I am so grateful that you continue to produce content. You started me on my repair path. Because of you and two others in my life, I was able to start a charity. We take broken items destined for the dump and fix them. Then, we donate them to families in need, who don't pay us a dime. I tell you this to bring to light the positive impact you have on this community. If you ever find yourself in Utah, hit me up.
@Bensux No previous knowledge beforehand. I've learned most of what I know from a few UA-camrs. The benefit of only receiving broken items is I could only go up.
@@PPoe86 Thanks for replying! I've been thinking about starting, and I do have some knowledge about electrical/electronics (mostly theory) but I'm always doubting myself.
I really need your support and donation, i myself struggling now, with not even $2 in my wallet, 😢 i am not lying , i have no tools anymore because i sold it to invest in the end is a scam, thats why i only make video course of gpu for now, i will really appreciate if you guys send me donation , im sorry i dont have any option 😢
I bought an Xbox One that was listed as broken, turns out it was a rubber band in the disk drive...Guess who I watched to figure out what I was doing to take said Xbox apart...I wish the best to you Steve, you've created a special spot for repair in my heart. Not to mention you've taught me how to do it.
I was a guy that bought broken stuff, fixed it, clean and polish it and mostly with laptops. It is a different market and there is not much money in it, and as a hobby it gives me money to buy more stuff to refurbish. The term (re)furbish comes from the German word 'furben' which means to polish. The Dictionary says this: made to look new again by work such as painting, repairing, and cleaning. A company that sells refurbished goods is a bad business model. Not only salaries, brick and mortar, electricity and warranty overhead drives the profit down. It is a really rough business to be in.
It is a rough business but a company who specialise in refurbishing consoles working way more efficient than a normal person can do. First they don't work on one console at the time, they disassemble multiple consoles and throw everything they could in a ultrasonic cleaner, the bigger parts in a cleaning station and use compressed air(not the overprices shit Tronics use, they have an actual compressor+tank) and a brush. A normal person needs 1.5-2h for a refurbished, a skilled one like Tronics need ~45-60min and a specialized company get that done in under half an hour. When something gets broken in the process they most likely have one who can fix it. But i have to admit that those company's most likely work for major brands and doesn't buy old stuff, refurbishing it and sell it on ebay.
The company I started which is a local computer store we sell refurbished laptops and desktops. Many we buy refurbished from the manufacturer directly (most are only open boxes) We make sure to clean them up 100% inside and out we also usually put a brand new SSD in each machine since when we sell anything refurbished we warranty it for a year also. So if we have to stand behind the product then you know we are going to make sure its in top shape :)
I love the way you bring reality to this "refurbished" industry. Appreciate that you continue to put content out as you go through your lymphoma battle. Wishing a full recovery and you are being prayed for.
KitchenAid refurbished stand mixers used to be actually refurbished; I don't know if they are now, but the one I bought 25 years ago even had a sticker on the inside with the signature of the refurbisher, the location the work was done, and the date. It was pristine then inside and out - not so much now but it's still in daily use.
The problem is training people to properly take the item apart, clean it, and put it back together and then try finding them for min wage or slightly higher. Your also going to have damaged machines from improper handling while cleaning (mistakes happen) That's why they just windex the outside, blow some air in the vents and clean them out a little. You can hire people at minimum wage and no worries. Just clean the outside and test that they work quick.
This video was superb. Not only did we get to see exactly what a decent refurbishing should entail, but it actually helped me to refurbish my own second hand PS4. No more disc insert issues, fresh thermal paste, and a clean fan. Brilliant! Well worthy of a subscription to the channel.
Liquid brown soap (tile floor cleaner) is what I use for cleaning plasics, cables. It seems to feed instead of drying out. Just add on wait a minute and wipe of with a linen towel.
More long plays steve! I love the longer videos...especially repair vids. I've watched your videos for years and have learned a lot up to this point. I hope it continues and kick cancer right in the face!
Steve I love your channel. This is not something for the 'how hard could it be ,hold my beer crowd ! There a ton of ways you can screw this up ! Your attention to detail is incredible and you deeply care about what you do and who will get a device from you. I don't do gaming , but if I wanted to buy a used or a refurbished device, I would check you out first!!!!
as for a refurbished device my expectations are that the device fully works, they've cleaned/tested everything from the capacitors to the CMOS battery and fresh thermal paste/pads. On older systems such as the OG Xbox, I would expect a full capacitor check or even replacement and I'm willing to pay a premium for such services if need be. I know that it's next to impossible to make money off of this kind of thing but for those who are willing to fix or sell such services? I'm more than willing to pay an extra 50-100$ "if not more labor/parts etc" for a device I KNOW that will work for years to come.
I love your content, been watching for a while now. But why do any cleaning on top of the board or on top of things youve already cleaned? Cant you move it??
Should add that must of the big name companies selling refurbished equipment offer a warranty - although, often for a shorter period like 3 months. That’s something you don’t get buying of a member of the public on eBay so you should include some value. Of course it is a double-edged sword as these companies will often add an anti-tamper warranty seal - so when you say that most people don’t open up their refurbished consoles, well add ‘voiding the warranty’ to ‘don’t know how’, and ‘why would I’ as reasons why people don’t.
100 percent. My son and I have picked up on refurbishing consoles as a hobby. I sent him link to video. Just recently I helped him with start up. He chose ps2 Slim. He doubled his money, and he felt good because it was fully cleaned, anything need be replaced do so. Time put on it to make sure reliable with no issues and cosmetically the best it can be before it goes. Refurbished is like new. As it should as new functionality wise and the best it can get for looks.
I believe for the confidence that I would have knowing the the ps4 has been cleaned like that I would pay $250. I would make sure in the description of the sale I would put the video link there.
I used to work in a phone warehouse refurbishment job. Basically we checked the battery health (minimum 80% or replace) cleaned out the inside and out. any minor nicks dents noted. If any major damage. It's used for parts.
Hope you are doing well with your treatment !! I have a phone that that battery died and because of you I'm going to try to replace the battery !! Watching you gave me the heart to at least try!!
Very true about it being hard to make money in refurbishing , these days anyway. One of the reasons that I hung up my torch and soldering iron. I do enjoy these videos though thank you .
I personally consider as refurbished a product that works fully, is second hand, was cleaned up before selling and seller provides some kind of warranty. Usually if you buy "from hand to hand" the product is not cleaned at all and you have no warranty.
I'm pretty sure the shop I bought my "refurbished" PS4 Pro from didn't open it. This is based on the fact that it still has the warranty stickers and that they sell DualShock controllers that only work when they are plugged in because the battery is bad. Oh well, that'll keep me entertained with some tinkering on a boring afternoon.
Most companies refer to open box as refurbished or returned within the week of purchase so alot are often unused or barely touched but yeah your controllers batteries probably died from sitting around unused
Probably a easy video on how to replace the battery and where to get them for cheap but with anything probably not worth the effort and easier to just buy new controllers
Just like restoring a classic car. There is no profit if you're doing it the right way. On the surface it doesn't look bad but when you start to dig everything no matter how small, adds up.
