Buying items on Ebay can be rewarding and can save you hundreds to thousands, but there are several key words to be careful about when bidding on them.  There are many different types of aftermarket and factory 'reconditioning/refurbishment' and it would serve you well to be aware of the differences.  Most consumer electronics manufacturers have subcontractors that do factory repairs, service, refurbishment and reconditioning, but there are also third-party refurbishment and reconditioning companies that may or may not be factory approved.  My goal is to make you aware of the differences in symantics that can substantially change the value of the item you're considering bidding on. The major words to be aware of are:

1. "Factory Refurbished or Refurbished"

 - Some sellers have businesses that actually do repairs in-house and some are not "Factory Approved Refurbishment Centers".  What this means to you is that although in general they will do a good job, they may be using used parts, such as a screen or keypad taken from a dead or returned phone.  Generally these items will not have as good a quality as one that is stated as "Factory Refurbished.  Some major players in the consumer electronics have repair centers or subcontactors, such as Nokia, who uses Solectron and Jabil to do their rework and refurbishment.  These are usually priced at the same point as privately refurbished items, but will have a better quality and may have a factory warranty.

2."Factory Reconditioned or Reconditioned"

- Items that are listed as "Reconditioned or Factory Reconditioned" are generally items that were returned to the original equipment manufacturer due to failure or lease return, and have been serviced to the factory original specification.  Generally these are the best deals on the internet, as they usually carry the full factory warranty.

3. The Difference between "Factory Reconditioned" and "Refurbished"

-Generally, "Factory Reconditioned" items are of a higher quality than "Refurbished" items, and carry a factory warranty.  Be sure that when bidding you are aware of the warranty that is offered with the item, and if the seller offers a secondary or third-party warranty as well.  Also, "Refurbished" items are generally older, legacy technology that was used by an end-user and returned to the factory or seller on a trade or bought in a lot.  This is common with Laptop and Desktop PCs as most of the components are interchangeable with other brands, such as hard drives, memory, and peripherals.  This could mean that the device you purchase can contain parts that may or may not be approved by the original equipment manufacturer.

4. "Blemished/Open Box"

- Some refurbished items, even "Factory Refurbished or Factory Reconditioned" items, will be described as "blemished" or "open box", and this can range from scratches on the screen of a PDA or phone to just having little rub marks or permanent marker on the casings.  It's always a good idea to contact the seller and get details on the 'blemishes' or the condition of an item in an "open box" to be sure that it does not effect the functionality or overall value of the item you are bidding on. Nothing is worse than being surprised!

In conclusion, if you are thinking of bidding on an item listed as "Refurbished/Factory Refurbished" or "Reconditioned/Factory Reconditioned", make sure to be aware of the warranties, condition of the item, and if no prictures are present that you contact the seller for photos.  At the end of the day, always use the golden rule of "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!"

// fujiseller has been involved with the engineering and channel development of consumer and b2b electronics for 12 years, and services factory repair centers for many of the major consumer electronics manufacturers such as Lexmark, Nokia, Cisco, LG and Ford Motor Company. //