Buying A Used PDA - Is That A Smart Move?

Around 30 million PDA's were manufactured and sold world wide by the end of 2004. This huge number guarantees a large secondary market for PDA's, and a lot of bargains could be found among them. So if you're considering buying A PDA that was previously owned and used by someone else, you do have a lot to choose from.

Previously used PDA's can be divided into 2 groups : used PDA's and rectified PDA's. The used PDA's have been used by another party and are sold as-is. They may work properly, and they may not. The rectified PDA is usually sold by the manufacturer, and has some kind of guaranteed-to-work warranty. Rectified PDA's are all the PDA's a manufacturer or a supplier can't sell as new ones, for various reasons.

In this article we'll discuss the used PDA option and leave the rectified PDA option for another time.

Buying a used PDA can be a good solution for anyone who wants to enjoy a PDA but doesn't want to shell out the full price of a new PDA.

Finding a used PDA online is easy. All you need to do is go to a site like ebay.com and look for PDA's.

Before you go choosing your PDA at ebay, remember to do a few things:

1. Understand that the items on eBay may not be presented as they really are. You don't see the PDA with your own eyes. Remember to accept this fact, and the possibility for surprises when you get your PDA.

2. Do your won research and make up your mind as to the PDA model you want to get. DO this research before you go shopping, so you'll have a good background about which model you want, and what are the potential problems it has. You can also ask the owner if his PDA suffers from these problems.

After you do your homework, go to eBay and start looking around. If you're interested in a popular model, you will probably find dozens of sellers.

While you're on ebay, try to buy form a seller who has more than 50 feedbacks Bad sellers change their eBay ID to get rid if the negative feedbacks they got, so they will have only few feedbacks.

The pro's of buying a used PDA on ebay:

o Some great values available - especially if you look around long enough.

o Amazing amount of choices - dozens of sellers.

o Extra software and accessories may be included - ask them if it does.

o You Might be able to negotiate an even better price

The con's of buying a used PDA on ebay:

o Product may not be what was advertised

o Risk of product being "Dead on Arrival"

o Usually no warranty available

o Risk of not receiving PDA

o Possibly no support after sale

The advantages of buying a PDA on eBay are obvious, but the risks are notable, too. Before buying a used PDA, make sure you look at the option of buying a rectified PDA. IT will almost always cost more, but there is a chance of getting a better PDA for your money, as well as a warranty.