Used Electronics

Used Electronics: a reader asks…

I have the chance of getting a second hand Onkyo HT-R558, should I get it? What are the pitfalls?

Used electronic equipment can be tricky, you never know what’s happened to it. While used cars can be examined for evidence of previous crashes/damage, most times electronic equipment can’t. Your best bet is to try before you buy. You should visit the seller and they should have the receiver hooked up to a TV, speakers and some components. It would help to bring something with you like an Amazon Firestick, Google Chromecast or Apple TV.

In addition to having the seller demonstrate that everything works, you can connect your component and test it out. Be sure to test each of the HDMI inputs (on that Onkyo receiver there are four) to make sure they all work. You can also check for obvious physical damage such as dents in the case, burn marks, a wiff of burned electronics, etc. If everything works otherwise, those might be points to negotiate on price in your favor. A missing owner’s manual may not be that important since most companies put their manuals online.

For other used electronics, some things to watch for are worn-out batteries, non-working buttons or ports, and missing connectors or cables. For used computers, you really need to look at the system very carefully to make sure there’s nothing seriously wrong. For example, the computer might not have a legitimate copy of the operating system on it, or other pirated software. You can assume that a laptop’s battery isn’t holding a good charge, and the hard drive may be at the end of its service life. Both those are usually easy to replace, although it will cost you some cash.

For smartphones and tablets, beware of buying older devices unless the price is really low. Apple iPhones before the iPhone 5s are generally not worth much, and Android smartphones more than 2 years old should be avoided because of security concerns. Tablets older than 2-3 years are probably not worth what someone wants you to pay.

Like most anything, let the buyer beware. If anything about the deal smells funny, walk away. That Onkyo receiver may have cost hundreds of dollars, but 2nd hand it’s probably worth less than $100. If it comes with 5.1 speakers (and they all work ok without distortion) it might be worth a little more. But you can look online and find new Onkyo surround sound systems for under $400. Before you buy anything used, take a look at what’s available new. Take the time to compare features and costs, and then consider whether you can be happy with older technology.