7 Tips for Buying Quality Used Laptops in Online Stores

Is it possible to get a quality used laptop in an online store? Many people are hesitant or even reluctant to buy a used laptop, especially in an online shop. One of the doubtful factors is the fear of getting goods that are not of good quality, defective or even damaged.

However, many people are looking for used laptops or PCs with various considerations, one of the reasons is wanting to get a quality laptop at a much cheaper price compared to buying a new one. By buying a used laptop, Buyers hope to get sophisticated features at an affordable price, like a touch screen, high screen resolution and clear images.

With so many used laptops and PCs being sold on the market, there is a possibility that the item sold is a defective item, even damaged. Like a battery that doesn't work, striped screen and or others. However, Of course there are also those who sell quality used laptops.

After reading these simple tips, You will find out tips for getting a quality used laptop at a relatively cheap price.

Tips for Buying Quality Used Laptops Online

The following tips are based on shopping experience at several online stores in Indonesia.

Determine Laptop Specifications

The first step you need to take in buying a quality used laptop is to determine the specifications, for example the type of processor, RAM size, storage capacity or type, screen resolution and so on.

The most basic thing to measure the sophistication of a laptop is to know the type of processor used. In general, it can be concluded that the higher the type or series of processor used by the laptop, the higher its capabilities. The higher the laptop's capabilities, the more advanced features that can be used. However, the consequence is that prices are increasingly expensive.

Getting a cheap laptop is quite easy, but getting a quality one requires a little more effort. Cheap standards are affordable prices and quality ones are laptops that can be used for quite a long time.

Therefore, The recommended minimum specifications for a quality used laptop are as follows:

• Windows-11 supported processors (minimal: Eighth generation Intel Core i5 or i7) (Must)
• FHD screen resolution (1920 x 1080) (Must)
• RAM minimal 8GB (can be customized)
• 128GB storage (can be customized) SSD (Must: Solid State Drive)
• Easy to get after sales service from both shops and manufacturers
• Shop Guarantee and or factory guarantee if possible

A supported laptop means it is capable of running Windows-11 according to the specified minimum requirements.

Even though you may not be interested in using Windows-11 at the moment, It is highly recommended that you choose a used laptop with a processor that can run Windows-11. If at any time you change your mind about upgrading and enjoying the features of Windows-11, You can do it right away.

Therefore, Create a minimum standard specification for the quality used laptop you want to look for. One of the minimum standards for a quality used laptop is to use a processor supported by Windows-11. Intel Core i5 8th or i7 8th is the lowest generation Windows-11 supported Intel processor.

If you choose a laptop with specifications below the minimum standards as mentioned above, You won't be able to upgrade to Windows11 and stay with the old operating system. In just a few months, You will feel like you have an outdated laptop.

Looking for Quality Used Laptops

To look for quality used laptops in online stores, the easiest way is to use the search box in the online store application, then type keywords according to the minimum standard specifications as described above.

Examples of search keywords that you can use are i5/i7 8th. To narrow your search, You can also add keywords with branding, so the keyword becomes DELL i5/i7 8th or Lenovo i5/i7 8th. DELL and Lenovo are two well-known laptop brands.

With this keyword, You will see a list of used laptops from various shops with prices varying between IDR 3 million – IDR 4 million. This price range is still far below the price of even the cheapest new laptop.

The cheapest price for a new laptop currently is around IDR 4.4 million – 5,5million. At this price, You will get a laptop with the minimum specifications. Usually the specifications offered are: screen resolution 1366×768, Intel Celeron processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD storage.

To get a quality used laptop, You can't just rely on keywords like those mentioned above. You need to dig up other information by following the next tips.

Look for Used Laptops from Trusted Brands:

From search results in online stores, Choose a laptop from a brand that has been tested and is known for its reliability. These brands usually have better quality and are easier to find information about. Choose a laptop brand that provides good after-sales service, If possible, choose a product with a long guarantee period.

Choose a Store with the Best Reputation

The disadvantage of buying a used laptop from an online store is that you cannot check the actual condition of the laptop unless you have received the item. To avoid the risk of getting a defective or damaged laptop, Choose a used laptop from a trader/shop that has experience and a good reputation.

