Guide Helps You Shop Used Electronics and Have A Greener Holiday

With supply chain issues limiting options, CALPIRG’s updated holiday guide helps you shop for repaired or refurbished electronics.

CALPIRG

This holiday season, you can avoid shipping delays and backorders from global supply shortages while paying even less than you would on Black Friday for electronics, if you buy them used and refurbished. “Fixed for the Holidays” helps consumers purchase used items with confidence — detailing what to buy, how to know if you are getting a good deal and where to shop. 

“Not only can you save 20 percent or more by shopping refurbished, buying used products is also better for the environment and cuts waste,” added Sander Kushen, CALPIRG Advocate. “It’s a win-win for the person getting the electronics and his or her community.” 

Our guide has tips including: 

• Four tips on what makes a good refurbished gift.

• The risks you might encounter in buying used products.

• Where to shop for refurbished electronics.

• How to know if you are getting a good price. 

• How to get your money back if there are issues. 

Refurbished electronics are only available when people have the tools and knowledge to repair used products. CALPIRG supports “Right to Repair” reforms to require manufacturers to give consumers and third parties access to the parts and information necessary to fix our electronics. 

CALPIRG reached out to California-based repair shops to hear their perspective on why consumers should consider refurbished gifts this holiday season: 

• Brian Fox, Director of Reuse at Homeboy Electronics Recycling in Los Angeles, commented: “For the most part electronics have many lives left in them and unfortunately people tend to get infatuated with the marketing of the latest and greatest, even though typically it’s barely better than stuff made a few years ago.”

• Olivia Webb from iFixit, an e-commerce and how-to website which sells repair parts, told CALPIRG: “Refurbished devices are a great and often underrated gift option. Buying refurbished tech keeps more devices out of the landfill for longer, and is much easier on your wallet. If you want to make your gift a little extra special, consider adding on some replacement batteries for when the battery eventually dies—keeping the device alive even longer!”

Sander Kushen from CALPIRG summarized: “Repair cuts costs for consumers and cuts down on the electronics headed for the scrap heap. Buying refurbished is a great way to support the right to repair.”