Shopping for refurbished tech is a great way to save money, and can be pretty simple with these tips

Purchasing refurbished electronics is a highly effective way to reduce costs, though it can be intimidating for those new to the process. As shopping experts, we are familiar with a wide range of online marketplaces, and eBay stands out as a premier destination for pre-owned and refurbished goods. Major brands and retailers, including Best Buy, Dyson, and Bose, maintain their own eBay storefronts, providing access to refurbished inventory often at prices lower than those found on their primary websites. Below are our recommendations for saving money on technology by shopping for refurbished items.

eBay categorizes tech products as new, used, or refurbished. Here is how those labels differ:

New: A brand-new, unopened item in its original packaging.

Used: These products have been returned by a previous owner and might show signs of wear. They generally do not include a warranty and may or may not have been tested for full functionality, depending on the seller.

Refurbished: These are items that have been returned or sold and subsequently restored to working order, often through component replacements—such as a new battery—or a comprehensive inspection. eBay vets all sellers in this category.

Certified refurbished: eBay defines this as products “in pristine, like-new condition” that have been “professionally inspected, cleaned, and refurbished to original specifications by the manufacturer or a manufacturer-approved vendor.” Sellers must apply specifically to the certified refurbished program to list items under this designation.

eBay features a vast selection of refurbished tech, including smartphones, gaming consoles, and home appliances. “These items are usually restored to working condition and come with a limited warranty,” says Ray Chehova, the director of business development at GuaranteeCellular, a top-rated seller on eBay that has sold over a million products.

To begin, use the eBay search bar to find the item you want. Then, select your preferred condition from the filter options.

The “condition” menu allows you to toggle between new, open box, used, refurbished, and other categories based on your search.

Refurbished electronics are often graded by condition, such as excellent, very good, or good. Check the item’s specifications and condition, read the seller’s description thoroughly, says Chehova, and compare the listing to similar ones to ensure you are paying a fair price.

From there, you can complete your purchase just as you would on any other major retail site.

If you prefer to shop exclusively for certified-refurbished goods, eBay provides a dedicated landing page to streamline your search.

This is one of the best hair dryers available, and it is discounted by more than 50% when purchased from Dyson’s official eBay refurbished page. Hairstylists we interviewed and NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson say it prevents heat damage and keeps hair healthy.

These are excellent over-ear headphones for noise-cancelling, especially at this sub-$200 price.

This is an older Garmin watch, but it still retains most of the brand’s best training and navigation features at a much lower price than similar new models, which often cost over $700.

This portable power station comes certified refurbished from the brand, and could make for a good energy backup for appliances like refrigerators during a power outage.

A good standing mixer is expensive, so buying one refurbished can be a great way to save. This model is 50% off and comes certified refurbished from KitchenAid.

Dyson products are notoriously pricey, but much less so when you buy refurbished. This cordless vacuum is 62% off right now, and is sold directly from the brand

I often double check sale prices on new versus refurbished products. This robot vacuum is deeply discounted new (36% off right now), but still, not as discounted as buying refurbished (61% off).

Shopping on eBay for the first time can feel more complicated than on other retailers, especially if you are buying something in a condition other than certified refurbished. Our expert recommends keeping the following in mind as you shop:

Check seller ratings: “Always check a seller’s feedback and ratings before making a purchase,” says Chehova. “This will give you an idea of their reliability and help you avoid potential issues.”

Read the item description: Sellers might provide inaccurate or incomplete descriptions so it’s best to do a thorough read through of your item’s description page before you bid on or buy it, according to our experts. If you’re confused about something you read in a listing, your best bet is to ask the seller a question directly

Check the product’s condition: Again, eBay sells tech products new, used, refurbished and certified refurbished.

Check the return policy: Some sellers may have strict or no-return policies, which could impact your ability to send back an item if you’re unsatisfied with it.

Beware of empty box scams: This occurs when sellers list a high-ticket, often hard-to-find item for an unbelievably low price. When you see something like this, read the product description, check the photos of the items and look at the seller rating so you know you’re not getting scammed.

Yes, you can check out as a guest on eBay. You can only do this for items available as Buy Now, not listed as Auctions.

As the buyer, you will pay the quoted shipping fee you’re given upon checkout. The seller will then use those fees to buy the item’s shipping label (it’s the seller’s responsibility to pack and ship all items to buyers).

Many refurbished products from popular brands are available for purchase, not auction. Still, if you are interested in purchasing used or vintage tech, you’ll sometimes see the “bid” option instead of “buy now.’ You’ll need an eBay account to place a bid on such products.

On auction listings, you can see the current bid and choose to submit one of your own. Based on your maximum bid, eBay uses ‘proxy bidding’ to manage the process automatically. When you place your maximum bid, eBay will automatically place bids on your behalf, in the smallest possible increments, up to your maximum amount, says Chehova. “This ensures that you remain the highest bidder until someone else places a higher maximum bid or the auction ends.

If someone outbids you, eBay will send you a notification still want the product

If your bid wins at the end of the auction, you must purchase it. eBay will send you a link to your email to complete the purchase.

If you want a better chance of winning an auction, try placing a bid a few minutes before the auction ends; that way, you’ll have a more competitive offer, according to our expert and our experience shopping on eBay.

Ray Chehova is the director of business development at GuaranteeCellular, a top-rated seller on eBay that has sold over a million products.