Refurbished (generalüberholt)

The word "refurbished" appears more and more often on price tags, in online shops and in tenders. Many simply equate it with "used". In fact there is more behind it: tested, cleaned and, where necessary, repaired devices whose data was erased beforehand. This glossary entry explains what refurbished means, how the term differs from similar designations and how to recognize good goods.

What does refurbished mean?

The English verb "to refurbish" means "to polish up" or "to renovate". In retail, refurbished stands for devices that have been used or returned once and were then professionally reconditioned. In German, "generalüberholt" and "wiederaufbereitet" are common. Notebooks, PCs, monitors, smartphones, tablets and servers are frequently affected.

Important: refurbished is not a legally protected term in Germany. There is no general standard that defines which steps a device must go through. What a provider means by refurbished should therefore be stated in the product description or the test report.

How a refurbishment works

The exact steps differ by provider and device. A typical process looks like this:

Step	What happens	Result
1. Receipt and registration	Device is registered with its serial number, customer markings are removed	Clear assignment
2. Data erasure	All data carriers are securely erased or, if that is not possible, destroyed and replaced	Erasure or destruction certificate
3. Diagnosis	Testing of battery, display, keyboard, ports, storage and performance	Fault list, condition assessment
4. Repair and upgrade	Replacement of defective parts, if applicable more memory or a larger SSD	Working device
5. Cleaning	Interior and exterior cleaning, disinfection	Hygienically spotless
6. Software	Installation of a current operating system, drivers and updates	Immediately ready for use
7. Final inspection and grading	Functional test, classification of the visual condition	test report, condition grade

The visual classification is called Grading. Condition grades such as A, B and C are common, although every provider defines the grades slightly differently.

Refurbished, used, B-stock, remanufactured: the differences

Term	Significance	Tested?
Used	Device is resold in its existing condition	Not necessarily
B-stock	Mostly as-new returns, display units or devices with packaging damage	Varies
refurbished	Used device, tested, cleaned, repaired if necessary	Yes, with functional test
Remanufactured	Industrial reprocessing to an as-new condition, often with a warranty as for new goods	Yes, according to manufacturer specifications

In addition there are manufacturer programs with their own designations, such as "certified refurbished". These refer to devices that the manufacturer itself or a commissioned partner has reconditioned.

How to recognize good refurbished goods

• Verified data erasure: The provider erases all previous data with a recognized method and documents this for each device.
• Transparent condition: The condition grade is defined, battery capacity and signs of wear are described.
• Test report: A functional test proves that all components work.
• Tested spare parts: Replaced parts are compatible and quality-tested.
• Valid license: The operating system is properly licensed.
• Clear warranty or guarantee: Terms and duration are stated in writing.

Warranty and guarantee

The statutory rules for used goods apply to refurbished devices. For sales to consumers, the limitation period for claims for defects can be shortened to one year. Since 2022, the buyer must be specifically informed about this before the contract is concluded and must consent expressly and separately (§ 476 para. 2 BGB). Between businesses, the terms can largely be agreed freely. A guarantee, by contrast, is a voluntary commitment by the provider. This section does not replace legal advice.

Why refurbished matters for companies

A large part of the environmental impact of a notebook or smartphone arises during manufacturing, not in operation. Experts speak of embodied energy. Every device that gets a second life avoids the manufacture of a new one. This supports reuse, which takes precedence over recycling in the waste hierarchy.

For companies there are two perspectives. Anyone who hands over old devices earns proceeds instead of paying for disposal. Anyone who buys refurbished saves compared with new goods and improves their sustainability balance. More on this in the article Old laptops: remarketing and sustainability.

Example: From corporate notebook to refurbished device

A simplified example:

1. After four years, a company decommissions 80 notebooks and hands them to an ITAD service provider.
2. All devices are recorded at goods receipt. The SSDs are erased, and the company receives an erasure certificate for each device.
3. The diagnosis shows: 62 devices are fully functional, 12 need a new battery or keyboard, 6 have severe damage.
4. The 74 functional or repaired devices are cleaned, fitted with a current operating system, graded and sold.
5. Spare parts are recovered from the 6 damaged devices. The rest is professionally recycled.

Refurbished at Second IT

Second IT refurbishes decommissioned corporate hardware itself and has already reconditioned more than 180,000 devices. The refurbishment of IT hardware includes device analysis with test report, component refurbishing, upgrades, cleaning and disinfection, software reset with a current operating system and a final quality inspection. Beforehand, every device is erased with Blancco and receives a digitally signed erasure certificate. Second IT markets the refurbished devices through the online shop secondbuy.de and its own store. How companies sell their old devices securely is described in the article Selling used laptops and smartphones.

Frequently asked questions about refurbished

What does refurbished mean in German?

Refurbished means "generalüberholt" or "wiederaufbereitet". It refers to used devices that are tested, cleaned, repaired if necessary and sold again in working order.

Is refurbished the same as used?

Not quite. Every refurbished device is used, but not every used device is refurbished. The difference lies in the process: refurbished goods are tested, reconditioned and have a documented condition.

Are refurbished devices safe for companies?

Yes, if the provider verifiably erases the previous data and tests the devices. Look for an erasure method with a record per device, a valid operating system license and clear warranty or guarantee terms.

Which devices are suitable for refurbishment?

Above all business notebooks, desktop PCs, monitors, smartphones, tablets and servers. Age, condition and demand are decisive. Devices for which refurbishment is not worthwhile often still supply spare parts.

What happens to devices that cannot be refurbished?

They are dismantled. Functional components serve as spare parts, the rest is recycled through a certified waste management company. Data carriers that cannot be erased are destroyed beforehand.