Buying refurbished electronics sounds like a no-brainer. You get the latest gadgets at a fraction of the cost while giving devices a second life, which is better for the environment. It seems like the perfect solution for those on a budget, but it isn’t always that simple. Not every refurbished device is equal, and the fine print matters more than you think.

Some sellers do a fantastic job restoring products, while others barely touch them before reselling. If you’re considering refurbished tech, here are important lessons I wish I knew beforehand. These insights will help you make smarter choices, avoid headaches and get real value for your money.

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Researching a seller’s track record is more important than chasing after the lowest refurbished price point. (Photo Illustration by Thomas Imo/Photothek via Getty Images)

1) Refurbished does not always mean like new

In the tech industry, the label refurbished carries no uniform standard. From factory-certified devices that meet stringent quality checks to third-party refurbishments that address only surface-level defects, the range is vast. My experience shows that treating refurbished items as “like new” is a mistake. Many come with cosmetic blemishes or partially worn components, and some sellers stop at a basic reset and cleaning.

The key is to scrutinize the seller’s refurbishment process and request detailed specifications or photos to ensure the item is in good condition. Look for transparency about what has been repaired or replaced. A reputable refurbisher will disclose whether critical components such as screens, batteries or motherboards were replaced or simply tested.

Pro tip: Many refurbishers use a grading system (A, B, C). Grade A means near new, Grade B usually has light scratches, while Grade C shows heavier wear. Knowing the grade helps set realistic expectations.

2) Check the warranty and return policy

One of the most overlooked yet critical aspects of buying refurbished electronics is the warranty and return policy. Through years of testing products, I’ve seen warranties vary wildly from generous 90-day coverage to none at all. A solid warranty is not just a formality; it’s a reflection of the refurbisher’s confidence in the quality of the product. Without it, you’re taking a gamble.

Industry best practices suggest opting for sellers who provide at least a 90-day warranty and a clear, no-hassle return window. I have consistently seen reliable refurbishers like Amazon Renewed, eBay Certified Refurbished and Back Market stand by their work with transparent policies.

Also look at Apple Certified Refurbished and Dell Outlet, which are industry leaders for high-quality laptops, tablets and phones.

3) Know the seller’s reputation

Not all sellers are equal when it comes to refurbished tech. My years covering consumer electronics have made it clear that choosing a reputable seller is more important than chasing the lowest price. Factory-certified refurbishers and authorized resellers tend to follow strict testing and quality control procedures. In contrast, independent sellers often vary in quality and reliability.

I always emphasize researching the seller’s history, reading verified customer reviews and ensuring they offer clear refurbishment guarantees. Established marketplaces and brand-certified stores provide additional layers of security, including dispute resolution mechanisms.

Red flags include: vague warranty language, listings with only stock photos, “open box” items marketed as refurbished and any product sold “as-is.” If you see those, walk away.

4) Don’t forget accessories and packaging

A less obvious but important consideration is the state of accessories and packaging. In industry practice, refurbished products rarely arrive in original packaging or with the full set of accessories. I’ve seen that some sellers ship devices with generic boxes and subpar third-party accessories or omit chargers and manuals altogether.

If accessories are important to your workflow, don’t assume they’ll be included. Always verify the listing description and, when in doubt, ask the seller directly. Knowing exactly what comes in the box prevents surprises and ensures you don’t have to hunt for compatible chargers or cables after the fact, potentially eroding any savings you initially gained.

5) Battery life may not be the same

A common misconception is that refurbished devices come with batteries that perform like new, but that’s not the case. Batteries naturally degrade with use, and not all refurbishers replace them.

Some sellers disclose battery replacement while others do not. It is critical to confirm whether the battery is new, tested or original. Otherwise, expect performance issues such as rapid discharge or failure to hold a charge. A device with a worn-out battery is rarely worth the lower upfront cost, as you’ll likely need to replace the battery soon after purchase.

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A good warranty and return policy are essential safeguards for choosing refurbished devices. (Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

6) Software updates and compatibility

You should only use electronic items like phones, laptops, tablets and smartwatches as long as they’re receiving software updates. Many might disagree with this, but the truth is that once software support ends, your device becomes vulnerable to all kinds of unpatchable security flaws. Some good brands known for reliable software support are Apple, Samsung, Google, MSI and Lenovo.

Before purchasing, always verify that the device is still supported with regular updates. This information is often available on the manufacturer’s website or through trusted tech resources.