As a electric full time, i often get electronic items that was broken duo to false plugins to power or thunder strikes ect, like right now i got two solar batteries (one has fault, one dont start) value new each 1379 US$, i got a build in oven that dont heat correctly value new 5373 US$ (yes, its very expensive), and some other stuff for repair, i get some all the time (so for me doing electronic repairs as site business is nice), insurance dont want it, they just give customers new more or less all the time (and we are not allowed to leave broken items at customers from insurance). I also repair phones and other stuff for friends and family ect, but as a primary business i can see the issue, people want same price almost as working second hand cost for broken items..
I usually spend 60-90 mins to 'refurb' a console because I don't want them back later on. So far I've had no returns so I guess I'm doing something right. What I HATE the most is fixing up consoles people have bought from a well known games shop that sells refurbished systems, only to open them and see they clearly stick to the "wipe the outside a bit, she'll be right" method of refurbishment. The amount of dust and grime I usually see inside these machines is disgusting, especially when they're listed as cleaned and checked.
I always assumed refurbished meant at minimum, device works, all features were tested to work, and device was cleaned inside and out. if broken parts are found I would assume they kind of musical chairs the working parts between broken systems to get the most fully functioning units left after. that's at minimum, at most I would expect a 3 month or longer warranty, brand new part replacements, and new thermal paste/ thermal pads, new connector sockets installed for things that commonly wear out and get loose like charging ports. I've only ever had the pleasure maximum level of effort in refurbishment done by the OEM, laptop makers for example often sell refurbished returns through their ebay storefronts, and tend to have a good deal better refurbish quality.
I feel like a lot people are conflating repair with refurbish. Personally, I consider a refurbished to look and function like new regardless of whether or not they do any repairs. Provided that it wasn't in that condition to being with.
Great video. Be careful when vaccumming stuff. The static from the vac operating can cause damage to sensitive components. I use to have it happen when I worked on newer copy machines.
If any company actually did what you've done to this PS5, they would be able to charge more and I feel that acceptable. Buying one off eBay can be cheaper, but you not getting any guarantees that its been properly worked on. Thank you for all the great content and best wishes on your personal battles.
I believe refurbished means cleaning, replacing any wearable items such as batteries and thermal paste, and full testing with a stress test. Also, replacing any known failure points like some capacitors are known to fail.
I worked for a refurbishing company cleaning old cable boxes for other countries to use, luckily we had another sector for repairs which 1 out of 10 were usually doa but it was terrible I wish dust was only issue. Would say 1/3 were full of dead roaches, 1/3 had candles melted over them, and 1/3 were clean or just had to do a quick blowout and wipe down
My definition is the same as yours. Said the same thing about refurbished units when the DKO crap started. They are not doing the job right at all and lying about it. Back Market is even worse on prices but haven’t seen anyone review a console or anything bought from that site.
Refurbished should be devices that have been fully checked and working, the system have no faults, while the device parts can be replace if it has sort of damage or scratches but depends. In UK we got a cosumer rights act that allows if some business who dont make a full inspection of the device and just to see if the item works, then the customer can get the business to make it right, get partial or full refund and if they dont make any attemps to solve the problem then go to small claim court.
I think this is pretty much what I would call a refurbished unit. And people might definetly go for the cheaper option most of them dont want to even open their console. Theres lots of money to be made from people asking you to simply clean or just have a look at whats wrong with them.
I have had a refurbished C.I.B PS4 Pro for sale for $200 since before Christmas. I am unable to sell online, only locally. I do honest work with repasting, cleaning everything, fixing stick drift and testing thoroughly. Ive seen how other people and places manage to sell consoles at insane prices that are not even cleaned an im just like.. wtf is happening?
is the console still for sale? (and do you ship to the US?) I have a ps4 slim and wanted to upgrade, but i don’t want a ps5, so this seems like a good option
11:00 are you applying an alcohol-based solution on the rubber? I've always heard that alcohol/bleach/hydrogen peroxyde deteriorates rubber (after a few days the process start), so they've always said to wash it with dishsoap and water and airdry it.
Cutting corners isn't ALWAYS bad. For example if they offer a good guarantee where they will replace your device for no additional price if it doesn't work as listed, no questions asked. Obviously it's still not ideal, but it's supply in demand at the end of the day. They give an old console a quick wipe down and source hundreds/thousands from people, and they chuck it on a list that's easy to navigate in one place.
Tronix, I'm a forklift mechanic. The smallest wire I deal with is maybe 16awg. I can solder but I have never done board soldering. My wire soldering is pretty solid. Do you think someone like me could actually do something like this? Also keep in mind, most of what I work on weighs anywhere from 15-285lbs per part lol. The lifts in general on the low end weigh 10k lbs or on the high end, 15k lbs. Oh and with the occasional 25k lbs lift. 😁
Following along with your videos (and others, ie. IFixIt etc...) I have cleaned and/or refurbish several PS3's (Slim, Super Slim), PS4's (Slim, PRO) and a PS5. Mine, my sons and my nephews. You have provided excellent tutorials for keeping the family consoles up and running. Most noticeable was when I cleaned and refurbished my sons PS4 Slim. It went from OMG loud to almost whisper quiet. Thank you for helping this DIYer with the preventative service. Best wishes on the Lymphoma situation. You have built up much positive Karma with the help and advice you have given.
An ESD safe vacuum would save an enormous amount of time in this example. You can find them for about $100 used or $150-300 new. IMO that’d be a must have if you’re doing this for profit.
I've bought some sound cards that were "refurbished". I expected them to be repaired of some sorts but they were basically just cleaned and put in a little antistatic bag. I still got good hardware for a better price but I did notice a difference in what I expected what refurbishing would be.
I used to sell refurbished retro consoles on eBay. I would replace caps on all units older generations, lasers, etc. Clean the shells. It would take me a day per unit at minimum. I would buy the consoles in lots, resell individually and my profit was usually about $20-50, not including labor. It was never a lot, and I quit because during the COVID lockdowns I noticed resellers were buying my stuff and relisting for way more than I'd sell for (we're talking like 100% or more markup). I didn't want to contribute to the already ridiculous markup because I was doing the refurbs mostly as a hobby not as a job.
I think one of the big problems that leads to this kind of behavior from these companies (Still, shame on them) is the fact that its so hard to get into at least the basic areas to *do* the maintenance. Also, companies used to distribute service manuals, schematics, sell parts, have authorized techs, etc. But for similar profit reasons, its just not a reality anymore. That buck is then passed on to the referbishers, who then (in most cases) pass that buck down to the customer. In the end, the customer ends up screwed and the companies make more profit.
