How charities can find refurbished tech

What is refurbished tech? 

There is no strict definition of refurbished tech. The tech equipment in question is usually desktop and laptop computers, printers, tablets, and smart phones.  

Often these items are second-hand but have either been repaired or have had parts that are prone to failure such as batteries and hard drives replaced with new ones. In many cases the outer shells of the product have also been replaced, so that they look brand new. 

But, in plenty of cases, the “refurbished” items are actually brand new. The packaging may have been damaged after sitting in a warehouse for too long, or the item may simply have been discontinued by the manufacturer.  

In some cases, the item may have been sold, the packaging removed by the buyer, and then returned either unused or after a few hours’ use.  

But, in all of these cases, the new goods are repackaged and classified as refurbished. 

Is refurbished tech as good as new? 

In many cases, refurbished tech is new, so there’s no reason why your charity shouldn’t be able to rely on it. But let’s not forget that even new tech equipment can sometimes be faulty. 

That’s why it’s sensible to buy refurbished tech from sellers that accept returns and offer a warranty on their products – just as you would expect if you were buying new tech equipment.   

That way you are covered if what you receive is not up to the standard that you expected, or if it turns out to be less reliable than you were counting on.  

What are the benefits of refurbished tech? 

The main benefit is low cost. Buying refurbished tech will enable your charity to save significant amounts, without having to sacrifice reliability. Or, put another way, by opting for refurbished tech, your charity can acquire more equipment for any given budget, ensuring that more staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries have access to the tools they need for your charity to carry out its work. When combined with low cost software, your charity can make really major savings on its IT systems.

Buying refurbished tech is also more environmentally friendly, as it reduces the amount electronic waste that has to be discarded, and saves on energy usage that would otherwise have taken place during the manufacturing of new items, and their transportation to market. 

It’s also worth mentioning that many refurbishment programs are run by charitable organisations or social enterprises themselves. By acquiring refurbished tech products, your charity can establish partnerships and collaborations with these organisations, leading to further support, networking opportunities, and potential access to other resources. 

So where can your charity get refurbished tech from? 

Some manufacturers and large companies sell refurbished tech equipment directly to charities and the general public.

These include the below. 

Apple Store – all refurbished Apple products come with a one-year warranty and free returns. All refurbished iPhones and iPads have new batteries and outer shell fitted. 

Dell Outlet – all laptops, desktops and servers come with the same hardware warranty as if bought new, with a 14-day return period. Pick from products that are new, ones that are refurbished like new, or ones that have scratches and dents but work like new. 

Amazon Renewed and Amazon Warehouse – these two Amazon outlets offer old stock, refurbs and customer returns from tech vendors including Dell, Apple, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung. All products have statutory legal warranty and free returns.  

EuroPC – one of the UK’s biggest refurbished computer vendors. Most stock is from cancelled business orders, excess stock, and computers refurbished by manufacturers such as Dell, HP, and Acer. Products include next day warranty and 14 day money back guarantee. 

Charities and other organisations offering low-cost refurbished IT

There are plenty of great organisations offering low-cost IT. Some of our favourites are below.  

CCL North – IT equipment refurbishment and reuse, equipment resale, revenue returns. 

Computers 4 Charity – A registered UK charity that provides end-to-end PC, computer, and laptop refurbishment and reuse and offers a whole new dimension to corporate and individual environmental and social responsibility. 

LAMH Recycle – Offers new build and refurbished PC hardware systems. 

ResponsibleIT – Recycles PCs and gives them out to third sector organisations. 

YCS Computers – sells and donates refurbished computers to charities and NGOs. 

Aspire-Sheffield – Sells computer equipment (to support mission goals) donated by businesses and individuals. 

VPW Systems (UK) Ltd – Refurbishes PCs, laptops and server systems and provides recycled network switches, routers, rack cabinets and other equipment. 

Highridge.net – Sells recycled PCs. 

Bargain Hardware – Specialises in new, used and refurbished HP ProLiant, Dell PowerEdge and IBM servers, workstations and desktop PCs.