Refurbished and second-hand are often confused. In both cases, you buy a device that has already been used. However, there is a big difference. You buy a second-hand device as it is. A refurbished device is checked first, repaired where necessary and prepared for use again. And you get a guarantee with it.
Second-hand: buy it as it is
Are you buying a second-hand device, for example through an online marketplace or from someone you know? Then you receive the device in the condition in which the previous owner is selling it. Nobody has professionally tested it. You are therefore dependent on what the seller tells you and on what you see yourself when you briefly have the device in your hands.
This comes with a few risks:
- Hidden defects: you often only notice a weak battery, a malfunctioning microphone or a camera that does not focus after a few days.
- No guarantee: does the device break after a week? Then you are usually left to deal with it yourself.
- Accounts and locks: is the device still linked to the previous owner's account? Then you cannot use it.
- Unknown origin: you do not always know for certain where the device came from.
- No cooling-off period: if you buy from a private individual, you cannot simply return the device if you are disappointed.
Refurbished: checked and guaranteed
You buy a refurbished device from a professional provider. They make sure that the device does what it is supposed to do before it reaches you. At Forza, every device follows a fixed process:
- Testing: every device is tested based on 50 technical points by robots and controllers.
- Repairing: if anything is found, our technicians repair it in our own workshop.
- Clear condition: you can see the condition of each device in advance.
The differences at a glance
| Second-hand (private seller) | Refurbished at Forza | |
|---|---|---|
| Professionally tested | No | Yes, 50-point test |
| Repaired where necessary | No | Yes, in our own workshop |
| Guarantee | No | 3 years |
| Cooling-off period | No | 14 days |
| Condition clear in advance | Depends on the seller | Yes |
| Help with questions or problems | Depends on the seller | Our service desk |
| Quality mark | No | Refurbished Quality Mark |
Peace of mind after your purchase
You often only notice the biggest difference after your purchase. At Forza, you get a 3-year guarantee on every refurbished device. If something goes wrong within that period, we will help you. And are you still not happy with your device? Then you have 14 days to return it.
You can also always contact our service desk on working days via WhatsApp, chat, telephone and email.
How can you recognise a reliable refurbished provider?
Not every seller who uses the word refurbished works in the same way. So look out for quality marks. Forza has the Refurbished Quality Mark, the Dutch quality mark for refurbished devices. We also carry the Thuiswinkel Waarborg and Becom Trustmark. You can read more about these in the article Which quality marks does Forza have?
Checked, repaired, guaranteed. This is refurbished.