From what I can find and from what I have also known for many years now, "refurbish" means to "make clean, bright, or fresh again; renovate" (i.e. "fresh again" in this case does not mean to repair or replace, it simply here under the term "refurbish" means to "clean", or for a lack of better terms for the way we would say it in every day to day English "Buff it up" kind of like "Buff my shoes" and again means to "clean"). Nothing about "refurbish" means to "repair or replace what's broken as needed" though it can also mean to "modify with aftermarket housing and etc" or to "upgrade hardware" to give it a different look or to perform better compared to what's found on the shelves at retail stores due to the "renovate" definition of "refurbish". But to "repair or replace what's broken as needed" would in all technicality fall under the definition of "restore, restored, and restoration" or in other words those last three words listed off means to "return to the original or intended state". This is why refurbishers get away with what they're doing, or so people think refurbishers are getting away with something, because of the misunderstanding of what "refurbish" means. By using the word "refurbish" or "refurbished" or "refurbisher" all they're required to do technically by law if a lawsuit does come up against them in any given scenario is to clean whatever you have brought in to them. If they, however, claim to restore whatever they have taken in from someone, then they are required to clean, repair, and replace whatever it is that needs to be cleaned, repaired, or replaced. That's because restoration includes refurbishing, but refurbishing does not include restoration, because refurshing is just one stage or process of restoration. And that's also why when you take an electronic like a gaming console to a refurbisher, sometimes your gaming console comes back magically fixed, because most of the time all it takes to "fix" a gaming console is to simply clean it. However, when they hand it back to you and say your gaming console cannot be fixed, what they're actually saying to you is that they cannot fix it through the services they offer under the term "refurbish" and you need to take it to someone else other than them who offers restoration services, or otherwise if that's not at all an option for you because nobody offers those services in your area then you need to fix it yourself. But if neither of those options are available to you, you do still have options, is also what they're saying to you. You can try sending it in to the manufacturer if the warrenty is still available. Or you can instead just simply buy a new one, which is what they're actually trying to get you to do and specifically through them because it "cannot be fixed by simply cleaning it" due to the fact they make more money off you if you do happen to buy a new one, and also why they won't say anything beyond "it cannot be fixed" and leave out the "by simply cleaning it" bit at the end of the statement. P.S. To put it another way, you need to take your gaming console or whatever it is to an electronics repair shop, not a shop like Game Stop that offers only refurbishing. Most repair shops offer refurbishing for free included in the deal when they have to repair or replace something on or in an electronic. Why? Because to clean an electronic costs very little money and is almost not worth trying to charge for the cleaning and to repair or replace something on or in an electronic it's basically standard practice to clean the electronic before, during, and after the process for both ease of the repair and/or replacement process and so it gets returned to the customer in the best possible working condition it can be at that time.
@TronicsFixLongs is there any possible way that you can point me to the power button part? i was given a ps4 that had a broken power button and i desoldered the broken one and attached wires and its working 100% just have no idea where to get the little power button, its a original model ps4, same one you are working on in this video any help is appreciated i have looked everywhere its a 4-pad button
have a question I have a mossfet that I want to change that had three pads or I'm sorry four pads on it to connect when I took the old one off now I've got one pad and a Big Blob across the other part I use a solder Wick took all the solder off but it's still a big long blob did I ruin something not real good at doing this
"Refurbished" means nothing but sounds better than "Used". eBay is ridiculous sometimes, was browsing today and found something "Opened - Never Used" with a description full of how the box was just opened to confirm contents etc... and then there's pictures of the device, heatsinks choked with dust, greasy fingerprints all over it etc 😂
What I would expect is a clean devices with good battery health (if applied) and fresh, the perfect amount, thermalpaste. And offcourse some kind of warranty. Thanks for the videos ❤
I don't offer a warranty because people will try to swap out the internal parts to try and get a replacement or their money back with them putting non working parts into your console, and I don't have "warranty stickers to be able to tell they've been in the console messing with it
By refurbished I understand that a console should work like a new console, so no overheating, everything working, I don't mind scratches or broken outer shells as long as the functionality is there and as long as those cosmetic damages don't ruin the console in the long run. As for the price I dunno what I would pay for a refurbished console, I live in a country where the second hand market is not really great, mostly because there are very few offerings, there are some broken consoles for dirt cheap, there are "new" consoles that are super expensive and there are normal (used) consoles (some of them are refurbished, even tho it's not really mentioned) that are right in between.
Could a firm still profit reselling untested consoles (with no warranty of any sort) for less, so long as this was made expressly clear to the customer? Thrift shops are like this; there is no testing, cleaning, or "refurbishing" of electronics. Indeed, I have seen visibly damaged hardware for sale. As a consumer, I am bearing all of the risk, but the price is accordingly lower. Not everyone can afford the very best; sometimes adequate is the only viable option. Nobody eats at McDonald's because of the high quality of the food.
Throughly enjoyed the video! I would expect a refurbished unit to be done exactly the way you did it. Unfortunately like you said it's probably not cost effective for the seller.
The only time ive not repaired a system that i own was my xbox one X, the hdmi port died on it so i took it into eb games in NZ to get it repaired, it was about $100 all up to repair it, things like disc drives I have the tools for but I don't have a heat gun I just have a soldering iron with some smaller tips so yes technically I could repair it but it wasn't worth the potential cost if I broke it more. My ps3 on the otherhand I did a complete overhaul on, i bought a "broken" ps3 for about $50 (quite funny it was broken due to a puzzle piece being stuck in the disc drive) repaired this disc drive put it in my ps3, applied the perfect amount of thermal paste, added an ssd installed new software and its running like a dream again
Is there a reason you wouldn't want to use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to clean the dust? Seems like it would save some time and cleanup compared to brushing the dust onto your workspace and then having to clean that later.
I think that's the main reason they take off the factory stickers and slap on theres then tell you if you open you'll void any warranty you would normally have from us because they dont want you opening it up and finding out they didnt do exactly what they say they did. Plus honestly a lot of those probably wouldnt need replacement parts there would be some but i highly doubt it would be a large number maybe some hdmi replacements, fuse replacements, battery replacement, disc drive lens or drives, fans, but i cant imagine that all of them would need a lot of replacement parts. They dont dont even open these things up and clean them and replace the thermal paste they just wipe them down or hit them with a magic eraser and canned air then once they look good from the outside they box them up and slap a refurbished sticker on them and price then double than what they bought it for. People dont realize blowing canned air into a sealed colsed system doesnt do anything but push everything to the other side of the system. Any thing that is in there still remains in there just gets knocked around to different parts of the system most of the time directly to the heatsink fins where ut stays and starts to cause overheating issues.
I worked in repair shop for PCs and phones, there wasn't enough money in consoles to make it worthwhile. Phones were about the best it got as new phones can be a thousand dollars, so fixing cracked screens paid the bills.
I guess I have much more strict definition of refurbished...I think a refurbished device should be 100% free of damage with no more than minor cosmetic wear...Otherwise it's just a used console, even if you did clean it inside and out...Anyway, I love your videos! They have helped me tremendously!
I bought a scarce, "Refurbished" Optoma HD-91+ projector. I immediately knew why it was returned originally. There was a misaligned mirror inside causing a dark corner on the image. I had to fix it myself. They never did an effin' thing with it other than test it, and re-box it. Refurbishing is B.S. as I learned, and you already know. But I got a $5K projector for $1K. No complaints after 3 years of use so far.
