Second hand laptops for people looking to buy used or refurbished models instead of purchasing new are available from various computer dealers around the country. Models from Dell, HP, Mecer and more can be bought at cheap prices compared to the suggested retail costs but one has to be a little careful. The first thing you need to ask a PC shop or dealer that sells these is if they are going to offer you any kind of warranty. If the answer to that question is no and they give you an excuse as to why that is, stay well away.
One tip to consider when purchasing second hand laptops is to check the outer casing for any signs of bumps or knocks. Often people will trade in a machine if it has fallen off the table or desk and has not been working properly since! Knowing exactly how well the previous owner used and looked after the notebook you may be interested in buying can be virtually impossible, even the dealer may have no idea as to how the previous owner looked after their machine which is another reason it is important to make sure you are covered with a guarantee should anything go seriously wrong after your purchase.
Spend as much time as you can in the computer shop going through the workings of the model you may be interested in purchasing and not only look for cracks and marks on the casing but also for any damage on the screen display. We are of the opinion that if you can manage to fork out the extra money and buy a machine that has not been used by somebody else then that is your better option. That is simply our advice based on one or two unpleasant experiences and some knowledge about PC dealers around SA but if you do decide to consider the second hand laptops available at a shop near you then place importance on having a warranty with your purchase and you are covered.