some retailers take advantage of the affordability illusion to squeeze out a few more bucks. A rule of thumb is always to check the suggest retail, current, and reduced selling prices and compare them to see if the risk you take is worth it.
If it were me, I wouldn’t take a refurbished deal which doesn’t shave off at least 20% to 30% of that item’s listed price. There are also some products you can buy with extended warranties for a fraction of the price but do check how much the total compares to a full-priced or a newer monitor.
As an example, check this excellent gaming monitor, the ViewSonic XG2401. This model usually goes for $300.00 if buying it brand spanking new, but looking at this certified refurbished offering, it now only costs $206.99 as per this listing. That’s an instant 20% discount which makes it a respectable computer monitors deal in the market.
3. Brand and Retailer Reliability
We all have preferred brands which we remain loyal to for their outstanding quality, design, and most importantly, after sales service. Brands like Dell or Acer uphold their company’s and integrity with outstanding guarantees and terms, so their refurbished gaming monitors should share these positive qualities. Every business deals with issues differently, so buyers should take the time to research and read about the differences between each computer monitor deals before considering.
Getting through exchanges and refunds primarily goes through your retailer, so be sure to know about their policies before pulling the trigger. Companies like Amazon and Newegg deal with their customers impeccably, but situations may vary from time to time. If you have wonderful experiences regarding claims, then that’s one less thing to worry about when buying refurbished gaming monitors.
4. Product Age
Always check if a refurbished gaming monitor you desire is somehow one of the latest you can get since there are a lot of offerings which are already phased out. These aging products might not have support or spare parts since companies also tend to update their inventories. Chances are, even if your display is still within warranty, the company or retailer may not be able to replace it or have it repaired in a timely and convenient manner.
Outgoing models also have reduced prices which can drop to less than half of what it used to command for ownership, so it could be in your best interest to buy a regular offering instead of a refurbished listing. In doing so, you avoid all the risks while reaping the benefits of a full warranty for peace of mind.
5. Certified Refurbished
It is important to determine if a particular company has fully recertified their refurbished gaming monitor of interest. Getting a product graded this way also helps owners to make sure that the chosen gadget was cleaned, repaired, or modified by the brand’s certified technicians or engineers.
Buying a certified refurbished gaming monitor also ensures you get a device which has its specified parts installed, instead of sub par replacements which can be detrimental to its performance and quality. You can also enjoy a worry-free guarantee which will not result in rejected claims if you don’t like how your monitor performs or you find issues in its functions or physicalities.
For example, Acer resells their refurbished gaming monitors via a unique website or through their eBay page. Other big retailers like Amazon also specify if a screen you are about to buy is certified in the item’s list name.
7. Customer Feedback and Satisfaction
Another way to determine if some of the refurbished gaming monitors you are considering is a safe buy is to check its ratings and reviews. Chances are, there are hundreds or thousands of people who went on ahead and got that model you are drooling over. What they write for feedback is mostly accurate since it is based on first-hand user experience.
If a particular model has a reputation for issues, it is probably best to stay away even if it is certified. The known flaws are probably caused by design or manufacturing imperfections which could be difficult to solve. Checking reviews and forum discussions can also help, plus you can always ask questions which we encourage especially for first-time buyers.
One of the foundations of Dell’s success is their excellent customer service treatment and product reliability. The Dell SE2417HG refurbished monitor usually sells for an estimated $150, but you can get it for around $130 if you choose to buy from one of the company’s many computer monitor deals. You get a solid one hundred days of warranty, so you should have plenty of time to test this refurbished monitor out.
For Dell’s DFS (Dell Financial Services) terms and conditions, please check this link.
Final Thoughts
Buying refurbished gaming monitors is worth it if the conditions we mentioned are met, making it even harder to turn that bargain down. Knowing that your device has gone through several checks and QA assessments help with peace of mind and reliability.
However, there is always a downside to every story. There are risks involved such as premature failure or caveats like limited warranties, so it pays to research and asks questions before pulling the trigger. Manage your expectations and learn to accept that you are buying refurbished gaming monitors to enjoy the best value per dollar you can get in exchange for perfection.
Remember, the biggest risk comes from not knowing what you are doing, according to Warren Buffett.
Devin Scott says
Its good to learn that you should buy a refurbished gaming monitor if it is more than 20% off. My brother is looking to buy a new monitor for his gaming computer. I’ll let him know that he should look for a refurbished one that is more than 20% off.
Paolo Reva says
Thanks for the tip, Devin!