Difference between "used" and "refurbished"

[Hyp81]

I was wondering if anyone can help me sort this out... I'd like to purchase a Super Nintendo System off of eBay. I know "refurbished" means "fixed up," whereas used just means someone has owned it previously, but is one better or worse than the other? Refurbished seems to get about $20-30 a system on eBay, but it this because they are MORE likely to last? If it had to be refurbished does that mean it had issues that may come up again in the future?

Thanks, I do appreciate the help as I get started (again!) in "retro" gaming!

[noiseredux]

refurbished usually means "repaired." At least that's how I take it.

[Inazuma]

I was wondering if anyone can help me sort this out... I'd like to purchase a Super Nintendo System off of eBay. I know "refurbished" means "fixed up," whereas used just means someone has owned it previously, but is one better or worse than the other? Refurbished seems to get about $20-30 a system on eBay, but it this because they are MORE likely to last? If it had to be refurbished does that mean it had issues that may come up again in the future?

Thanks, I do appreciate the help as I get started (again!) in "retro" gaming!

Everything refurbished is used but not everything used is refurbished.

Refurbished just means it was tested and it works. At least, that's what I think it means.

[Hyp81]

refurbished usually means "repaired." At least that's how I take it.

I guess that is what I am most concerned about. Repaired means it's HAD a problem, for sure, in the past. What are the chances of that issue happening again? Who knows...

But, as was pointed out, and as my fiance pointed out, refurbished has to at least mean "restored to working condition."

[noiseredux]

yeah I mean the repair could have been anything. A reset button fell out? We refurbished it. Now it has a button again.

[KillerJuan77]

Refurbished products are incredibly similar to buying a new product but with a cheaper price. Used products are products that have been used and that may or may not work.

[flamepanther]

Whether "refurbished" means it will last longer really depends on what the refurbishing was, how well it was done, and why the refurbishing was necessary. For example, if I replace a non-working connector in a front-loading NES, it is now refurbished. Depending on whether or not the new connector is of good or poor quality, it might be less likely to stop working than a non-refurbished "used" NES, or it might be more likely to fail. A DS Lite that formerly had the hinge cracking problem and was given a new OEM shell that was made after the hinge flaw was fixed will be less likely to give you trouble than a used DS Lite that may or may not have the corrected hinge molding. A refurbished XBOX 360 that used to have RRoD but was "refurbished" by someone who managed to get the same substandard low-temperature solder back where it belongs is much more likely to fail than a used 360 that has never managed to melt down its own solder.

[vlame]

just beware of products sold AS-IS.

[Inazuma]

just beware of products sold AS-IS.

As Is = Broken, destroyed, dirty, in absolutely horrid condition, and I refuse to give you your money back when you realize it.

[flamepanther]

just beware of products sold AS-IS.

That's code for "it's broken, sucka! NO REFUNDS!"