If your reading this article its probably because you are in sticker shock over the prices of laptop computers these days, needless to say, they are outrageous. Apparently, laptop manufacturers think that every consumer interested in accessing the Internet needs high end graphics cards and the like, which is just not true. In fact many consumers would be happy with a good low priced laptop without the all of the bells and whistles just to get them by for the time being, so what are we to do? The answer to that is simple, by a second hand, or used, laptop with the hardware and software that you need and save a bundle of money that you can use for some of the more important things in life, like food and shelter.
Now as soon as I mentioned “second hand” or “used”, you probably cringed as alarms started going off in your head telling you that this is a bad idea, a used laptop won’t perform correctly or it won’t last very long. Well turn off the alarms and get rid of your sour, puckered look, because buying a second hand laptop is not only common for many budget minded consumers, but if you shop smart it is also perfectly safe. Below are some tips for you to use when shopping for a cheap, second hand laptop.
1) Know what you want. This is so important because unfortunately private sellers don’t use stickers that list all of the features for their laptop like the stores have. Actually, the chances of that seller even knowing what features the laptop has are pretty slim, think about it this way, if someone asked you what your hard drive speed is and how many gigabytes of ram it has, could you tell them? Probably not. So with all of this in mind, take a look at your local stores or manufacturer websites and see which laptops have what you want or need for your daily uses. Not only will this help you to make a more informed decision, it will also narrow down your searches and make it easier for you to find a cheap laptop that works best for you.
2) Shop around before buying. If you find a good deal you can’t wait to long before you decide to make the purchase, as the seller may decide to sell it to someone else. Contact the seller and let them know that you are interested in the laptop but that you need a couple of days before you can come by to look at it. This will buy you a little bit of time to shop around for an even better deal before you jump into this purchase. It is always in your interest to find the best deal you can before buying to avoid that ugly buyers remorse.
3) Try it before you buy it. Always remember this tip when you are buying from a private seller. Make sure the laptop works as the seller has described, if the laptop is not plugged in when you go to look at it, plug it in and try it. If the seller is unwilling to let you do this then just say no thank you and take your money elsewhere, because chances are pretty good that the seller is trying to hide an underlying problem. Even after using the laptop, should you decide you don’t like it or it doesn’t work right, don’t feel obligated to make the purchase, just be polite and thank them for the opportunity to try it out but you don’t feel that it is the right laptop for you.
4) Barter a little bit. Private sellers almost always have some “wiggle” room in their asking price. Use that to your advantage to get even bigger savings but at the same time you should be fair and understanding to their negotiations. Bartering works best if you don’t come off as overly eager, seem interested but not to interested and offer cash in hand. Cash will usually put a smile on a private sellers face and can quickly give them a change of heart on their asking price.
5) Get a receipt. This tip is so important that it could have been at number one, but then it would have broken my whole layout. Many consumers do not expect to receive a receipt of purchase from private sellers, so they never ask for one. Always get a receipt, especially on a private sale, even if you have to write it yourself and have the seller sign it. The receipt can be written on a napkin, it doesn’t matter so long as you have some record of the purchase, should any problems arise down the road. The best information to include is the amount paid, the item purchased, the names and signatures of both parties, and the described condition of the laptop. If two days after the purchase, you find a problem with the laptop the receipt will give you something to take to court if the seller is unwilling to refund you. Usually private sales are considered “as is” but the sellers description of the item will override that in a court of law.
Is there anything else I should know?
Always use your common sense and go with your gut feelings when purchasing anything that is used or second hand. If you don’t feel right about the seller or the item, just walk away and keep looking. Looking at an item and talking to the seller does not obligate you to buy it and usually a seller will understand that, after all, if you purchase something that you don’t want the burden will be on you.
There are plenty of places to find cheap second hand laptops, usually word of mouth works quite well, maybe a co-worker knows someone selling theirs, but you can also look at some of the online services to find one. Craigslist is a great place to get started, you can buy directly from someone in your area and you won’t have to pay any shipping costs. Craigslist also gives you the opportunity to meet with the seller and have a look at the laptop before you buy it. Another popular choice is eBay, however with this option you lose the advantage of seeing the laptop before buying it. If you choose to go with eBay, try contacting the seller before bidding, if the seller doesn’t respond they may not be very reliable and you should consider looking for another seller. Its also best practice to make your payments with PayPal, as they will cover your purchases up to a certain amount should there be a problem.
