Buying a second hand tv can be a great option if you’re on a budget or are looking for a cheap television. Because new tech loses its value as soon as it’s bought, if you do your research you could end up buying a great television for a good price.
Any used tv will have some cosmetic damage, but keep an eye out for any substantial dents or scratches on the television. Any damage on the outside could indicate damage to the mechanical workings of the tv as well as giving you an idea about how well the tv has been cared for by its previous owner.
Features
Although older televisions are likely to have fewer features and older technology than newer models, it’s still important you buy a tv that satisfies your needs. Identify the features you can’t live without, and those that aren’t as important by looking at new television models; then ensure the second hand tv you buy includes all of those important features.
Size
Think carefully about what size television will fit in your living room. This is especially true when purchasing a used tv, as it may be harder to return if you decide the tv is too big or too small for the space it is sitting in. The screen size, always provided in inches, is measured by the diagonal distance across the viewing part of the screen.
Buy Local
If you can, buy your second hand tv from somewhere close to your home. This way, you will save on delivery costs and you will have a chance to thoroughly inspect the television before you decide to buy it.
If you aren’t able to inspect the television before you buy, ask plenty of questions and get the owner to take pictures of the television whilst it’s on.
Lifespan and logged hours
Many newer televisions, including Panasonic televisions and Samsung tv’s log the hours a television has been on. Finding out this information can be really handy, and is a much better indication of the remaining lifespan of the tv than its age.
Depending on the age and the hours logged, you might notice a small loss of brightness, as this tends to fade with use. A small loss of brightness may be something you are willing to sacrifice for a cheaper price, but if it greatly affects your viewing pleasure, keep shopping around.
