Amazon Renewed and Amazon Resale, explained

Amazon sells a lot of used and refurbished stuff, and it can be a good way to save on tech. The labels matter, though.

Amazon Renewed

Renewed products are refurbished by the manufacturer or a qualified third-party refurbisher. They are inspected and tested to work like new, but may show light cosmetic wear and may come in generic packaging with generic accessories. Renewed items come with a guarantee from Amazon, and a Renewed Premium tier has offered a longer warranty on some items. Check the listing for the exact terms.

Amazon Resale

Amazon Resale, formerly called Amazon Warehouse, sells returned, open-box and used items that Amazon has inspected and graded. Grades usually run from "Used, Like New" to "Used, Acceptable." The listing notes what is wrong, like a damaged box or a missing accessory. Returns generally follow Amazon's normal policy.

When it is worth it

• Good fit: phones, tablets, Kindles, headphones and game consoles, where the savings are big and the item is easy to test when it arrives.
• Think twice: anything with a battery that wears out, like cordless vacuums or old laptops, unless the listing notes battery health.
• Skip: mattresses, pillows, and anything personal care.

How dealwire labels it

When a deal is for a renewed or used item, the card says so. Everything else is new. Browse tablet and Kindle deals or headphone deals.