PHILADELPHIA, PA — With holiday budgets tightening and electronics prices climbing, a new statewide guide aims to help Pennsylvanians score like-new gadgets at deep discounts — without getting burned. The PennPIRG Education Fund on Thursday released its latest Fixed for the Holidays report, outlining how consumers can safely shop refurbished electronics and avoid costly pitfalls as they hunt for gifts.
“Buying refurbished electronics is a win-win,” said Kari Schmidt, an associate with the PennPIRG Education Fund. “They can be considerably less expensive than new ones, and it’s far better for the planet than just accumulating more stuff.”
The annual guide breaks down where to shop, which devices make the best refurbished gifts, how to judge a deal, and the biggest risks buyers should watch out for. It also highlights a new tech concern: millions of computers still running Windows 10 — an operating system Microsoft stopped supporting in October — may no longer receive critical security updates, leaving consumers exposed.
PennPIRG warns that even steep discounts aren’t worth it if a device can’t run current software. Shoppers are urged to verify model age, support timelines, and repairability before buying.
Beyond shopping advice, the guide underscores PennPIRG’s push for statewide Right to Repair legislation, which would give consumers and independent technicians access to parts and manuals to safely fix their own devices. Pennsylvania’s House recently passed HB1512 with bipartisan support, while the Senate is considering its companion bill, SB 833.
“When Pennsylvanians have the freedom to fix the products they own, we save families money and keep countless devices out of our landfills,” said state Rep. Kyle Mullins, a lead sponsor of the bill.
Sen. Dan Laughlin said the proposed law would ensure more devices can be refurbished instead of thrown away. “I’m proud to partner on legislation that will promote refurbishing electronics rather than sending them to a landfill,” he said.
The guide also profiles trusted refurbished-electronics retailers such as Back Market, Gazelle, VIP Outlet, and Reebelo, along with advice for navigating refurbished marketplaces run by Apple, Google, Samsung, Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, and others.
Shoppers are urged to look for clear return policies, at least 90-day warranties, thorough testing standards, and vendors with strong repairability scores. PennPIRG also cautions against items with sealed batteries, aging software, or heavy-wear components like printers and monitors.
Despite the risks, Schmidt said the holidays remain a prime time for refurbished tech. “Consumers can still get the high-tech gifts of their dreams using our helpful tips,” she said. “Buying refurbished is an excellent way to give a heartfelt gift without hurting the planet or our wallets.”
The full Fixed for the Holidays guide is available through the PennPIRG Education Fund.
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