Some systems are easier than others to refurbish. I think what you demonstrated here, that is what the definition of refurbished is, and should be. That being said, OG xbox One can be cracked and refurbished in about 10-20 minutes and upgraded with an SSD if you have them preflashed with the latest xbox software. pick your refurbs man! Playstations have always been overengineered except the first one. Even the PS One is a bit overengineered albeit simpler due meerly because of its age. Best to offer a cleaned and tested ps4 doing your best to obstruct the fan from spinning and blasting every single orifice you can with the top removed (cus its easy) with a shitload of compressed air and call it a day, OR a premium refurbished item where you do this particular process for a greater price, to justify the additional labor.
When I buy something refurbished I expect it to have been open up and cleaned. All parts tested as you do in your videos. If any electronics or fans, ect need to be replaced then they should. All work done should be specified in a sheet of paper with the technician who serviced it. Even if it's hand written. I.e. Mom and Pop places ect. Same with the system if comes with controllers I expect those to have been done the same. That is refurbished. "Pre-Owned" simply just means reselling it. Selling to gamestop and they turn around and put on shelf within a day without cleaning.
I'm assuming your plastic brush is ESD-safe. For those not in the know, using a nylon or plastic bristled brush to clean a circuit board full of ESD-sensitive semiconductors is not a good idea. If you're going to drag plastics across a circuit board, make sure it's made of conductive or static dissipative materials. The ESD struggle is REAL.
I agree with pretty much everything you said Steve. The cheapest consoles I used to get were from an E-Waste business that my brother worked for. With prices as high as they are, any profit I do make from fixing consoles provides enough for some spending money, but definitely not enough to live off of.
My definition of refurbished ps4 is new thermal paste and a good clean 👍 I brought a xbox one supposedly had been looked at by a tech company it had there warranty sticker on it, I opened it up and it was apsolutly filthy they should be ashamed of them self's I pride my self in helping people out as much as I can.
I think the majority of people including myself see it like this "new" too expensive, "used" untrustworthy as it could be in any condition, refurbished a used console that was cleaned and inspected by a professional. I realize that's not always the case but that's what goes through my mind with those three terms.
The great refurbish work you do should set the standards for your field,I been told that if you care and treat what your working on as yours you will always have work. Please do more cordless tool repair videos. Get well and f*** cancer
Refurbished implies (to me at least) that the product has been fully disassembled, cleaned, some level of component testing, reassembled, and all device functions tested and confirmed working as intended. A quick wipe down of the exterior does not meet this.
Might want to consider an air compressor for removing dust. Not particularly prime youtube content, but certainly more effective than doing most by hand. Been doing such since I was a kid. Recently invested in a larger capacity, quieter compressor with 3 stage filtration and more. It's great.
TLDW: Refurbish is a subjective term, and not legally binding. It is the responsibility of the company to be transparent of what their definition of "refurbish" means. It is the responsibility of the customer to read that definition and be fully aware of what they're paying for. Both parties should enter into agreements with open eyes. That being said, it's definitely possible for refurbishers to not rip off customers and still make a profit. If they fully state what they're selling, then it's not a rip off.
I buy refurb phones occasionally, but only from Amazon. They are VERY easy to return if I have any issue with zero questions asked. If it doesn't look and act perfect for a few days, I send it back.
I bought a ps4 pro off ebay i believe... thought it was brand new... my wife opened it before i could look at it... I'm pretty sure it may have been refurbished... it wasn't long the unit went awry...
this is exactly what I call Refurbishing.. unfortunately I doubt many companies will spend about 45 minutes each on a machine, so yeah corners are definitely going to be cut. that is if the machine is even opened at all.
I always thought refurbished meant that there was some kind of functional fault with the system that had been repaired so the unit could be resold in working condition, and anything else would just be considered simply as used goods. I guess that just shows your point about there not being a standardized definition for the term.
I got a ps4 off ebay for 64 dollars and it's safe to say it is ready to explode. I had a refurb ps4 years before that one, and when I opened it up after all the issues it caused me, I saw they did the washer trick... so it was on borrowed time. I think if the console was already well built, spending a little more on refurbs is a great thing, especially since ebay has been giving free warranties on ebay certified refurbished purchases. It's a great way to keep things out of a landfill while giving hardware a second life and saving people a bit of money... but in my humble opinion, if people are really spending 200-300 on a refurbished ps4... they should seriously consider buying a ps5.
Pretty sure gamestops of refurbished is they took it from counter slapped a price sticker on it and put it on shelf. Ones I've seen didn't even get a wipe down or looked like a cat had been using it as a scratching post
i bought a "refurbed" 4070ti in january this year, to my surprise it looked brand new, warranty seal still intact, PCI pins were mint (no "sliding in and out damage") *i take that back, used-like new 4070ti. 3070ti ftw3 was refurbed. and had no signs of being touched.* from being inserted into someones motherboard) i paid 650 for this V1 gigabyte 4070ti with everything minus the outer cover. i know they didnt do anything. likely someone bought this, seen it had issues cracking (although had mount included) and they sent it back *same seller has brand new cards of the same brand* all said and done, warranty holds on gigabytes website for whatever thats worth. as they dont hold their end of the deal. (evga is out the game now sadly and they too have become shady recently) either way, you can tell (if you do stuff like this) if someones "been inside" before or not. (just for the record, the cards still in my pc, sold 3070ti/2070s that werent mentioned)
Dude, clean everything and wipe down your bench before reassembling. I watched Great grandma dust bunny sit on you bench since the disassembly and the console was rolled around in the dirt from the top shield several times. Seriously dude, if you're going to show how good a job you do, don't make such gross errors in cleanliness.
I am so grateful that you continue to produce content. You started me on my repair path. Because of you and two others in my life, I was able to start a charity. We take broken items destined for the dump and fix them. Then, we donate them to families in need, who don't pay us a dime. I tell you this to bring to light the positive impact you have on this community. If you ever find yourself in Utah, hit me up.
How did you get started? Did you have any prior knowledge about electronics before starting?
@Bensux No previous knowledge beforehand. I've learned most of what I know from a few UA-camrs. The benefit of only receiving broken items is I could only go up.
@@PPoe86 Thanks for replying!
I've been thinking about starting, and I do have some knowledge about electrical/electronics (mostly theory) but I'm always doubting myself.
I really need your support and donation, i myself struggling now, with not even $2 in my wallet, 😢 i am not lying , i have no tools anymore because i sold it to invest in the end is a scam, thats why i only make video course of gpu for now, i will really appreciate if you guys send me donation , im sorry i dont have any option 😢
Dude he is the myth the legend 😎🤟
I bought an Xbox One that was listed as broken, turns out it was a rubber band in the disk drive...Guess who I watched to figure out what I was doing to take said Xbox apart...I wish the best to you Steve, you've created a special spot for repair in my heart. Not to mention you've taught me how to do it.
