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How To Upgrade Your Home (& Protect The Environment) With Refurbished Electronics

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refurbished electronics

With the work-from-home lifestyle becoming even more prevalent these days, it's time to upgrade some items in your office!

Everyone needs a change once in a while, but many people put off redoing their office because of how expensive it can get. That's especially true when you buy brand new tech gadgets, like laptops and printers.

Luckily, there is an alternative way to get the best bang for your buck: buying refurbished electronics. And the best place to buy like-new, refurbished electronics? Well, eBay Certified Refurbished, of course!

Refurbished items are those that have been returned to a vendor or manufacturer for a number of reasons. These products are professionally inspected and checked for defects and functionality, cleaned, and refurbished to meet the manufacturer's specifications before being resold.

In other words, it’s a great way to find cheap electronics that are high-quality and discounted!

Along with being one of the largest online retailers, eBay is your “budget-stretching secret weapon” when it comes to buying reconditioned electronics and products.

Offering the best value on the biggest selection of refurbished products, eBay has exceptional sellers with warranties as good as or superior to what is offered on brand-new products.

And not only that, but choosing to buy refurbished electronics means you're being environmentally friendly, saving like-new products from landfills and creating harmful waste.

For those wanting to save major money and feel good about their purchase, eBay is the place to go.

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What is eBay's Certified Refurbished?

With eBay's Certified Refurbished program, like-new products are certified to "look, feel, and work as if brand new, at just a fraction of the cost."

Certified Refurbished means items are professionally inspected, cleaned, and refurbished to original specifications by the manufacturer, or a manufacturer-approved vendor. All Certified Refurbished products ship in new packaging with original or new accessories, and all manuals are included.

But the best thing about this is that every Certified Refurbished item comes with a two-year warranty, hassle-free returns, eBay Money Back Guarantee, and trusted quality! This is because eBay has a rigorous quality control process in place.

There are so many benefits to this alternative. It saves you money, since you get a discount on electronics when you buy refurbished, and it helps increase sustainability in homes, meaning you're extending the life of a product and reducing harmful waste. 

By buying these like-new products, you're keeping them out of landfills that pollute the earth. It's a decision you can really feel good about!

This is a reassuring sign that shopping eBay Certified Refurbish is not only safe to buy, but is the perfect eco-friendly way to upgrade your office.

To help you discover all that eBay Certified Refurbished has to offer, we've selected some of the most affordable and sought-after electronics that will turn your home office from drab to fab — at a fraction of the cost of buying new.

10 Refurbished Electronics To Upgrade Your Home Office

1. Laptop or computer

A great computer can save you a lot of time, whether it's a PC/desktop or laptop. Laptops are especially important to have in your office, allowing you to work and take it on the go should you need to.

And eBay Certified Refurbished offers pristine like-new conditions of multiple brands, including Apple, HP, Acer, Dell, Microsoft, Lenovo, Samsung, and more.

To find the perfect laptop, you can go for a classic Apple Macbook Pro, which is ideal for working professionals or home users. It’s a great choice for someone who wants to purchase an Apple laptop on a budget without sacrificing performance.

Another great option for users who prefer not to use Apple is a Certified Refurbished Dell Inspiron Laptop. It has a super-sleek look and comes with a two-year warranty and free shipping.

2. Computer monitor

Working individuals who don't have a laptop and instead use a processor might want to upgrade their computer monitor. Computer monitors can be bulky, but there are plenty of models that are sleek and really open up your desk space, creating a better environment for your office.

Some models eBay offers are LG, Samsung, Acer, BenQ, Dell, HP, Lenovo, MSI, and ViewSonic, all of which are like-new.

Take the HP X24i 23.8" FHD IPS, for example. If you like the gaming world's resolution for your monitor, this is the perfect choice, and you'll save big, as a new monitor can easily cost up to $250!

If you're looking for a widescreen computer monitor, check out the Acer Predator XB3 - 27" Widescreen Monitor. Equivalent to new, buying it refurbished means you'll save over $500.

3. Tablet

A tablet is a great office gadget to have handy, as it's smaller and more compact than a laptop or desktop. A tablet can help certain professionals, like those in the media business, be productive — and it's just as good as using a computer.

Plus, with brands like Lenovo, Samsung, and Sylvania up for grabs at budget-friendly prices, anyone can use a tablet for work, not just millennials.

Samsung Galaxy TabS5e Tablet is a great steal, weighs under one pound, and comes in gold. And aside from using it for all your work-based needs, it also doubles as a great way to watch your favorite shows and movies.

If you want something just as sleek and useful, try the Microsoft Surface Go 2, which can be converted into a laptop with the proper accessories. It's a great value for all your needs.

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4. Mouse

For those who don't enjoy using the pad on their laptop, along with other computer accessories, a mouse might be just what you need.

