20 days of discounts: buying second hand

Online auctions such as Ebay (www.ebay.co.uk) and Amazon Marketplace (www.amazon.co.uk) or Play Trade sellers (www.play.com) are obvious places to start when hunting for cheaper prices. In most cases, this will mean buying a second-hand item, though many Ebay, Amazon and Play Trade sellers offer brand new products at discount prices, too.

For example, we went shopping for a Sony BDP-S390 Blu-ray player. Play’s own £130 price seemed reasonable considering that the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (SRP) is £147, but one Play Trade vendor was offering the same product, new, for £123. Better still, the same item, refurbished, was listed under the Used section at just £72.
Total saving: £75

Refurbs, buying second-hand goods and your rights
When buying expensive items through a refurbished or clearance scheme, it is sensible to check the product comes with a full warranty. Provided you are buying from a business rather than from an individual, the Sale of Goods Act still applies regardless of whether you are buying brand new bargains or refurbished, second-hand or clearance items.

Simply speaking, this means the items must be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose. If it is not, then you have the right to return the goods. If buying online, you are also protected by the Distance Selling Regulations, which allow many goods to be returned without reason. The law allows seven working days to exercise this right.

Greater care needs to be taken when buying second-hand items from private individuals. In this case, neither the Sales of Goods Act nor the Distance Selling Regulations apply. Instead, you may need to take the issue up with the seller directly. If buying via Ebay, see the website's Safety Centre page for more advice in this area.