Looking for a new digital camera, but intimidated by the cost? One way that many chose to avoid the hefty price tag of new cameras is to buy a refurbished model. What, exactly, is a refurbished camera, you ask? Simple: it is a camera that has been returned to a store, retailer or manufacturer and then tested for problems and defects before being re-sold. In many cases, these cameras are essentially brand new, but certain laws and regulations restrict so called “open-box" products from being re-sold as new. This means that buying a refurbished camera can actually often mean buying a brand new camera that someone opened once on their birthday, then waited till his favorite aunt was safely out of the house before returning it to the store.



The so called “open box" rule means that if you investigate closely enough, you can actually purchase a brand new, top-of-the-line digital camera for a significantly reduced price, solely because someone else returned it out of its original packaging. Also, unlike buying a used camera, a factory refurbished camera should come with all the accessories that you would expect from a new product: owner’s/user’s manual, USB/Firewire connection, batteries, wrist strap, memory card, and even sometimes a protective case.

So why don’t more people buy refurbished digital cameras if they are just like new and yet are much cheaper? The fact is that most people don’t know these great deals exist at all. In fact, manufacturers and electronics stores keep “open box" and refurbished cameras hushed up because if you don’t know about them you’ll be much more likely to purchase a brand new, full price model, generating more revenue for the retailer. Of course, this is not the only reason you may not have considered buying a refurbished camera. There are, as with every good deal, some possible negative aspects to purchasing a refurbished camera.

The fact is that while many are returned unused or hardly used, some refurbished models have actually been used enough to need replacement parts or other repairs making the product’s system more vulnerable to defects and more likely to cause problems. Because refurbished cameras don’t specify the amount of use prior to return or the reason for return, consumers are often left in the dark. This fact has led to many urban legends of refurbished electronics malfunctioning, but the truth is, in most cases refurbished digital cameras are almost as good as new.

How do you make sure you purchase a reliable refurbished camera? The most important way to make sure you don’t end up with a poor product that malfunctions on you is to only consider refurbished products that include a manufacturers warranty for at least ninety days. This can prevent you from ending up with a broken camera that you are unable to return.

In spite of the possible negatives inherent in buying a product that admittedly may have been used before, the cost benefits and positives greatly outweigh the bad. Buying a refurbished digital camera can cut the cost significantly while still providing you with an excellent product. If you are considering buying a digital camera, be sure to check the internet and your local retailers for refurbished models – they are worth the time it takes to investigate.