Now, everyone wants a good life – in fact, a very good one, – however, not everyone can afford it. It’s a fact! People around the world dream to acquire certain things they really crave for and in so doing make life a little smoother for themselves. However many times, they don’t often get to have exactly what they desire so they settle for something a little less glamorous.
That’s why we have second-hand items. In other words, these are items that have been used by other persons before who now want to sell them off for some reason.
In some cases, used items don’t get to last very long and can be a cause of grief to the new buyer because of their, sometimes, rusty nature and the fact that they have been used before. However, there are ways you can make sure you get cut a good deal when you buy second-hand stuff. You only need to know how.
That brings us to computers.
Laptops are some of the most sought-after technological creations in this age, especially among the youthful ones. But because many of these people do not really have enough funding to buy the kind of computers they want, they settle for fairly-used laptops. If you’re in this category, don’t worry, there are millions of people like you around the world who would rather settle for second-hand laptops than buy the new ones and there is a way you can go about getting your hands on a good fairly-used system that can last you a long time.
Below are some tips we have come up with on what to consider before actually buying your second-hand laptop.
1. Get To Know About The Laptop You’re Interested In
Do you know about laptops? Do you know the different kinds that are available on the market? So which of them do you want to have? These are questions you need to have an answer for. Realise that there is a second-hand version of whatever kind of laptop you’re looking for.
So, before you actually settle down to buy a laptop, you have to choose a brand and model of laptop you want and then familiarise yourself with what the laptop is really capable of doing. Go to google and try searching out the hardware specifications as well as the Operating System of the device. This way you won’t be cheated because you will know if the operating system on the one you’re interested in was downgraded before being sold off to you.
2. Get To Know The Original Price List For New Laptops
Before you buy a second-hand laptop try to research just how much it costs to buy the new version of the particular model and brand you’re going for. This way you won’t be cheated because you will know how to rightly go about bargaining with the seller of the fairly-used laptop on how much they will sell it to you. At least even if you don’t manage to come away with a totally fair price, you will definitely be able to get an average price sale afterward.
Remember not to pay too much. Fairly used laptops should naturally cost way less than new ones.
3. Check Out The Battery Immediately
Now, this is a very important part. Check out the batteries because there is really no need to buy a laptop if the battery is bad. You’ll only get frustrated in the long run and not get good value for your money. It is advisable to power up the laptop and watch out for just how long it takes for the battery to drain before you but the system.
A battery can give you an idea of just how long the seller has been using the laptop and possibly why he wants to get rid of it. If the battery is really bad, then the laptop must have been in his possession for quite a long time. However, this is not too certain because the seller could have decided to buy a new battery for the sake of selling the laptop to you.
It is also instructive to note that if you want to buy a second-hand laptop, you should be ready to buy a spare battery just in case.
4. Check Out The “Inside” Of The Computer
You have to do this one. Check the inside of the computer. By this, we mean the internal components.
Most times, you can tell if a laptop is old or not just by looking at it but you can’t tell how well it works that way, so you have to do some further checks. It is advisable for you to look at the “computer properties”. For PCs, you can do this by powering the system up and right clicking on “My Computer”. When you get to the properties, check out the sizes of the RAM and Hard Disc spaces. This way you will be able to see if what you’re being offered is what you bargained for; if it is what you originally desired to have.
These days it is advisable you go for a system with a 4gb RAM and 300gb Hard Disc space.
5. Use The System In The Presence Of The Seller
This is also important. Buying a second-hand laptop is a risky thing because there is a 50:50 chance that the system will fail you and just pack up soon after you may have bought it.
So, to save yourself from unpleasant developments, it is advisable to power up the laptop while the seller watches and use it for at least 30 minutes. While doing it, check if the browser works, surf the internet and see if the system slows down or not, check the power and other connection ports, the wifi, Bluetooth and even the amount of heat the laptop generates during usage.
Doing this can go a long way in saving you lots of stress in the long run.
6. Make Sure The Laptop Is A Genuine One
These days there are a lot of fake computers all over the place and you may never be able to tell until you’ve bought one of them and taken it home. Usually, this always turns out to be a devastating blow because you will not enjoy the device. Lots of people have fallen for scammers selling fake laptops just like people become victims of online dating scam.
So how do you confirm that the laptop is actually genuine? First of all, get the serial number or the product code. You can get this number when you right click on “My Computer” and check the properties.
See Also: Complete Guide To Buying Nigerian Used Cars
When you have gotten the serial number, you have to go and check out the manufacturer’s website and then try searching for the laptop using the serial number. After the page opens up, go ahead and confirm if the specification (specs) on the website actually matches the specs of the laptop which you are about to purchase.
This is very important. Also, make sure that the laptop is not a stolen one by asking the seller of the system for the original receipt he got when he first bought it. You’ll be protecting yourself by doing this.
