What is Amazon Renewed and is it worth it?

Buying new electronics and appliances can be expensive. If you’re open to second-hand, Amazon Renewed is an option to consider. It sells pre-owned electronics, appliances and more at second-hand prices, with none of the risk of a backyard garage sale.

What makes Amazon Renewed an enticing choice for shoppers is that its products are professionally tested and refurbished. They must also pass a series of quality checks before they’re sold on Amazon, so you know you’re not buying a dud. But are the savings really worth it, or are you better off shopping brand new?

How much you could save

We looked at three Amazon Renewed products and compared them to the same products sold brand new at competitor retailers to see how much you could save.

iphone

Amazon Renewed | iphone 15 128GB – $821

Harvey Norman | iphone 15 128GB – $1,097

Price difference – $276

Nintendo Switch

Amazon Renewed | Nintendo Switch OLED Model 64GB – $449

JB HI FI | Nintendo Switch OLED Model 64GB – $539

Price difference – $90

Microsoft Surface laptop

Amazon Renewed | Microsoft Surface Laptop Copilot+ PC 13 – $1,409

Officeworks | Microsoft Surface Laptop Copilot+ PC 13 – $1,697

Price difference – $288

How Amazon Renewed works

Where Amazon Renewed products come from

The products on Amazon Renewed are sold by either the manufacturer or a specialised third-party refurbisher, and could come from a number of potential sources, such as:

• Customer returns
• Display models
• Products with package damage
• Damaged items repaired with harvested parts (not including Apple products)

For repaired products, all components must be Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts. However, accessories that come with the product, like charging cables, may be generic.

How Amazon Renewed products are refurbished

Before they can be sold, Amazon Renewed products are tested, cleaned, repaired if necessary and repackaged. All items must meet a strict criteria to be listed on the Amazon store, which will vary between product types. Here are some of the product quality requirements that may apply:

• Batteries: All products with batteries must have at least 80% battery capacity.
• Data: All devices must be restored to factory settings with previous user data wiped.
• Display: Any screens can’t have dead or frozen pixels or show signs of dimming.
• Markings: All external markings and logos must be visible. Products can’t have added markings or engravings. (e.g. faded keyboard keys or phone engravings)
• Speakers and microphones: Audio can’t show any signs of humming, cracking or buzzing.
• Cords and cables: Device cords and cables can’t show any signs of cracking or exposed wires.

How Amazon Renewed products are graded

Separate to the product quality standards, Amazon categorises its refurbished products into cosmetic grades based on their appearance. While the standards vary between product types, here are the three grades and what they typically look like:

• Excellent: No damage to the product’s screen and no visible damage to the body when viewed from 30cm away.
• Good condition: No damage to the product’s screen and light scratching visible on the body from 30cm away
• Acceptable condition: A small number of superficial scratches to the screen; invisible when turned on. The body may have visible scratches and up to three  minor dents.

Amazon Renewed warranty

When you buy an Amazon Renewed product, you’ll be given a 12-month warranty as a minimum, which is separate to the rights you hold under Australian Consumer Law. This means you will receive a replacement product or refund for any defective product within 12 months of your purchase.

To apply for a refund or replacement for an Amazon Renewed product, simply navigate to the ‘Your Orders’ page, click the ‘Problem with your order’ button, and then request a refund or replacement.