Item Condition Frequently Asked Questions

Your computer is a lot like a car: it is assembled from many different parts by professionals or knowledgeable enthusiasts. Because of this, not every piece needs to be in a retail package. For example, your local auto parts shop might sell windshield wipers that come in a colorful box with installation instructions; an alternator that comes in a plain white box with no documentation; and a tire, which has no packaging at all. To make sure you understand the condition of the items we have for sale, we have put together a list of terms frequently used on our website.

“OEM” – OEM products are bulk products that are intended to be sold with or installed in a computer. For example, an OEM hard drive is bulk packaged and does not come with cables, a manual, or software since the person who assembles the PC will already have these items. Sometimes the manufacturer also sells a boxed version at retail stores which includes the screws, cables, and installation kit, but it is a lot more expensive. The hard drive itself is the same, and we pass the significant savings on to you. Some manufacturers have different warranty terms on their OEM products; if there is an extended Manufacturer Warranty we will list it at the top of each product page, and also in the Additional Information section.

“Open Box” – It's okay to change your mind. Maybe that new Microsoft natural keyboard doesn't fit your hands right and you want to take it back. Most major retail stores, including ours, offer a 30-day money back guarantee in case a customer decides to return a non-defective product. Obviously we can't sell them as New anymore, even though they have only been used for a few days. So we sell them at a discount as an Open Box item. Usually they will include the original packaging and accessories, and in most cases still carry manufacturer warranty.

“Recertified” – You have the right to love the product you buy. But maybe the box got damaged in transit or the glossy finish got scratched. Maybe there was a minor defect, or maybe you couldn't out how to use a certain feature. So you get a refund and the retail store sends the product back to the manufacturer. Any damaged or defective parts are replaced, and the product is tested to make sure it meets the same industry standards as a new product. The manufacturer then sells these Recertified items at a deep discount.

“Refurbished” – Things break; that's why there's a warranty period. But what if a store or large company has items go bad after the manufacturer's warranty period? They contact a third party specialist who buys them and makes the necessary repairs. The products are tested and guaranteed to be in “as new” working condition. Refurbished products may have some cosmetic blemishes.

“Retail Box” – This is identical to the version you would get at a "big box" store like Best Buy, WalMart , etc. Retail packaged items typically include product manuals, software, and accessories, and carry a manufacturer warranty.

“New Surplus” – Some products sell slower than expected, and retailers need to clear their shelf space for new items. The items are liquidated through special channels, often under contracts that require the reseller (us) to assume warranty service. The manufacturer warranties are voided since the items are being offered under replacement cost. For example, you may find many of such products at Sam's Club, Big Lots, TJ Max, etc. While you see a significant price difference compared to regular store prices, please be aware that the warranty situation may be different.

“System Pull” – These are items (typically drives) that were purchased by major manufacturers such as Dell, Gateway, etc. for installation in computer systems. When the next year's system models come out, they are stuck with parts they no longer need (like maybe they have a few thousand 16x DVD burners in their warehouse, but their new PCs are going to have 20x burners instead). So they sell them at a very aggressive price as System Pull items. In many cases these parts have not been installed, but merely kept on hand in case Dell, etc. needs to replace components in a computer under their warranty. System pull items do not typically carry the same factory warranty as an OEM item, since the PC maker provides warranty on the whole computer not on individual parts.

“White Label” – Major manufacturers such as Western Digital often have overstock, recertified, or out-of-warranty hard drives that they want to liquidate. But they do not want the low prices of liquidation drives to reduce the sales of their new drives. So instead they sell the drives to third party companies like Magnetic Data Tech who remove the original manufacturer logo and adhere a plain white label, "unbranding" the drive. These companies assume the warranty and also mark all the drives-- not just the small number of refurbished ones-- as "recertified" so they do not directly compete with the new drives. System builders tend to use these since they are less expensive than the name brand drives.