Refurbished products are items that can't be sold as "new," but they're not really "used" either.



What does that mean? It means that any time a product is sent back to the manufacturer for any reason, it can no longer be sold as new. So refurbished items may be:



- customer returns

products returned by customers for any reason, even if the product in perfect condition



- products with cosmetic flaws

products that may be scratched, dented or otherwise minimally damaged on the way to the store or customer



- overstocked products

items that have been returned by a merchant to make room for other products



- demo or display models

products that have been used as demos or displays and then sent back to the manufacturer

After a product is sent back, the manufacturer doesn't just turn around and sell it as refurbished without doing anything. Rather, the product is inspected, restored (if necessary) to original factory specifications, and tested again to ensure that it still meets the standards required for a new product.



So it's now as good as new, but because it's been sent back to the factory for whatever reason, it must be sold as refurbished, or "refurb" for short. Other terms used to denote refurbished items are reconditioned or remanufactured.

Reconditioned products shouldn't be confused with used items. Here are some differences.



1. Refurbished products typically haven't been owned and used by another person. When you buy something that has been pre-owned, it generally means that the product has been used for a period of time. Refurbished products, on the other hand, typically haven't been used, or, if they have, it has been for a short period as a display or demo.



2. Used products don't typically come with manufacturer warranties, while refurbs do. Sometimes it will be the same length as a new product, while sometimes the warranty for the reconditioned item will be shorter.



3. Refurbished products will typically come in the same packaging as a new product, complete with all the same items you'd get in a new box.



The only thing used and refurbished products have in common is that whether you buy used or refurb, you'll pay less than you would pay for a new version of the same item.

1. Find the product you want. Read reviews, check out the specs and compare prices to find the product you want. Then search for deals on refurbished models. Don't settle for something less than you want simply to get a refurbished model.



3. Read the warranty. Factory refurbished products may have the same warranty as a new product or they may have a shorter one. Be sure you know what you're getting before you purchase.



3. Inspect the product upon delivery. You should always check your delivered products - new OR refurbished - upon delivery so you can contact the manufacturer if there are any problems.

The most popular reconditioned items are expensive electronics because people want to save money. Many folks know they can get great deals on refurbished iPods, notebook computers, digital cameras and other electronics. But you can also buy many other refurbs, from refurbished paintballs guns, exercise equipment and golf balls, to refurbished appliances.



Some manufacturers, such as Apple and Dell, offer refurbished items right through their website. Other places to buy refurbished items include Amazon, eBay, and Overstock.com.



The rest of this lens is devoted to showing you some of the many types of refurbished products available. Scroll down to find great deals on popular reconditioned items at Amazon and eBay.

What I'm about to tell you isn't secret and I'm sure I'm not the first person to come up with the idea. But if you're looking for a way to get a brand new, genuine (not bootleg) copy of an expensive software program and haven't already found a way to avoid those ridiculous prices, this lens might save you some money.



This method works well for expensive graphics and publishing software because these programs are generally so expensive, but the idea will work with any type of software program.



The secret is one word: upgrade. Even if you don't own the previous version, upgrading is still the secret to getting the latest version for much less. The reason is because you don't need to own the most recent previous version of a software program to upgrade. You can usually own the version that came out two or three upgrades before the current version.



To upgrade to the new Photoshop CS3, for instance, you don't need to own CS2. You can own an earlier version such as Photoshop 7.0. And this is where the savings come in.



Previous version software can often be purchased online at very deep discounts. People will sell their old, used copies - along with the legal right to use it - on eBay or other auction sites for a fraction of what the new software costs. You can buy these products cheaply and then legally upgrade to a brand new, genuine copy of the latest version for MUCH less than you'd pay to simply buy the latest version off the shelf.



Here's an example. The list price for Adobe Photoshop CS3 is $699. The previous version, CS2, is a bit hard to find and still not dirt cheap on eBay. But version 7.0 is easier to find and much cheaper. As I write this, you can buy copies of Photoshop 7.0 on eBay for about $150. If you purchased this old version and then went to Adobe.com and paid the full upgrade price of $199, you would save 50% off the full retail price of the latest version. And if you bought both the old version and the upgrade on eBay, your total cost would be much less.



Voila! You've just got the latest version of Photoshop (or any other software program) legally and cheaply. It's that simple.



At the bottom of this lens, you'll find listings of previous version software on eBay. Check it out and see how much you can save!

Buying previous version software and then upgrading to the current version is the best way for most people to get completely legal, full versions of expensive software. But if you're a student (or parent of one) or a teacher, you may have another option.



Some programs, such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk AutoCAD, and others, offer an academic version of their software for much less than the full retail price. The standard version of MS Office, for instance, has a retail price of $399. The Home and Student version has an MSRP of only $149. (And, of course, you can buy either version for much less than the full suggested retail online.) The student version doesn't include Outlook, but if you already have an email client, you won't be missing out on much.



If you're planning to buy the student/teacher version of any software, be sure to check the manufacturer's website for comparisons of the products to be sure you won't be missing out on any essential elements in the cheaper version.

OEM stands for "original equipment manufacturer" and the phrase is used to differentiate software that is packaged with hardware from software that is being sold separately. Buying and selling OEM software without the bundled hardware is illegal. However, it's definitely not uncommon on sites such as eBay.



The Software and Information Industry Association FAQ on piracy says, "OEM software is only distributed when sold with specified accompanying hardware. When these programs are copied and/or sold separately from the hardware, it is a violation of the license with the software publisher, and therefore illegal."



Illegal or not, you can find OEM sofware on eBay. If you see a current version of an expensive software program on eBay for a ridiculously low price, it is often OEM. The auction site's policies prohibit sellers from listing OEM software without the hardware, so sellers simply don't mention it. If in doubt, send the seller a message and ask if the software is OEM. And check the comments on his or her ratings. Some buyers might not give a bad rating because the sofware works, but they might leave a comment that will tip you off.



Although OEM software usually works, you probably won't be able to get technical help and upgrade it in the future, so the money you could save now will cost you down the road. And it's illegal, to boot, so if you want to save money and stay out of trouble, avoid OEM software. In the long run, it's not worth it.



For more info on copyright information regarding OEM software and academic software, read the SIIA Software Buying Guide.