I was a guy that bought broken stuff, fixed it, clean and polish it and mostly with laptops. It is a different market and there is not much money in it, and as a hobby it gives me money to buy more stuff to refurbish. The term (re)furbish comes from the German word 'furben' which means to polish. The Dictionary says this: made to look new again by work such as painting, repairing, and cleaning. A company that sells refurbished goods is a bad business model. Not only salaries, brick and mortar, electricity and warranty overhead drives the profit down. It is a really rough business to be in.
It is a rough business but a company who specialise in refurbishing consoles working way more efficient than a normal person can do. First they don't work on one console at the time, they disassemble multiple consoles and throw everything they could in a ultrasonic cleaner, the bigger parts in a cleaning station and use compressed air(not the overprices shit Tronics use, they have an actual compressor+tank) and a brush. A normal person needs 1.5-2h for a refurbished, a skilled one like Tronics need ~45-60min and a specialized company get that done in under half an hour. When something gets broken in the process they most likely have one who can fix it.
But i have to admit that those company's most likely work for major brands and doesn't buy old stuff, refurbishing it and sell it on ebay.
The company I started which is a local computer store we sell refurbished laptops and desktops. Many we buy refurbished from the manufacturer directly (most are only open boxes) We make sure to clean them up 100% inside and out we also usually put a brand new SSD in each machine since when we sell anything refurbished we warranty it for a year also. So if we have to stand behind the product then you know we are going to make sure its in top shape :)
I love the way you bring reality to this "refurbished" industry. Appreciate that you continue to put content out as you go through your lymphoma battle. Wishing a full recovery and you are being prayed for.
KitchenAid refurbished stand mixers used to be actually refurbished; I don't know if they are now, but the one I bought 25 years ago even had a sticker on the inside with the signature of the refurbisher, the location the work was done, and the date. It was pristine then inside and out - not so much now but it's still in daily use.
30:14 I was expecting an angelic effect and sound as usual, but i remembered this is the "Longs" channel 😂😂
The problem is training people to properly take the item apart, clean it, and put it back together and then try finding them for min wage or slightly higher. Your also going to have damaged machines from improper handling while cleaning (mistakes happen)
That's why they just windex the outside, blow some air in the vents and clean them out a little. You can hire people at minimum wage and no worries. Just clean the outside and test that they work quick.
This video was superb. Not only did we get to see exactly what a decent refurbishing should entail, but it actually helped me to refurbish my own second hand PS4. No more disc insert issues, fresh thermal paste, and a clean fan. Brilliant! Well worthy of a subscription to the channel.
I love your attention to details and "the perfect amount of thermal paste"......great content!!
Liquid brown soap (tile floor cleaner) is what I use for cleaning plasics, cables. It seems to feed instead of drying out. Just add on wait a minute and wipe of with a linen towel.
More long plays steve! I love the longer videos...especially repair vids. I've watched your videos for years and have learned a lot up to this point. I hope it continues and kick cancer right in the face!
Steve I love your channel. This is not something for the 'how hard could it be ,hold my beer crowd ! There a ton of ways you can screw this up ! Your attention to detail is incredible and you deeply care about what you do and who will get a device from you. I don't do gaming , but if I wanted to buy a used or a refurbished device, I would check you out first!!!!
as for a refurbished device my expectations are that the device fully works, they've cleaned/tested everything from the capacitors to the CMOS battery and fresh thermal paste/pads. On older systems such as the OG Xbox, I would expect a full capacitor check or even replacement and I'm willing to pay a premium for such services if need be.
I know that it's next to impossible to make money off of this kind of thing but for those who are willing to fix or sell such services? I'm more than willing to pay an extra 50-100$ "if not more labor/parts etc" for a device I KNOW that will work for years to come.
I love your content, been watching for a while now. But why do any cleaning on top of the board or on top of things youve already cleaned? Cant you move it??
I agree. I know he’s not building a Mars Rover but seems silly to brush off the dirty parts while holding them above the clean parts.
Should add that must of the big name companies selling refurbished equipment offer a warranty - although, often for a shorter period like 3 months. That’s something you don’t get buying of a member of the public on eBay so you should include some value.
Of course it is a double-edged sword as these companies will often add an anti-tamper warranty seal - so when you say that most people don’t open up their refurbished consoles, well add ‘voiding the warranty’ to ‘don’t know how’, and ‘why would I’ as reasons why people don’t.
Those seals mean nothing in the US. It's illegal in the US to void a warranty for opening up your device.
Referb= Full strip and clean, repair/replace anything broken. Full working order! No major external damage! Fully tested and working!
yeah but that´s never the case
100 percent. My son and I have picked up on refurbishing consoles as a hobby. I sent him link to video. Just recently I helped him with start up. He chose ps2 Slim. He doubled his money, and he felt good because it was fully cleaned, anything need be replaced do so. Time put on it to make sure reliable with no issues and cosmetically the best it can be before it goes. Refurbished is like new. As it should as new functionality wise and the best it can get for looks.
The work you did is what I would call a refurbished console and would be worth the money
I believe for the confidence that I would have knowing the the ps4 has been cleaned like that I would pay $250. I would make sure in the description of the sale I would put the video link there.
I used to work in a phone warehouse refurbishment job. Basically we checked the battery health (minimum 80% or replace) cleaned out the inside and out. any minor nicks dents noted. If any major damage. It's used for parts.
Hope you are doing well with your treatment !! I have a phone that that battery died and because of you I'm going to try to replace the battery !! Watching you gave me the heart to at least try!!
Very true about it being hard to make money in refurbishing , these days anyway. One of the reasons that I hung up my torch and soldering iron.
I do enjoy these videos though thank you .
I personally consider as refurbished a product that works fully, is second hand, was cleaned up before selling and seller provides some kind of warranty. Usually if you buy "from hand to hand" the product is not cleaned at all and you have no warranty.
I'm pretty sure the shop I bought my "refurbished" PS4 Pro from didn't open it. This is based on the fact that it still has the warranty stickers and that they sell DualShock controllers that only work when they are plugged in because the battery is bad. Oh well, that'll keep me entertained with some tinkering on a boring afternoon.
Most companies refer to open box as refurbished or returned within the week of purchase so alot are often unused or barely touched but yeah your controllers batteries probably died from sitting around unused
Probably a easy video on how to replace the battery and where to get them for cheap but with anything probably not worth the effort and easier to just buy new controllers
Just like restoring a classic car. There is no profit if you're doing it the right way. On the surface it doesn't look bad but when you start to dig everything no matter how small, adds up.
As a electric full time, i often get electronic items that was broken duo to false plugins to power or thunder strikes ect, like right now i got two solar batteries (one has fault, one dont start) value new each 1379 US$, i got a build in oven that dont heat correctly value new 5373 US$ (yes, its very expensive), and some other stuff for repair, i get some all the time (so for me doing electronic repairs as site business is nice), insurance dont want it, they just give customers new more or less all the time (and we are not allowed to leave broken items at customers from insurance).
I also repair phones and other stuff for friends and family ect, but as a primary business i can see the issue, people want same price almost as working second hand cost for broken items..
I bought a refurbished ps4 in 2016 and it still works great
I usually spend 60-90 mins to 'refurb' a console because I don't want them back later on. So far I've had no returns so I guess I'm doing something right.
