So we all want to buy the latest gadgets, cars, furniture … but unfortunately not everyone has the money for these luxurious items and especially in a recession people don’t have the money to spend. My vice is gadgets, mainly phones, laptops, game consoles and mp3 players. If I were to buy first-hand in a store, everything that I have bought in the last few years, I would be deeply in debt. It’s not even funny! Well luckily I found a drug to quell the economic effects of my cravings, and I’m sure this tip will help many of you!
Buying second hand items will save you a lot of money, especially if you like and love electronics. Well, not only do they have a website and a magazine, they have absolutely everything! Cars, pets, gym equipment, clothing, gifts, electronics, the list goes on. There are numerous websites for buying and selling products online. I suggest you Google “Buy and sell in {insert your country / state here}”, and you should have some good options to choose from.
In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, basically people want to sell things, so they advertise them on these websites along with a description (and if they are nice, a photo!) And also some kind of contact information. . . Since the products are second-hand (occasionally new unwanted gifts, for example), the price will be lower compared to stores that sell them new, and everyone loves good bargains!
But be careful, because there are some opportunists who will try to sell you any old junk just to make a quick buck. And you won’t get any returns, after all, you bought it from a stranger, not a reputable store. I have some tips on what to consider from my own experience when purchasing items this way.
– make sure you get a good price. For the love of God, don’t pay more than the RRP (recommended retail price).
– meet in a public place
– make sure it’s the item you want, because “Tixy taxy no swap backsy!” is the normal arrangement.
– If it is in poor condition below expected standards, please do not buy it! Or you will regret it, believe me.
– If it is something like a laptop or a phone, please inspect it, make sure the camera is working, the keys are working, the screen is fine, etc.
– Beware of stolen goods, ask the seller if they have a receipt or reason for sale, generally your intuition will tell you if the person is trustworthy and genuine, or if they are a bit dubious and should be avoided.
– This is not really a “tip”, it is just my way of operating. I try to buy things that have not been opened and are new, or that have only been used for a short time. I hate having someone else’s scratches on my devices!
I’ve had a great time buying second-hand things, especially in the last two years. I recently bought an iPhone 3g for a great price, it was literally brand new. I mean there are no scratches, it didn’t even turn on before, and as most people know, the iPhone usually means an expensive contract or a very expensive price for a free version of Sim. All you had to do was unlock it and shazam. Also this netbook that I am using, bought 6 months ago, is in perfect condition and also, for a great price. But I’ve had a bad experience or two … but I guess you have to take the good with the bad.
In conclusion, think about buying second hand products, if it is not for you, that is fair enough, but if you really want to save a good amount of money, give it a try, just take my advice and use your common sense as well. 🙂 Also in some future posts, I will tell you some secrets on how to buy things, add extra functionality, fix them and make a good profit!