I’m a tech expert. Here’s how I save hundreds on like-new gadgets

As a tech journalist who also runs a free tech advice newsletter, I maintain a pretty lean operation. I’m always buying more tech for “research purposes,” but I’m reluctant to pay anything close to full price when I do.

Waiting around for deals is one way to defray the costs. But what if I need something now? Or what if the deals aren’t good enough? That’s when I turn to the used, refurbished, and open-box markets.

If you know where to look — and what to look for — you can essentially will your own price cuts into existence and still get good-as-new gadgets.

Here are my go-to sources for acquiring used, refurbished, and open-box gadgets on the cheap. At the end of this article, I also share a few tips and warnings to be aware of before you go shopping.

This story first appeared in Advisorator, Jared’s weekly tech advice newsletter. Sign up to learn new tech tricks every Tuesday.

Best Buy’s Open Box deals

Jared Newman / Foundry

For an easy way to save money on practically any tech product, click the Open Box option on any Best Buy product page. This takes you to a Buying Options section with discounts for returned items. The Open Box Excellent option promises like-new condition with all original accessories.

The best thing about Best Buy’s open-box deals is that they factor in current sale prices. For example, if a brand-new iPad is on sale for $100 off, you still get that discount on open-box models. (I recently saved $194 on an iPad Mini using this method, and while the box it came in was a bit worn, the tablet itself was pristine.)

The Best Buy route pairs well with big-ticket items that are often on sale, such as laptops, monitors, TVs, tablets, and Apple Watches. If the quality of an open-box model isn’t to your liking, you have 15 days to return it for free (either in store or by mail). Open-box products also include a standard one-year warranty in case anything goes wrong.

Amazon’s Used section

Jared Newman / Foundry

Like Best Buy, Amazon also offers used options on product pages — but unlike Best Buy, Amazon’s used products are seldom eligible for whatever deals are going on for their brand-new counterparts.

Even so, I’ve found the used options to be worthwhile when I need some sort of accessory — like a USB hub or Ethernet splitter — and can’t wait around for a sale.

Amazon’s 30-day return policy still applies to used gear, and the ability to drop off returns at UPS or Kohl’s stores is convenient. However, note that Amazon doesn’t offer any warranties beyond the return period.

Just look for the Save with Used option on any product page. If buying from a third-party seller, check that they have a high number of positive ratings. Also, note that some options may not include Prime shipping.

Swappa for cheap used gear

Jared Newman / Foundry

Swappa is an online marketplace for buying and selling used gadgets. Sellers list their devices for however much they want to charge, and buyers can browse those listings to find products by type, brand, condition, color, specs, etc.

While Swappa is best known for smartphone deals, don’t sleep on its laptop page, where you’ll find big discounts on MacBooks, Windows PCs, and Chromebooks. The site’s smartwatch and tablet sections are worth a look as well.

The big caveat with Swappa is that you don’t get any kind of warranty with your purchase, and most sellers won’t accept free returns unless the item isn’t as described. (Even then, the back-and-forth can be a pain.) If you’re willing to shoulder that risk, the savings can be significant.