Second-hand computers and hardware: what grades A, B and C mean and how to buy without risk

Why second-hand at all

Business computers and laptops are retired after three to five years not because they are worn out but because the lease or depreciation ended. They are built for continuous use, have better parts than cheap consumer models and, cleaned and checked, serve another five years. The same goes for returned, opened or demo units: goods as new, priced below a new one.

Condition grades: what exactly they mean

Grade	What it is	What to expect
A	Opened, returned or with damaged packaging; a demo unit without signs of use	Looks new, complete, fully functional
B	Used, refurbished, demo or manufacturer-recertified	Minor signs of use (scuffs, shiny keys), fully functional, complete
C	A used unit with visible damage that does not affect function	Scratches, a dent, a worn corner; function verified, markedly lower price

The grade is stated on every item together with a condition note saying what exactly is on it. What is not in the note is not on the item.

At least 12 months of warranty

Every second-hand item carries at least 12 months of warranty – manufacturer-recertified units longer, as the maker provides. Claims are handled with us like for new goods. For used goods this is the condition without which a bazaar makes no sense: the saving must not be bought with risk.

Always cheaper than new

A second-hand item here must be cheaper than the same new item in our range; as soon as it is not (the new one got cheaper), we withdraw it. Where we have a new counterpart, the saving is shown on the card.

Where second-hand pays off most

• Business laptops from the business lines: solid chassis, good keyboards, easy servicing, available spare parts. For the price of a cheap new laptop you get a machine two classes better.
• Office desktops – small, quiet, with processors that serve an office for another five years; we swap the drive for an SSD and add memory.
• Monitors – age does not matter for a display without image faults, which we check.
• Network gear and servers retired from companies – for a home network or a small business at a fraction of the price.

What to consider

• A used laptop's battery has less capacity; where we know it, it is in the note. Replacement is easy on business lines and batteries are available.
• The performance of a 2020 business computer suits office, web and video, not games – for those there is the configurator.
• Windows: refurbished computers ship with a legal licence when the card says so.

How to buy

The bazaar is kept apart from new goods: Bazaar with filters by grade and category. A new product's card links "also available used" when a cheaper used counterpart exists. Collect in Písek and inspect the item before paying; when shipped, the 14-day return right applies as for new goods.