What I HATE the most is fixing up consoles people have bought from a well known games shop that sells refurbished systems, only to open them and see they clearly stick to the "wipe the outside a bit, she'll be right" method of refurbishment. The amount of dust and grime I usually see inside these machines is disgusting, especially when they're listed as cleaned and checked.
If the consoles aren’t coming back, but the customer is taking more consoles… Definitely something is right
I always assumed refurbished meant at minimum, device works, all features were tested to work, and device was cleaned inside and out. if broken parts are found I would assume they kind of musical chairs the working parts between broken systems to get the most fully functioning units left after. that's at minimum, at most I would expect a 3 month or longer warranty, brand new part replacements, and new thermal paste/ thermal pads, new connector sockets installed for things that commonly wear out and get loose like charging ports. I've only ever had the pleasure maximum level of effort in refurbishment done by the OEM, laptop makers for example often sell refurbished returns through their ebay storefronts, and tend to have a good deal better refurbish quality.
I feel like a lot people are conflating repair with refurbish. Personally, I consider a refurbished to look and function like new regardless of whether or not they do any repairs. Provided that it wasn't in that condition to being with.
Great video. Be careful when vaccumming stuff. The static from the vac operating can cause damage to sensitive components. I use to have it happen when I worked on newer copy machines.
Love these long videos. I actually like them slightly more than your normal short videos. I also find these long ones to be very relaxing to.
If any company actually did what you've done to this PS5, they would be able to charge more and I feel that acceptable. Buying one off eBay can be cheaper, but you not getting any guarantees that its been properly worked on. Thank you for all the great content and best wishes on your personal battles.
I believe refurbished means cleaning, replacing any wearable items such as batteries and thermal paste, and full testing with a stress test. Also, replacing any known failure points like some capacitors are known to fail.
I worked for a refurbishing company cleaning old cable boxes for other countries to use, luckily we had another sector for repairs which 1 out of 10 were usually doa but it was terrible I wish dust was only issue. Would say 1/3 were full of dead roaches, 1/3 had candles melted over them, and 1/3 were clean or just had to do a quick blowout and wipe down
My definition is the same as yours. Said the same thing about refurbished units when the DKO crap started.
They are not doing the job right at all and lying about it. Back Market is even worse on prices but haven’t seen anyone review a console or anything bought from that site.
Refurbished should be devices that have been fully checked and working, the system have no faults, while the device parts can be replace if it has sort of damage or scratches but depends.
In UK we got a cosumer rights act that allows if some business who dont make a full inspection of the device and just to see if the item works, then the customer can get the business to make it right, get partial or full refund and if they dont make any attemps to solve the problem then go to small claim court.
I love your work and integrity. Great channel!
I think this is pretty much what I would call a refurbished unit. And people might definetly go for the cheaper option most of them dont want to even open their console. Theres lots of money to be made from people asking you to simply clean or just have a look at whats wrong with them.
I have had a refurbished C.I.B PS4 Pro for sale for $200 since before Christmas. I am unable to sell online, only locally. I do honest work with repasting, cleaning everything, fixing stick drift and testing thoroughly. Ive seen how other people and places manage to sell consoles at insane prices that are not even cleaned an im just like.. wtf is happening?
is the console still for sale? (and do you ship to the US?) I have a ps4 slim and wanted to upgrade, but i don’t want a ps5, so this seems like a good option
Those companies probably offer a warranty and allow for trade in credits or pay over time
11:00 are you applying an alcohol-based solution on the rubber? I've always heard that alcohol/bleach/hydrogen peroxyde deteriorates rubber (after a few days the process start), so they've always said to wash it with dishsoap and water and airdry it.
Cutting corners isn't ALWAYS bad. For example if they offer a good guarantee where they will replace your device for no additional price if it doesn't work as listed, no questions asked.
Obviously it's still not ideal, but it's supply in demand at the end of the day. They give an old console a quick wipe down and source hundreds/thousands from people, and they chuck it on a list that's easy to navigate in one place.
I need to refurbish my day 1 PS4 at some point.
Awesome video Steve!
Tronix, I'm a forklift mechanic. The smallest wire I deal with is maybe 16awg. I can solder but I have never done board soldering. My wire soldering is pretty solid. Do you think someone like me could actually do something like this? Also keep in mind, most of what I work on weighs anywhere from 15-285lbs per part lol. The lifts in general on the low end weigh 10k lbs or on the high end, 15k lbs. Oh and with the occasional 25k lbs lift. 😁
Following along with your videos (and others, ie. IFixIt etc...) I have cleaned and/or refurbish several PS3's (Slim, Super Slim), PS4's (Slim, PRO) and a PS5. Mine, my sons and my nephews. You have provided excellent tutorials for keeping the family consoles up and running. Most noticeable was when I cleaned and refurbished my sons PS4 Slim. It went from OMG loud to almost whisper quiet. Thank you for helping this DIYer with the preventative service. Best wishes on the Lymphoma situation. You have built up much positive Karma with the help and advice you have given.
Karma? Ha
An ESD safe vacuum would save an enormous amount of time in this example. You can find them for about $100 used or $150-300 new. IMO that’d be a must have if you’re doing this for profit.
One other cost a lot of people or companies that sell “refurbished” products have is the fees that eBay, Amazon, and others charge to list items.
🤘🤘
I've bought some sound cards that were "refurbished". I expected them to be repaired of some sorts but they were basically just cleaned and put in a little antistatic bag. I still got good hardware for a better price but I did notice a difference in what I expected what refurbishing would be.
I used to sell refurbished retro consoles on eBay. I would replace caps on all units older generations, lasers, etc. Clean the shells. It would take me a day per unit at minimum. I would buy the consoles in lots, resell individually and my profit was usually about $20-50, not including labor. It was never a lot, and I quit because during the COVID lockdowns I noticed resellers were buying my stuff and relisting for way more than I'd sell for (we're talking like 100% or more markup). I didn't want to contribute to the already ridiculous markup because I was doing the refurbs mostly as a hobby not as a job.
1Thank you for informing us about reburbished products. And a good fix the ps4! Well done sir...
I think one of the big problems that leads to this kind of behavior from these companies (Still, shame on them) is the fact that its so hard to get into at least the basic areas to *do* the maintenance. Also, companies used to distribute service manuals, schematics, sell parts, have authorized techs, etc. But for similar profit reasons, its just not a reality anymore. That buck is then passed on to the referbishers, who then (in most cases) pass that buck down to the customer. In the end, the customer ends up screwed and the companies make more profit.
From what I can find and from what I have also known for many years now, "refurbish" means to "make clean, bright, or fresh again; renovate" (i.e. "fresh again" in this case does not mean to repair or replace, it simply here under the term "refurbish" means to "clean", or for a lack of better terms for the way we would say it in every day to day English "Buff it up" kind of like "Buff my shoes" and again means to "clean"). Nothing about "refurbish" means to "repair or replace what's broken as needed" though it can also mean to "modify with aftermarket housing and etc" or to "upgrade hardware" to give it a different look or to perform better compared to what's found on the shelves at retail stores due to the "renovate" definition of "refurbish". But to "repair or replace what's broken as needed" would in all technicality fall under the definition of "restore, restored, and restoration" or in other words those last three words listed off means to "return to the original or intended state".
