If you have family members heading off to high school, college, or university, they may need some tech items to get them ready for another year. Computer prices have been on the rise due to inflation and a shortage of the RAM memory chips that are used in many AI devices. However, experts say you can try to save money by buying last year’s model, something that’s open box, or something that’s been refurbished. According to Best Buy Canada’s new survey, 63 per cent of Canadians purchased used technology in the past year. “I think consumers are telling us the number one reason is prices. We are seeing rising costs, especially in the computing category,” said Mark Leahy with Best Buy Canada. However, they do advise that before pulling the trigger on the refurbished item, you may want to start looking at open box items. “In most cases that’s just when the customer has purchased a new device. They brought it home, and for some reason it’s just not for them,” said Leahy. The most popular open-box product categories are laptops, wireless items, televisions, tablets, and wearables. When it comes to buying refurbished goods, you could save 20 to 40 per cent, and they still do have some warranty. “It still comes with some level of warranty; it could be 90 days to a year, so if you do take it home and there is a problem, we have your back,” Leahy said. As for popular refurbished product categories, wireless items, laptops, computers, tablets, and video game consoles ranked in the top five. Best Buy has a refurbished section with three condition levels. Consumer Reports also agrees buying refurbished items can be a wise choice. “They take it, they clean it up, they replace parts, and you get it with a new one-year warranty. There is no better deal in my mind than getting a refurbished item,” said Chris Raymond with Consumer Reports. You can also find refurbished appliances, large and small, that can save you money. Buying items that have been restored to like-new condition can prolong their working life and also keep them out of landfill sites, which is good for the environment too. Although refurbished items may have minor scratches and signs of handling, as long as they’ve been tested and come with a warranty, it’s a way to get what you need for back to school and save some money.