7) Test the device thoroughly after purchase

Testing a refurbished device thoroughly upon arrival is a best practice I’ve recommended repeatedly in my writing. Even trusted sellers can occasionally miss a defect. I always advise checking every essential function, such as the screen, charging port, Wi-Fi, sound and camera, within the seller’s return period. Many problems won’t be obvious from photos or descriptions alone.

Immediate testing ensures you catch issues early enough to return or replace the product without hassle. It’s a small investment of time that prevents far bigger frustrations later.

And don’t forget to perform your own factory reset on iPhone, Android, PC or Mac to ensure no old accounts, locks or data are lingering on the device. For Apple devices, make sure “Find My iPhone” has been disabled before purchase, or it may be unusable.

8) Install strong antivirus software

Refurbished devices can sometimes carry hidden risks, especially if the previous owner didn’t wipe the device properly or if the seller missed deep software issues. Installing  strong antivirus software is essential to protect your device from malware, spyware or other security threats that may be lurking.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

9) Use a password manager

Security doesn’t end with antivirus protection. Many refurbished devices come with pre-installed software or misconfigured settings that could expose you to risk. One of the smartest moves you can make is using a reliable password manager to generate and store strong, unique passwords for all your accounts.

Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our #1 password manager pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials. 

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com.

10) Know the real value of your savings

Refurbished doesn’t always mean a bargain. As a rule of thumb, expect to save 20-40% compared to new, depending on the brand, age and condition. If you’re only saving 10-15%, the trade-off on warranty, lifespan or battery may not be worth it. Calculate the long-term cost, especially if you’ll need to buy a new battery or accessories soon after.

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Refurbished products often arrive without original packaging or accessories, leaving buyers unprepared. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Bonus: The eco-friendly upside

Every refurbished device purchased keeps one more gadget out of the landfill and reduces carbon emissions from manufacturing. Studies show buying refurbished can cut a product’s carbon footprint nearly in half. That means you’re not only saving money but also helping the planet.

Kurt’s key takeaway

Buying refurbished electronics can be a great way to save money and reduce e-waste. But it pays to be careful. By sticking with certified sellers, knowing what “refurbished” really means and insisting on warranties and clear return policies, you can protect both your wallet and your data.

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Have you ever bought a refurbished electronic device? How was your experience? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Portable Document Format (PDF) is one of the most widely used file formats for storing and sharing documents. It makes sense since PDFs are a universal file format that maintains layout, fonts, colors and images regardless of the device used to read them. Many people use PDFs to send resumes, receipts, tickets, contracts and school papers because they ensure the documents will look the same regardless of who opens them.

Furthermore, unlike proprietary formats, such as docx, xlsx and pptx, they are less likely to disappear. They’re also one of the easiest files to secure and encrypt in case you’re sending sensitive information.

The best part? You can turn just about any text document or image into a PDF. Let’s look at some popular ways of doing this.

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Kurt Knutsson explains how to save any file as a PDF. (REUTERS/Hannah Beier)

Save files as PDF on desktop

If you’re using a Windows or Mac, there is a built-in option that allows you to save a file as a PDF with a few clicks. This method usually works on files like text documents, images and emails.

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Windows

You can use the print function in many Windows apps to save a file as a PDF.

• Open the file in its default app.
• Click File > Print, click the printer icon or press Ctrl + P.
• In the print dialog window, select Microsoft Print to PDF in the Printer dropdown menu.
• Click Print.

Windows offers a built-in way to save a file as a PDF. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Mac

Like Windows, many macOS apps allow you to save files as PDF when printing them.

• Open the file in its default app.
• Click File > Print, click the printer icon or press Command + P.
• In the print dialog window, click PDF in the bottom left corner and choose where to save it.
• Click Save.

Chromebook

Whether you are viewing a document, image or webpage (even in an Android app), as long as the app you’ve opened it in supports printing, you can save it as a PDF.

• Open the file.
• Click File > Print, click the printer icon or press Ctrl + P.
• In the print dialog window, select Save as PDF in the Destination dropdown menu for selecting printers.
• Click Save.

Save files as PDF on mobile

On Android and iPhones, you can exploit the share function to save files as PDFs. It also only takes a few taps.

Android

There are several ways to export a file as a PDF on Android, with the easiest option being the print function when sharing it.

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer. 