This is why refurbishers get away with what they're doing, or so people think refurbishers are getting away with something, because of the misunderstanding of what "refurbish" means. By using the word "refurbish" or "refurbished" or "refurbisher" all they're required to do technically by law if a lawsuit does come up against them in any given scenario is to clean whatever you have brought in to them. If they, however, claim to restore whatever they have taken in from someone, then they are required to clean, repair, and replace whatever it is that needs to be cleaned, repaired, or replaced. That's because restoration includes refurbishing, but refurbishing does not include restoration, because refurshing is just one stage or process of restoration. And that's also why when you take an electronic like a gaming console to a refurbisher, sometimes your gaming console comes back magically fixed, because most of the time all it takes to "fix" a gaming console is to simply clean it.
However, when they hand it back to you and say your gaming console cannot be fixed, what they're actually saying to you is that they cannot fix it through the services they offer under the term "refurbish" and you need to take it to someone else other than them who offers restoration services, or otherwise if that's not at all an option for you because nobody offers those services in your area then you need to fix it yourself. But if neither of those options are available to you, you do still have options, is also what they're saying to you. You can try sending it in to the manufacturer if the warrenty is still available. Or you can instead just simply buy a new one, which is what they're actually trying to get you to do and specifically through them because it "cannot be fixed by simply cleaning it" due to the fact they make more money off you if you do happen to buy a new one, and also why they won't say anything beyond "it cannot be fixed" and leave out the "by simply cleaning it" bit at the end of the statement.
P.S. To put it another way, you need to take your gaming console or whatever it is to an electronics repair shop, not a shop like Game Stop that offers only refurbishing. Most repair shops offer refurbishing for free included in the deal when they have to repair or replace something on or in an electronic. Why? Because to clean an electronic costs very little money and is almost not worth trying to charge for the cleaning and to repair or replace something on or in an electronic it's basically standard practice to clean the electronic before, during, and after the process for both ease of the repair and/or replacement process and so it gets returned to the customer in the best possible working condition it can be at that time.
You need to make a dualsense edge trigger stopper repair video or even simply the dualsense edge teardown
@TronicsFixLongs is there any possible way that you can point me to the power button part? i was given a ps4 that had a broken power button and i desoldered the broken one and attached wires and its working 100% just have no idea where to get the little power button, its a original model ps4, same one you are working on in this video any help is appreciated
i have looked everywhere its a 4-pad button
Do you have a list of all the features that need to be tested on each system to make sure it's fully working?
have a question I have a mossfet that I want to change that had three pads or I'm sorry four pads on it to connect when I took the old one off now I've got one pad and a Big Blob across the other part I use a solder Wick took all the solder off but it's still a big long blob did I ruin something not real good at doing this
"Refurbished" means nothing but sounds better than "Used".
eBay is ridiculous sometimes, was browsing today and found something "Opened - Never Used" with a description full of how the box was just opened to confirm contents etc... and then there's pictures of the device, heatsinks choked with dust, greasy fingerprints all over it etc 😂
The work you had done seems to be reasonable definition of refurbished.
What I would expect is a clean devices with good battery health (if applied) and fresh, the perfect amount, thermalpaste. And offcourse some kind of warranty. Thanks for the videos ❤
I don't offer a warranty because people will try to swap out the internal parts to try and get a replacement or their money back with them putting non working parts into your console, and I don't have "warranty stickers to be able to tell they've been in the console messing with it
By refurbished I understand that a console should work like a new console, so no overheating, everything working, I don't mind scratches or broken outer shells as long as the functionality is there and as long as those cosmetic damages don't ruin the console in the long run. As for the price I dunno what I would pay for a refurbished console, I live in a country where the second hand market is not really great, mostly because there are very few offerings, there are some broken consoles for dirt cheap, there are "new" consoles that are super expensive and there are normal (used) consoles (some of them are refurbished, even tho it's not really mentioned) that are right in between.
Could a firm still profit reselling untested consoles (with no warranty of any sort) for less, so long as this was made expressly clear to the customer?
Thrift shops are like this; there is no testing, cleaning, or "refurbishing" of electronics. Indeed, I have seen visibly damaged hardware for sale. As a consumer, I am bearing all of the risk, but the price is accordingly lower.
Not everyone can afford the very best; sometimes adequate is the only viable option. Nobody eats at McDonald's because of the high quality of the food.
Throughly enjoyed the video! I would expect a refurbished unit to be done exactly the way you did it. Unfortunately like you said it's probably not cost effective for the seller.
The only time ive not repaired a system that i own was my xbox one X, the hdmi port died on it so i took it into eb games in NZ to get it repaired, it was about $100 all up to repair it, things like disc drives I have the tools for but I don't have a heat gun I just have a soldering iron with some smaller tips so yes technically I could repair it but it wasn't worth the potential cost if I broke it more. My ps3 on the otherhand I did a complete overhaul on, i bought a "broken" ps3 for about $50 (quite funny it was broken due to a puzzle piece being stuck in the disc drive) repaired this disc drive put it in my ps3, applied the perfect amount of thermal paste, added an ssd installed new software and its running like a dream again
That metal toothbrush rubbing on the disc drive Hurts my Ears!! :)
You should sell that as merch. A piece of paper with that as the certification on it. And your signature of course
are the rollers silicone or rubber? Rubber degrades with IPA.
What video editing software do you use?
Is there a reason you wouldn't want to use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to clean the dust? Seems like it would save some time and cleanup compared to brushing the dust onto your workspace and then having to clean that later.
Almost a amazing refurb, I just didn’t see you check the clock battery. And the glossy section could be polished (it had a skin over it).
If a seller says "REFURBISHED" i simply won't buy the item.
I think that's the main reason they take off the factory stickers and slap on theres then tell you if you open you'll void any warranty you would normally have from us because they dont want you opening it up and finding out they didnt do exactly what they say they did. Plus honestly a lot of those probably wouldnt need replacement parts there would be some but i highly doubt it would be a large number maybe some hdmi replacements, fuse replacements, battery replacement, disc drive lens or drives, fans, but i cant imagine that all of them would need a lot of replacement parts. They dont dont even open these things up and clean them and replace the thermal paste they just wipe them down or hit them with a magic eraser and canned air then once they look good from the outside they box them up and slap a refurbished sticker on them and price then double than what they bought it for. People dont realize blowing canned air into a sealed colsed system doesnt do anything but push everything to the other side of the system. Any thing that is in there still remains in there just gets knocked around to different parts of the system most of the time directly to the heatsink fins where ut stays and starts to cause overheating issues.
I worked in repair shop for PCs and phones, there wasn't enough money in consoles to make it worthwhile. Phones were about the best it got as new phones can be a thousand dollars, so fixing cracked screens paid the bills.