Reputation is a buyer's assessment of a shop regarding the level of service and quality of the products sold. Check the seller's reputation. Do they have many previous transactions? Are there any complaints from other buyers? E-commerce sites usually have a rating system for sellers.

From Tokopedia, each shop comes with a Reputation Badge which is displayed on the shop page. Each Store Reputation Badge has five tiers of points. The greater the Shop Reputation Points, the higher the Shop Reputation Badge obtained.

If the buyer is satisfied then the shop will earn +2 poin, but if the buyer feels disappointed then the shop will gain -2 poin.

Learn more about shop reputation system on Tokopedia

Choosing a shop with the highest Reputation Points is a good choice. It is better to choose a shop with a Reputation Badge than one with no reputation at all.

To view the store's Reputation Badge, on the product page, Scroll down until the shop name appears, then click on the name of the shop. On the shop page, click the button Store Info to see the reputation of the store.

Apart from assessing the store's reputation by looking at the Reputation Badge, You can also assess the store's reputation by looking at the Rating and Review scores which are displayed with yellow stars. The star rating value is the average rating of all buyers in the store. The higher the shop rating means the better the quality of the goods and service.

If you are having trouble finding a store with a rating 5, at least you can choose a shop with a rating 4,9.

To see store ratings, on the shop page, click the Reviews tab.

Tokopedia also provides a feature to filter the items you are looking for based on the type of store Power Badge.

Choosing a laptop from a store with Power Badge is to select to only display products from stores that have been verified and meet certain requirements from Tokopedia. By applying this filter, the less likely you are to encounter problem sellers or sellers with bad intentions.

Ask the Seller a Question

Don't hesitate to contact the seller and ask more about the condition of the laptop. Ask if there are any specific problems, is there a guarantee?, and its kind. You can also ask for the product code or serial number of the laptop you want to buy.

Choose a shop that dares to provide a long guarantee.

Compare Several Specifications and Prices

Choose and compare 2 or 3 Quality used laptops from various shops with the best reputation. Compare the selling prices and complete specifications of the two laptops.

Notes: Sometimes shops do not list complete specifications that match the products being sold, You can check the correct specifications on the laptop manufacturer's website directly.

The following is an example of a comparison of two used laptops from two different stores by choosing the same SSD and RAM variants.

The comparison is as follows:

From the comparison above, can be concluded as follows:

With processor specifications, Same SSD and RAM but Laptop A is Rp700,000 more expensive than laptop B, Laptop A has a touch screen feature and can be rotated 360° so it can function as a tablet.

If you like or need a laptop with lots of features then choose laptop A even though the price is slightly more expensive. If you don't care about these features then choose laptop B because it will cost you less.

Before deciding to buy, consider the following:

• Don't be fixated on the price of the laptop alone. You also need to calculate the shipping costs to get to your address. Sometimes, unscrupulous traders seek profit by exaggerating the weight of goods. With excess goods, Buyers have to pay more shipping costs than they should, while the price of the laptop installed is only slightly cheaper than its competitors.
• Don't be easily fooled by the high specifications listed by the seller in the shop. You need to check the brand and type of laptop from other stores, or you can also visit the laptop manufacturer's website.

Dig Up Laptop Information from Other Websites

By visiting the product page on the laptop manufacturer's website, You can find out technical information about laptops. You need to know whether the specifications written by the seller in the shop are the same as the specifications listed on the website. Sometimes, Laptop manufacturers make a series of laptops with various variants with slight differences.

If you get the serial number of the laptop you are going to buy, You can check if there is support or updates available on the manufacturer's website, and also check the production year and warranty period.

Apart from the laptop manufacturer's website, You can also find out other important information from testimonials or reviews about laptops from other websites.

Closing

To get a quality used laptop in an online shop requires a little effort. You need to know several things such as laptop specifications, laptop brand, seller's reputation and reviews from other buyers.

After reading 7 these tips, Hopefully you can get a quality used laptop at a cheap price.

Hopefully these tips are useful.