Refurbished or new in box?

Ocicat · 07-27-2018, 10:46 AM

Want to buy used Galaxy Tab S2 9.7".
Is it better to buy used, refurbished "Very good condition" or "New in unopened box"?
Worried about dead battery in new, never opened box, since tablet came out in spring 2016 or earlier; and assuming used has been properly recharged.

Hemmi · 07-27-2018, 10:52 PM

I usually go for refurbished. All depends on the price difference and my level of trust in the seller.

GlenBarrington · 07-27-2018, 10:58 PM

The warrantee makes a difference too!

meeera · 07-27-2018, 11:47 PM

I'll happily buy manufacturer refurbished with full warranty. From third parties, not so much.

dordale · 07-28-2018, 06:24 AM

I agree with meeera--really depends on who does the refurbishing. If it's manufacturer refurbished, I'm very comfortable with that. Third party refurbishers, not so much.

Ocicat · 07-28-2018, 05:43 PM

Thank you all! I shall try to find a manufacturer refurbished S2.

I have a Tab S 10.5", my main tablet, and it is slow browsing and freezing, it has too much data in storage and too many apps.
I have been unloading files to my small 8" S2, micro cards and Dropbox so I can do a factory reset on it.
But, I am not sure it will help, I think the Android Marshmallow upgrade was the cause.
The S3 improvements are not worth it to me, so I would be happy with another S2, just bigger, the 9.5".

Tarana · 08-30-2018, 12:01 AM

I also recommend refurbished as they test the battery. I also have bought stuff 3rd party - the battery didn't last because they never used it (which is why they sold it). One seller gave me a huge discount for an ipod because the battery wouldn't hold a charge. I keep meaning to replace that battery but my Mom always keeps it in a doc, so it's not been a problem.

Barbara1955 · 08-30-2018, 12:34 AM

I buy Only NEW

HarryT · 08-30-2018, 03:57 AM

Buying a "new" device that's been lying around for several years carries a high risk of major battery problems, as stated. If the charge on a lithium battery falls too low, it can adversely affect the battery's capacity.

pwalker8 · 08-30-2018, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Buying a "new" device that's been lying around for several years carries a high risk of major battery problems, as stated. If the charge on a lithium battery falls too low, it can adversely affect the battery's capacity.

Yes, if I were to buy new, I would prefer the current model rather than a device that has been sitting in a warehouse for the last two years. It almost sounds though, that you and I are talking about something different when you talk about buying new. I would never buy a "new" device from a third party unless they were an authorized dealer. Otherwise, you could be in a situation where that the warranty started when they bought the device, so there would be no warranty. I have had a bit of luck buying refurbished.

HarryT · 08-30-2018, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwalker8

It almost sounds though, that you and I are talking about something different when you talk about buying new.

I was referring to the choice posed by the original poster: "new in box" from 2016 vs. refurbished. Given that choice I'd personally opt for the latter.

John F · 08-30-2018, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Buying a "new" device that's been lying around for several years carries a high risk of major battery problems, as stated. If the charge on a lithium battery falls too low, it can adversely affect the battery's capacity.

If you are buying a "new" device like you describe, it isn't really "new", it is "old".

Barbara1955 · 08-30-2018, 11:04 AM

New in sealed box 2013 Fire HD 1 set 2 years in person draw I purchased when was 4 years old.... 2 god only knows it too was sealed got 1 year ago... Both have very powerful batteries. Amazon Phone 1st got in 2014 2nd got in March 2016 Both had strong batteries. When the 2nd on got so it was loosing charge 2 hours before the 1st one I got dumb an tried to have the batteries changed they destroyed them

.... Kobo Aura 6 inch model got new in box 18 months ago Still holding charge going strong!

BookCat · 08-30-2018, 02:00 PM

I bought a "used" laptop just before last Christmas; it was fine and still is. I suspect it was a rarely-used business model.
I'm not sure what the device is that you're thinking of buying. Is the battery easily user-replaceable?

07-27-2018, 10:46 AM	#1
Ocicat Groupie Posts: 167 Karma: 654320 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: USA-France Device: Librie,PRS900,950,K4, KT, PW1&2, KV	Refurbished or new in box? Want to buy used Galaxy Tab S2 9.7". Is it better to buy used, refurbished "Very good condition" or "New in unopened box"? Worried about dead battery in new, never opened box, since tablet came out in spring 2016 or earlier; and assuming used has been properly recharged.

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07-27-2018, 10:52 PM	#2
Hemmi Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,348 Karma: 15987608 Join Date: Apr 2015 Device: Sonys, Nooks, Kobo Libra, Forma, Mini, Paperwhite	I usually go for refurbished. All depends on the price difference and my level of trust in the seller.

07-27-2018, 10:58 PM	#3
GlenBarrington Cheese Whiz Posts: 1,986 Karma: 11677147 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Springfield, Illinois Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Tab A 10.1(2019), Pixel 6a.	The warrantee makes a difference too!

07-27-2018, 11:47 PM	#4
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,658 Karma: 66417824 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	I'll happily buy manufacturer refurbished with full warranty. From third parties, not so much.

07-28-2018, 06:24 AM	#5
dordale Wizard Posts: 1,731 Karma: 3472866 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony PRS-650 & 350; Kindle Voyage; Kobo Aura HD, Aura One, and Forma	I agree with meeera--really depends on who does the refurbishing. If it's manufacturer refurbished, I'm very comfortable with that. Third party refurbishers, not so much.

07-28-2018, 05:43 PM	#6
Ocicat Groupie Posts: 167 Karma: 654320 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: USA-France Device: Librie,PRS900,950,K4, KT, PW1&2, KV	Thank you all! I shall try to find a manufacturer refurbished S2. I have a Tab S 10.5", my main tablet, and it is slow browsing and freezing, it has too much data in storage and too many apps. I have been unloading files to my small 8" S2, micro cards and Dropbox so I can do a factory reset on it. But, I am not sure it will help, I think the Android Marshmallow upgrade was the cause. The S3 improvements are not worth it to me, so I would be happy with another S2, just bigger, the 9.5".

08-30-2018, 12:01 AM	#7
Tarana Wizard Posts: 3,977 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	I also recommend refurbished as they test the battery. I also have bought stuff 3rd party - the battery didn't last because they never used it (which is why they sold it). One seller gave me a huge discount for an ipod because the battery wouldn't hold a charge. I keep meaning to replace that battery but my Mom always keeps it in a doc, so it's not been a problem.

08-30-2018, 12:34 AM	#8
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,454 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	I buy Only NEW

08-30-2018, 03:57 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Buying a "new" device that's been lying around for several years carries a high risk of major battery problems, as stated. If the charge on a lithium battery falls too low, it can adversely affect the battery's capacity.

08-30-2018, 11:04 AM	#13
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,454 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	New in sealed box 2013 Fire HD 1 set 2 years in person draw I purchased when was 4 years old.... 2 god only knows it too was sealed got 1 year ago... Both have very powerful batteries. Amazon Phone 1st got in 2014 2nd got in March 2016 Both had strong batteries. When the 2nd on got so it was loosing charge 2 hours before the 1st one I got dumb an tried to have the batteries changed they destroyed them .... Kobo Aura 6 inch model got new in box 18 months ago Still holding charge going strong!

08-30-2018, 02:00 PM	#14
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	I bought a "used" laptop just before last Christmas; it was fine and still is. I suspect it was a rarely-used business model. I'm not sure what the device is that you're thinking of buying. Is the battery easily user-replaceable?