• Open the file in the default app.
• Tap the Share icon.
• Tap Print.
• Tap the PDF button to download it.

iPhone

On iPhone, you can save a file as a PDF in apps like Photos, Files and Notes. Here are the general steps:

• Open the file.
• Tap the Share icon.
• Tap Print to see a PDF preview of the file.
• Tap the Share icon.
• Tap Save to Files.
• Then, tap “Save” in the upper-right corner of the screen.

You can save a file as a PDF on your iPhone or Android. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Save a file as a PDF on apps and cloud services

Many apps and online services offer built-in tools to convert files to PDF format, whether you’re using popular office suites or cloud-based services. Let’s look at the options available on various platforms.

If you’re using Microsoft Office apps, such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, you can just save the file as a PDF.

• Open the file.
• Click File > Save As.
• Under the location where the PDF will be saved, set the file type dropdown to PDF.
• Click Save.

Follow these steps to save a document as PDF in Microsoft Word. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

For Google Workspace apps, such as Docs, Sheets and Slides, you can download them as a PDF:

• Open the file.
• Click File 
• Then tap Download,
• Next, click the PDF Document.

If you want to save a webpage in browsers like Chrome, Edge and Firefox, follow the steps below:

• Open the web page.
• Click the three-dot icon or three-line icon in the top-right corner.
• Click Print.

Even a webpage can be saved and exported as a PDF file. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

• Set Printer or Destination to Save as PDF.
• Click Save.

Follow these steps to save a document as PDF in the Edge internet browser. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

In Adobe Acrobat Reader, follow the steps below (keep in mind that you need a premium subscription to use this feature):

• Open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. It will automatically be converted to a PDF.
• Press Ctrl + S on Windows or Command + S on Mac to save the PDF.

Notetakers like Evernote, OneNote and Notion also allow you to export files as a PDF. For instance, in Notion, you have to do it this way:

• Click the three-dot icon in the top-right corner.
• Click Export.
• Select PDF in the Export format dropdown.
• Click Export.

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Convert a file to a PDF online

You can convert files to PDF using online conversion tools. To convert a file into a PDF using CloudConvert, follow the steps below:

• Go to https://cloudconvert.com/
• Click Select File.
• Select the file you want to convert on your computer or phone.
• Select PDF in the Convert to dropdown. You can upload more than one file.
• Click Convert.
• Click Download.

While these sites provide a convenient means of converting files to PDFs, it’s best to avoid uploading sensitive documents like tax returns, medical records, financial statements, legal contracts or personal identification documents. That’s because they may store copies of those files on their servers, which means they can become vulnerable to security breaches or unauthorized access. For these, use built-in tools or trusted apps (any of the ones mentioned above will do).

Save physical documents as PDF files

You will find many apps for scanning documents and saving them as a PDF on Android and iPhone. The best one often mentioned is Adobe Scan, which you can download on the App Store or Google Play.

Here’s how to use it.

• Open the Adobe Scan.
• If it’s your first time opening it, you will need to sign in with your Apple (iPhone only), Google or Facebook account.
• Tap the white circle in the bottom center of the screen to scan the document.
• Tap Save PDF in the bottom right corner.

Working with PDFs

Once you’ve saved your file as a PDF, you may want to perform various actions to make it more useful or secure. Here’s how to work with your PDF files effectively.

Merging PDFs

You can use online tools to merge PDFs for free.

• On your computer, go to https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/acrobat/combine-pdf.
• Drag and drop the PDFs you want to merge into the browser window.

Adobe’s website offers a free method to combine PDF files. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

• You can rearrange the PDFs by dragging them to the position you want them to be in.
• Click Combine in the top-right corner.

The Adobe website makes it possible to combine PDFs and arrange them in any order. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Shrinking PDFs

Adobe also has an online tool you can freely use to compress PDFs.

• On your computer, go to https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/online/compress-pdf.html.
• Drag and drop the PDF you want to compress into the browser window.
• Click Compress in the bottom-right corner.

Protecting your PDFs with a password

You can also password-protect your PDFs for free on the Adobe website using the steps below.

• On your computer, go to https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/acrobat/protect-pdf.
• Drag and drop the PDF you want to compress into the browser window.
• Enter the password under Set password. Enter the same password under Confirm password.
• Click Set password in the bottom-right corner.

You can protect a PDF with a password on the Adobe website. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Sign PDFs

There are plenty of ways to sign a document, and the easiest one is to use Adobe Acrobat Reader.

• Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer.
• Select the E-sign tab.
• Click Add signature or Add initials in the FILL AND SIGN YOURSELF section in the menu on the left.
• Type your signature or initials in the dialog window. You can also draw it if you have a graphics tablet or add an image of it. Just switch to the Draw or Image tab.
• Click Apply.
• In the toolbar on the left side of the document area, click the pen icon.
• Select your signature or initials in the menu that appears on the right.
• Place your cursor, which will now look like your signature or initials, where you want to sign and click to insert the signature.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

As you can see, saving any file as a PDF is easy regardless of your device or platform. It takes just a few clicks or taps. Use PDFs when you want to share documents without losing their formatting elements. Remember to follow best practices when sharing them, especially if they contain sensitive information. You can always add an extra layer of security by password-protecting or encrypting your PDFs.

What other format do you like converting files to for storing and sharing? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Dennis and Carole recently reached out to us with a warning about a suspicious email claiming to offer a $100 Sam’s Club reward. 

“We received this yesterday, and my wife fell for the scam and initiated the free gift offer. No credit card other than email transferred,” Dennis said.

The email looked professional, with the official Sam’s Club logo at the top. It read, “YOUR OPINION IS IMPORTANT. Exclusive. YOU CAN GET A $100 REWARD.” It then invited the recipient to “Take a short survey to claim your $100 reward. Click the button below to get started,” with a bold black button labeled “GET STARTED NOW!”

Despite no credit card being entered, the couple wanted to know:

• Will scammers be able to charge their credit card?
• Do they already have credit card info?
• What steps should they take?

Let’s break this all down.

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THE TRUTH BEHIND THOSE MYSTERIOUS SHIPMENT EMAILS IN YOUR INBOX

A couple warns about a new email scam disguised as a Sam’s Club survey. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Why this Sam’s Club email is a scam

At first glance, the email looked like it came straight from Sam’s Club, complete with the logo, blue color scheme and a tempting promise of a $100 reward for filling out a short survey. That’s exactly what scammers want you to think.

This is a classic phishing scam. Cybercriminals copy a trusted brand’s style to trick you into clicking their links or entering personal information. Once you engage, they can:

• Collect your email address for spam lists
• Send more realistic-looking phishing attempts
• Try to lure you into giving up payment or account details in future messages
• Direct you to malware-infected websites

In this case, only an email address was entered. That means there’s no direct credit card risk, yet. However, scammers now know the address is active and that someone at it will click through, making it more valuable for targeted scams later. The next step is protecting yourself quickly, because stopping them now is far easier than dealing with identity theft later.

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Experts warn consumers not to click suspicious looking links. (Peter Dazeley)

How to protect yourself after clicking a link in a scam email

If you entered your email in a scam form, take these steps right away to reduce the risk of further attacks:

1) Use strong antivirus software

Run a scan with a trusted antivirus program. Many modern security tools also include phishing protection, blocking dangerous links before they can load. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.

2) Mark the email as phishing

Use your email provider’s spam or phishing report tool to flag the message. This helps block future attempts and trains filters to catch similar scams. 

3) Consider a data removal service

Data removal services can contact data brokers to remove your personal information from their lists. This makes it harder for scammers to target you with more personalized attacks. While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice.  They aren’t cheap — and neither is your privacy.  These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites.  It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet.  By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

Scammers are claiming to offer a $100 Sam’s Club reward. (REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.

4) Watch for follow-up scams

Scammers often follow up with urgent-sounding emails to “confirm” your account or claim you won a prize. Delete these immediately without clicking links or opening attachments. 

5) Change your passwords and strengthen security

Never reuse the same password across multiple accounts. If scammers target your email address, they may try it with common password guesses. Create unique, strong passwords for each account and store them in a reputable password manager.

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com.

6) Report the scam

Forward the email to:

• Sam’s Club: phishing@samsclub.com
• FTC: reportphishing@apwg.org

Reporting helps both the brand and law enforcement track scam activity.

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Consumers are advised to report phishing emails to the company or the FTC. (CyberGuy.com)

Kurt’s key takeaways

Even if you avoid entering payment details, your personal information still has value to scammers. An email address can open the door to phishing attacks designed to steal passwords, install malware, or gather more sensitive data. Scammers know how to make an email look convincing, especially when they dangle a gift card as bait. By staying alert, reporting suspicious emails and protecting your personal data, you can reduce your risk.

Have you ever received a fake reward email from a brand you trust? How did you handle it? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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