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Amazon—vast, wild and hard to comprehend. Nope, we’re not talking about the rainforest.
The very idea of Amazon Renewed may have customers scratching their heads in confusion. From a company that basically wrote the book on mass production of new, high-quality products, the idea of Amazon selling refurbished goods may sound a bit strange.
With Amazon’s marketplace multiplying every day, it can feel nearly impossible to understand the vast array of products the company offers. In addition to their standard page, Amazon has branched out and created individual subsets of the company that offer a more specific selection of goods and services, such as its movie and TV studios and fresh food delivery.
In recent years, you might have heard the buzz about one of Amazon’s latest ventures: Amazon Renewed. But what does Renewed mean on Amazon? Launched in 2017, Amazon Renewed came as a response to the growing popularity of purchasing pre-owned, refurbished and open-box products. As I turns out, consumers discovered that buying previously owned products is better for the environment, cost-efficient even without coupons and often results in a more unique selection to choose from.
These open-box product options can range anywhere from a refurbished model of a vacuum to refurbished electronics like a refurbished phone, refurbished laptop, refurbished headphones, refurbished computer, or other refurbished device listings. For more Amazon savings tips, check out our article on getting the best Amazon subscribe and save deals!
The pervasive stigma of owning a pre-owned or “second-hand” product has been replaced with excitement for buying perfectly good items that have undergone an extra layer of quality control.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what Amazon Renewed offers. If your interest has been piqued, and you want to learn more, read on for everything you need to know about Amazon Renewed!
What is a Renewed Product on Amazon?
A renewed product is a high-quality, good-as-new article that may belong to one of three categories: pre-owned, refurbished or open-box. A pre-owned item may have been used by another customer, but is still in good working condition, even if it has minor, superficial issues like marks or scuffs. A refurbished item is one that was once faulty, but has been restored to (almost) mint condition. An open-box item is likely to be unused, but its packaging may have undergone damage in transit or been opened by a previous customer. For a used product to qualify as Renewed, it will not only have to be in fully usable condition, but will also need to have all accessories that came with it when it was brand-new.
Amazon Renewed has a wide selection of products, with varying degrees of newness. Products from an Amazon Seller go through a strict approval process on Amazon Renewed prior to listing. This ensures that, despite their previous ownership status, the products you find on Amazon Renewed are of high quality and guaranteed to work!
Listings on Amazon Renewed are judged for eligibility on the following criteria:
- Refurbished goods must have at least a 90-day warranty
- All products are tested to ensure they work like new
- Any defective parts are fully replaced
- Every accessory that the product comes with is included
- Products are thoroughly cleaned prior to shipment
- There are no major scratches or dents that are visible from 12 inches away
If you’re looking to purchase from Amazon Renewed, don’t be put off by the pre-owned or refurbished label. These items are put through a rigorous inspection and refurbishment process, leaving customers satisfied with products that actually work.
How Does a Brand Join the Amazon Renewed Program?
If you are a vendor looking to become an Amazon Seller, your products will need to pass Amazon’s rigorous approval process in order to be certified as good as new. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) sellers are automatically eligible for this program. However, if you are a Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM) seller, you will first need to accept pre-paid returns. You can sell on Renewed once Amazon receives and approves your request. Their approval process includes a diagnostic screening of the product(s), replacement of any damaged parts, thorough cleaning and examination, and repackaging (if necessary).
What Are the Advantages of Joining Amazon Renewed?
Once you meet the requirements to qualify as an Amazon Seller and get the hang of selling refurbished items, you can enjoy a number of benefits that come from being in this program.
Amazon Renewed is exclusive to sellers who can show that they will maximise on the edge that comes with it. This can not only boost your image as a seller—it also means you could be part of a niche pool where the competition is already significantly lower than in the mainstream market. You also gain access to marketing and e-commerce tools that can help you run your business online, and open up avenues so you can sell globally. Since Amazon already has a strong relationship with buyers, many of whom are only too happy to buy high-quality products at cheaper prices, you are likely to get higher traffic and build a greater customer base.
Not all types of products can be sold on Amazon Renew, but read ahead to know what categories you can buy (or sell).
What Can I Buy on Amazon Renewed?
Unfortunately, Amazon Renewed doesn’t have quite as large a selection as the retailer’s regular marketplace. This is because only certain categories of products can be refurbished and tested to Amazon’s standards.
The types of products you’ll find on Amazon Renewed will fall into these categories:
- Air conditioners
- Audio receivers and amplifiers
- Blu-ray and DVD players
- Cameras
- Car stereos, security, video, and radar detectors
- Chain saws, pole saws, and log splitters
- Chippers, shredders, and mulchers
- Dehumidifiers
- Digital antennas
- Digital musical instruments
- Electric ceiling fans
- Electrical floor cleaning devices
- Embroidery machines
- Fitness machines
- Fitness watches
- Generators
- GPS devices
- Graphic and scientific calculators
- Headphones
- Headsets
- Heaters
- Home stereo equipment
- Home theater systems
- Irons
- Kitchen appliances
- Lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, and edgers
- Media players
- Microphones
- Monitors
- Outdoor blowers and vacs
- PC drives and graphics cards
- PC keyboards, mice, game pads, and webcams
- PC motherboards
- PC networking equipment
- PC power supply
- PC processors
- PC servers
- PCs
- Phones
- Pneumatic tools
- Portable media players
- Power tools, power drills and power saws
- Pressure washers
- Printers
- Projectors
- Refrigerators
- Scanners
- Security cameras and systems
- Sewing machines
- Shredders
- Smartwatches
- Snow throwers
- Sound and recording equipment
- Sound bars
- Speakers
- Tablets
- Televisions
- Thermostats
- Universal remote controls
- Vacuums
- Video cameras
- Video game consoles
If you’re looking for a refurbished item in any of these categories at a more reasonable price, you’ll want to check Amazon Renewed before you go looking elsewhere.
Is Amazon Renewed Worth it?
Many consumers have horror stories of purchasing used products that do not perform as advertised. For a lot of people, a refurbished product is something to avoid if a new product is within the price range.
That’s where the Amazon Renewed program differs from other pre-owned and refurbished sellers. Amazon is dedicated to providing a high level of customer satisfaction, and that standard doesn’t change when it comes to Amazon Renewed. It’s clear that Amazon is taking this branch of the company seriously, and ensuring customers only get refurb products that are of equal quality as their newly manufactured items.
If you’re looking to purchase affordable, pre-owned products that actually work—then yes.
While Amazon Renewed products may not be identical to newly purchased ones, it’s safe to say there won’t be any surprises or disappointments upon delivery. Since every Amazon Renewed product goes through a strict refurbishment process, the only major difference is going to be the price tag!
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