Buying a Used Computer Tips

Buying a used computer doesn’ t need to be a difficult experience. If you follow a few steps you’ll have an enjoyable used computer shopping experience that results in having a great second-hand computer! Step One: Before you even think about buying a computer you see advertised in the newspaper or Ebay, you should check with your technology-savvy friends, family, and co-workers about what sort of things you should be looking for in a used computer. They can point you in the right direction and narrow your search to specific brands and features. Step Two: Use the power of the internet to see what people are paying for used computers. Note the brand of computer and the features of the computer as you look at the prices. There is no reputable list you can refer to for reasonable prices for used computers, so do your homework and research what the average selling prices are for different systems. This will help you decide if the asking price on a used computer you are interested in is reasonable or not. Step Three: Try to buy a computer from someone local, so that you can look at the computer yourself before you purchase it. When you buy a used computer online, you aren’t able to pick the computer up, check it out thoroughly and see if there are signs of damage or excessive wear and tear. You might get stuck with something completely different from the seller’s description when you make a purchase online. So whenever possible, buy a used computer local, and insist on checking it out thoroughly before you hand over any money. Step Four: When you buy a used computer, you want to be sure the sale includes all of the software and manuals that came with the computer. You will want the original operating system software discs and licenses. You’ll want discs and licenses, as well as user manuals for all applications that are on the computer. Step Five: Remember that nothing depreciates faster than a computer system! If the seller of a used computer system keeps telling you how much they paid for it, don’t be concerned with the original price of a computer! It’s only important how much the used computer is worth “TODAY”, and the price should be reasonable based on today’s standards of that specific computer and it’s features. Step Six: Be wary of purchasing used printers- they often have broken parts inside that you’d never know until you connected it and tried to use it. Following these steps can help you make a used computer purchase from another individual successfully! You may want to consider buying refurbished computers from the manufacturer of the brand you are interested in- these are low cost alternatives to buying new, but often have manufacturer warranties to protect you if something goes wrong.