Buying a used laptop is such a smart move that just about every financial planner in the industry would back you 100%. You don’t spend a whole lot out of pocket, first of all. Instead of spending $1700 on that new 17” MacBook Pro laptop you’ve been wanting since Christmas, you can go buy it used for half that. Wouldn’t that be nice?

So, why don’t more people buy used laptops versus going for the gusto and buying brand new for a ridiculous markup? I think it’s rather simple, really: People don’t like to use things that were used before them. I’m not talking about from a cleanliness perspective, either. I’m talking about the fact that people consistently feel the need to “Keep up with the Joneses.” Of course that’s outright rubbish. Who cares what type of laptop you have; whether it’s new or used is none of their concern. If you really wanted to show those Joneses who’s boss, just let them know who’s more financially savvy and thus has more money in their bank account! That’s the best way to deal with those pesky neighbors.

If you’ve been following this site, you know that the focus isn’t just laptops, but refurbished laptops (another word for “used,” by the way). You’ve probably read a few things about what goes into getting a used laptop back up to snuff; how each laptop goes through a checklist to repair any mechanical or physical blemish.

You’ve probably also heard that the hard drive is completely wiped (sometimes more than once, depending on the refurbishing company), then has the entire operating system reinstalled from scratch. All of this goes into providing you with a great “new” laptop (new to you, at least) for much less money than if you were to go out and buy a brand spankin’ new model from the store. It only makes sense.
So, the moral of the story for tonight: Buy a used laptop. Your wallet will thank you later.

Shopping:

Dell Latitude D630 Laptop Computer System Dual-core Processor Wireless XP Pro

Replacement AC Power Adapter for Dell Inspiron E1405, E1505, E1705 Series Laptop

Genuine Dell Laptop Notebook E/Port Replicator Docking Station PR03X with Power Adapter PA-4E For Dell E Series Laptop/Notebooks

Genuine DELL PA-6 AC Power Adapter For Dell Inspiron Notebooks 2500, 2600, 2650, 3700, 3800, 4000, 4100, 4150, 4200, 5000, 5000e, 7500, 8000, 8100, 8200 Latitude C-Series, CP, CPi, CPiA, CPiD, CPiR, CPm, CPt, CPtC, CPtS, CPtV, CPx, CPxH, CPxJ, CS, CSR, CSXCP, C400, C500, C510, C540, C600, C610, C640, C800, C810, C840, X200, Xpi C-Series C/Dock, C/Dock II, C/Port, C/Port II Laptop Port Replicators Model/Part Numbers: 9364U, 4983D, 7E109, OR334, 79215, 85391, 81407, 310-3432, 310-4615, 310-7500, PA-1, PA-2, PA-6, PA-8, AA20031 ADP-70EB

Apple iBook G4, 1.33 GHz, 1GB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, Internal Combo Drive, 56k Modem

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Second hand laptops go through a rigorous checkout process before they are sent back out for public purchase. The hard drives are completely wiped clean, then wiped again. This is to prevent the previous owner’s data from being recovered by a future owner. This protects both parties; you the buyer don’t want to accidentally fall into some information you shouldn’t have known about, and it protects the former owner by ensuring that his/her data is secure. After that, the operating system is reloaded from scratch. Every piece of software will be just like it was when it came from the factory brand-new. The exterior of your laptop is also well taken care of. Major cosmetic issues will be repaired, though it’s possible that a minor scratch or two will remain. It depends on who’s doing the refurbishing. Every piece of hardware will be gone through with a fine-tooth comb as well. Expect nothing but the best when your laptop comes second hand.

So how would one go about finding solid, but cheap laptops second hand? Just like I’ve said in previous posts, make sure that you go check the manufacturer’s website first. That’s where you’re going to find the best deals on the computers you’ll want to actually take home and keep. Buying laptops off of auction sites may be very tempting, but buyer beware: Things aren’t always as they seem. You can very easily find yourself with a computer that wasn’t as advertised. This warning goes doubly so for sites such as Craigslist. Be smart out there.

Alright everyone, I hope this has helped you in your quest to find second hand laptops. Let me know if you have any questions about this topic or any other.

Shopping:

Solo 17-inch Laptop Messenger Bag Black (PT9204)

Solo 17-inch Laptop Messenger Bag Blue (PT9205)

PBL Projection Stand

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The very first thing that you should consider is whether or not you’re specifically interested in price or top quality. Of course, the first response everyone is going to have is “But I’m interested in both!” We know you are; we are too! But, when you’re going out on the used market, sometimes you can only have one or the other. It’s much like a used car: Do you want a beater from craigslist or do you want a new car from the dealership? Each one has its own pros and cons.

We’ve covered a few ways to find used laptops for sale in a previous post. In that post, titled Refurbished laptops: Where to buy them, I talked about online auction sites and third-party retailers. Both of those are completely valid for our purposes here, but there are other places to find them too.

Another place you should look for used laptops is the average everyday flea market. Remember those? You might have also heard them called “swap meets,” though it’s been a long time since I’ve heard them called that. Laptops can usually be found on sale at these informal marketplaces along with other types of electronics. All it takes is a bit of walking around and poking around.

One can’t also talk about used items without referring to craigslist. Yes, this is probably one of the best places to look for laptops. Craigslist is an online classifieds site that has millions of listings on a daily basis. If you set your location to where you live, the system will even help you find items in and around the area in which you live. That in itself makes it super convenient to use to find cheap used laptops.

Just like any of the auction sites though, you need to be careful. In fact, you may even need to be more careful than if you were purchasing a laptop from eBay. There are no guarantees given on classifieds sites. What you see is what you get. If someone rips you off and sells you a computer that later turns out to be a lemon, it’s nobody’s fault but your own!

Be alert, watch your back, do your homework, and you’ll find excellent used laptops for sale just about everywhere.

Shopping:

Dell PR01X D/Port Advanced Port Replicator for Dell Latitude D-Family Laptops / Precision Mobile WorkStation

OEM Laptop Ac Adapter Charger for Dell Inspiron 6000 6400 9200 9300 9400 E1405 E1505 E1705; XPS M1530; PA-1900-02D2 U7809 PA-10 Family

IBM Lenovo Thinkpad T42

6FT 3-SLOT Laptop Power Cable .

Apple iBook G4, 1.33 GHz, 1GB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, Internal Combo Drive, 56k Modem

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