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Hey man. Do you have a minute?
Sure. What’s up?
My TV broke down over the weekend, and I am shopping around for a new one. I found a really
great deal for a refurbished set, but I thought that I should get an opinion from you first.
I’m glad you did. As you know, I purchased quite a few refurbished goods over the years,
but a TV is not something you should buy refurbished.
Why do you say that?
Let me explain. Most retailers offer a 30-day money back guarantee or return policy - a
great feature for customers since we can return a defective item.
Makes sense.
Right. But some people abuse this by returning goods in perfect working condition for a variety
of reasons. This is why refurbished goods can sometimes be a fantastic deal, because
there is nothing wrong with the product.
Okay. So what are you trying to tell me here?
Well, if someone went through the trouble of returning a TV set, a huge product that
takes time to move, repackage and sent back, then you know that there really is something
wrong with it. Are you following me?
Yeah, I do.
So basically, when you buy a refurbished TV, you are actually taking a huge risk in trying
to save just a little money. The price difference between a brand new set and a refurbished
one rarely falls below 20 percent, so the risk you are taking simply does not commensurate
with the savings.
Never thought of it that way before.
I don’t blame you. Another thing is, if you are getting the set online, especially
from direct owners, there is the question of delivery.
What do you mean?
TVs meant for deliveries need great packaging. They are big and heavy, and there is a wide
glass surface to protect. The chances of the set getting chipped, scratched and even cracked
is huge – even if you purchase it from distributors.
You make a good argument, dude.
Indeed, young padawan. And to reinforce my point, refurbished sets typically offer only
a 90-day guarantee - the same length of time for standard service guarantees. If the product
was really new, and the seller was so confident of it, it stands to reason that you should
get the remainder of the original two or three years warranty.
Wow, man. You’re absolutely right. I am so glad I checked with you first before ordering
the set.
Hey, that’s what friends do.
So you think I should get a new set instead?
Absolutely. And don’t worry about missing the game this weekend – you can come over
my place.
Thank you. I appreciate that.