@10:30 'the piece of rice or something' looks like a moth cocoon.
I guess I have much more strict definition of refurbished...I think a refurbished device should be 100% free of damage with no more than minor cosmetic wear...Otherwise it's just a used console, even if you did clean it inside and out...Anyway, I love your videos! They have helped me tremendously!
I bought a scarce, "Refurbished" Optoma HD-91+ projector. I immediately knew why it was returned originally. There was a misaligned mirror inside causing a dark corner on the image. I had to fix it myself. They never did an effin' thing with it other than test it, and re-box it. Refurbishing is B.S. as I learned, and you already know. But I got a $5K projector for $1K. No complaints after 3 years of use so far.
Some systems are easier than others to refurbish. I think what you demonstrated here, that is what the definition of refurbished is, and should be. That being said, OG xbox One can be cracked and refurbished in about 10-20 minutes and upgraded with an SSD if you have them preflashed with the latest xbox software. pick your refurbs man! Playstations have always been overengineered except the first one. Even the PS One is a bit overengineered albeit simpler due meerly because of its age. Best to offer a cleaned and tested ps4 doing your best to obstruct the fan from spinning and blasting every single orifice you can with the top removed (cus its easy) with a shitload of compressed air and call it a day, OR a premium refurbished item where you do this particular process for a greater price, to justify the additional labor.
this is assuming the fan is not bad (which you should be able to tell during testing)
I restore my consoles by myself, and your videos helped me a lot 😘
When I buy something refurbished I expect it to have been open up and cleaned. All parts tested as you do in your videos. If any electronics or fans, ect need to be replaced then they should. All work done should be specified in a sheet of paper with the technician who serviced it. Even if it's hand written. I.e. Mom and Pop places ect. Same with the system if comes with controllers I expect those to have been done the same. That is refurbished. "Pre-Owned" simply just means reselling it. Selling to gamestop and they turn around and put on shelf within a day without cleaning.
I'm assuming your plastic brush is ESD-safe. For those not in the know, using a nylon or plastic bristled brush to clean a circuit board full of ESD-sensitive semiconductors is not a good idea. If you're going to drag plastics across a circuit board, make sure it's made of conductive or static dissipative materials. The ESD struggle is REAL.
I agree with pretty much everything you said Steve. The cheapest consoles I used to get were from an E-Waste business that my brother worked for. With prices as high as they are, any profit I do make from fixing consoles provides enough for some spending money, but definitely not enough to live off of.
My definition of refurbished ps4 is new thermal paste and a good clean 👍 I brought a xbox one supposedly had been looked at by a tech company it had there warranty sticker on it, I opened it up and it was apsolutly filthy they should be ashamed of them self's I pride my self in helping people out as much as I can.
Looked at by tech company = someone plugged it into the TV and it powered on with display, Mayne put a disk in to see if read game.
I think the majority of people including myself see it like this "new" too expensive, "used" untrustworthy as it could be in any condition, refurbished a used console that was cleaned and inspected by a professional. I realize that's not always the case but that's what goes through my mind with those three terms.
The great refurbish work you do should set the standards for your field,I been told that if you care and treat what your working on as yours you will always have work. Please do more cordless tool repair videos. Get well and f*** cancer
Refurbished implies (to me at least) that the product has been fully disassembled, cleaned, some level of component testing, reassembled, and all device functions tested and confirmed working as intended. A quick wipe down of the exterior does not meet this.
Might want to consider an air compressor for removing dust. Not particularly prime youtube content, but certainly more effective than doing most by hand. Been doing such since I was a kid. Recently invested in a larger capacity, quieter compressor with 3 stage filtration and more. It's great.
TLDW: Refurbish is a subjective term, and not legally binding. It is the responsibility of the company to be transparent of what their definition of "refurbish" means. It is the responsibility of the customer to read that definition and be fully aware of what they're paying for. Both parties should enter into agreements with open eyes.
That being said, it's definitely possible for refurbishers to not rip off customers and still make a profit. If they fully state what they're selling, then it's not a rip off.
I buy refurb phones occasionally, but only from Amazon. They are VERY easy to return if I have any issue with zero questions asked. If it doesn't look and act perfect for a few days, I send it back.
I bought a ps4 pro off ebay i believe... thought it was brand new... my wife opened it before i could look at it... I'm pretty sure it may have been refurbished... it wasn't long the unit went awry...
this is exactly what I call Refurbishing.. unfortunately I doubt many companies will spend about 45 minutes each on a machine, so yeah corners are definitely going to be cut. that is if the machine is even opened at all.
Recorded almost a year ago
I always thought refurbished meant that there was some kind of functional fault with the system that had been repaired so the unit could be resold in working condition, and anything else would just be considered simply as used goods. I guess that just shows your point about there not being a standardized definition for the term.
I got a ps4 off ebay for 64 dollars and it's safe to say it is ready to explode. I had a refurb ps4 years before that one, and when I opened it up after all the issues it caused me, I saw they did the washer trick... so it was on borrowed time.
I think if the console was already well built, spending a little more on refurbs is a great thing, especially since ebay has been giving free warranties on ebay certified refurbished purchases. It's a great way to keep things out of a landfill while giving hardware a second life and saving people a bit of money... but in my humble opinion, if people are really spending 200-300 on a refurbished ps4... they should seriously consider buying a ps5.
I keep my consoles and games clean all the time. I have a ps2,ps3 fat,ps3 slim,ps4 Pro,and ps5.
You're telling me dkoldies and GameSpot dont refurbish their consoles?! Wow thats news to me!
Pretty sure gamestops of refurbished is they took it from counter slapped a price sticker on it and put it on shelf. Ones I've seen didn't even get a wipe down or looked like a cat had been using it as a scratching post
Where was the list of the top places to get refurbs?
Might it cheaper but yours is done right and would buy it before the others great job !!!!
i bought a "refurbed" 4070ti in january this year,
to my surprise it looked brand new, warranty seal still intact,
PCI pins were mint (no "sliding in and out damage")
*i take that back, used-like new 4070ti. 3070ti ftw3
was refurbed. and had no signs of being touched.*
from being inserted into someones motherboard)
i paid 650 for this V1 gigabyte 4070ti with everything
minus the outer cover. i know they didnt do anything.
likely someone bought this, seen it had issues cracking
(although had mount included) and they sent it back
*same seller has brand new cards of the same brand*
all said and done, warranty holds on gigabytes website for
whatever thats worth. as they dont hold their end of the deal.
(evga is out the game now sadly and they too have become shady recently)
either way, you can tell (if you do stuff like this) if someones "been inside"
before or not. (just for the record, the cards still in my pc, sold 3070ti/2070s
that werent mentioned)
Dude, clean everything and wipe down your bench before reassembling. I watched Great grandma dust bunny sit on you bench since the disassembly and the console was rolled around in the dirt from the top shield several times. Seriously dude, if you're going to show how good a job you do, don't make such gross errors in cleanliness.
I was thinking the same thing. Like why get dust and crud everywhere and reassemble on top of it??