The good news is that wireless mouses are available and going fast. Even for those who do like the touchpad, using a mouse gives you more control, and eBay offers brands like Samsung and Lenovo.

One favorite includes the HyperX Pulsefire Dart, a wireless gaming-grade mouse that lasts up to 50 hours from one charge. Using it is comfortable thanks to its padded leatherette side grips, and its ergonomic shape makes its functionality simply wonderful.

Another good choice is the Razer Viper Ultimate Wireless Optical Gaming Mouse. It offers fast wireless connection, 70 hours of battery life, 99.6 percent accuracy with its sensors, and is super-lightweight.

5. Headphones

Wherever you work, a virtual meeting is inevitable. And when you need to block out the noise around you that you'll surely hear working from home, especially if you have children, wearing a pair of headphones will make your experience better.

With eBay offering great deals on headphones, you'll avoid external echo and stay focused on work.

The Skullcandy HESH 2 Wireless Headphones features volume control, rechargeable battery, an open back, built-in microphone, and the headband is completely adjustable. And all for under $30!

If you have a busy home, noise-canceling headphones are a gift from above that will help you zero in on your work and not be disturbed, like the Skullcandy INDY ANC FUEL Noise Canceling Bluetooth Earbuds, which are waterproof, rechargeable, and are easy to store.

6. Speaker

Listening to music will never be the same again when you check out eBay's refurbished speakers. Zone out to classical music to improve your focus or clearly hear what your co-workers are saying in meetings.

Speakers are a snazzy addition to your home office, no matter what you use them for. And eBay offers plenty of great brands like Bose, JBL, Samsung, Vizio, Denon, Klipsch, Pioneer, and even Yamaha.

A popular option is the Samsung All-In-One Soundbar, a speaker that has wireless connection, bluetooth, USB and HDMI connectivity. It's a great addition to your home office and has an incredibly sleek look.

But if you care more about having a portable option, the Bose Portable Home Speaker allows you to take your office music on the go. Plus, it's compatible with your SmartHome Hub.

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7. Keyboard

Typing is something literally everyone in the workforce will have to do, and that's even more true for those with a career in writing, communications, and media.

The beauty of it all? There are so many styles of keyboards eBay has to offer. And if great brands like Apple, HP, Logitech and Razer don't catch your attention, maybe the major savings will!

Try a high-speed keyboard with the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wired Keyboard. This keyboard isn't just great for gaming; it's completely customizable, has an unbreakable aluminum alloy frame, and has an integrated OLED Smart display with on-board storage.

For those who are into a cleaner, more streamlined look, take home an Apple Magic (MQ052LL/A) Wireless Keyboard with Numeric Pad in a slim aluminum casing. Typing is quick and easy, and the keyboard comes with built-in rechargeable batteries.

8. Hard drive or USB

Having a good, reliable hard drive or storage system is important for your home office. Protect your extremely important documents and information, without worrying about losing your hard work.

And whether it's a USB or an external hard drive, eBay has something for everyone.

The Western Digital Elements Portable 2TB Certified Refurbished Hard Drive holds up to 2 terabytes of data, comes in several colors, is totally portable, has high-capacity storage, and allows you to clear up space on your PC or laptop to increase speed.

For a smaller and more portable option, try the SanDisk 256GB Ultra USB 3.0 Flash Drive. It has plenty of space to clear up your desktop or laptop, is lightweight, and you can even put it on your keychain so you never lose it.

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9. WiFi or home network

Everyone needs WiFi in this fast-paced working world. But routers can be expensive when bought brand new, so why not get a refurbished one?

The TP-Link Archer AX3000 Wireless Router gives up to 3 Gbps, reduces power consumption, lets you connect multiple devices, and is up to 3x faster than the previous AC generation of WiFi.

If you need to take your work to another room in the house that your router doesn’t reach, eBay also offers a TP-Link N300 WiFi Range Extender. Limit the amount of dead spots in your home and office with this adapter. It supports 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi standards, and its single fast ethernet port makes it easy to connect computers, TVs, gaming consoles, and more.

10. Indoor fan

While it's not technically an office gadget that's directly related to your work, you have to keep cool while being productive, right? The best way to do it is to have an indoor fan.

And eBay Certified Refurbished offers several awesome brands to choose from like Dyson, GE, Crane, and GermGuardian.

There's the Dyson Pure Cool Link Desk Fan Air Purifier that comes in white and silver to keep you nice and cool while you work. Plus, it's extremely quiet so it won't disrupt your work flow.

And if a humidifier is what you really want instead of a fan, the Crane Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier comes in blue and white, and can help you feel cool without drying your skin out. It's compact and fits in small spaces, too, so it won't take up a lot of your desk space.

-Created in partnership with eBay

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Deauna Nunes is an assistant editor who covers lifestyle, tech gadgets, and news & entertainment for YourTango. She's been published by Emerson College's literary magazine Generic. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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