[PConline Talk] As July arrives, the college graduation season has been ongoing for a month now. Many recent graduates have wrapped up their graduation trips and begun the journey of searching for new jobs. Some students opt to stay close to home, while others head to big cities to chase their dreams. Naturally, renting plays a crucial role in this process. Additionally, not all essential appliances may be covered in a rental agreement, so some students may consider purchasing their own home appliances. In this scenario, as a graduate, would you consider buying second-hand appliances? Is purchasing pre-owned appliances reliable?
Do Not Recommend Buying Second-Hand Appliances
Although the second-hand appliance market offers a wide variety of affordable products, this is indeed a practical choice for graduates who lack spending power. However, I personally believe that certain household appliances are not ideal for buying second-hand.
When it comes to appliances that aren't recommended for second-hand purchases, washing machines stand out as many people avoid buying second-hand models due to hygiene concerns. Long-term use of ordinary washing machines can lead to dirt buildup, giving second-hand washing machines a rather unclean impression. In reality, many shops selling second-hand appliances and those involved in recycling often use these products as sources for spare parts.
Additionally, kitchen and household appliances that require attention to safety are less frequently considered for second-hand purchases. Items like rice cookers, microwaves, gas stoves, range hoods, and electric water heaters are less likely to be bought second-hand.
In cases where finances aren't an issue, I would certainly advise everyone to purchase new appliances to ensure comprehensive protection.
Risks Associated with Second-Hand Appliances
Unsafe Quality
Using second-hand appliances carries potential safety hazards that can also impact users' health. For instance, a large number of compressor-type refrigerators are popular among floating residents due to their affordability. However, these second-hand refrigerators tend to produce noticeable noise and vibrations as they age. Furthermore, the performance of the refrigerator starter deteriorates with age, leading to poor cooling effects. Many second-hand products have a distinct odor inside, which can affect food safety. Users opting for second-hand refrigerators should be mindful of these factors.
Unreliable Sources
Those living in major cities might notice the numerous vendors riding tricycles through streets and neighborhoods collecting used appliances. These vendors roam daily, collecting a vast array of second-hand appliances, including TVs, washing machines, refrigerators, stereos, and even smaller appliances like hairdryers, electric irons, and soy milk makers. Typically, the recycling price for a 32-inch CRT gun old TV ranges between 60-100 yuan; for a 32-inch LCD TV, it's between 180-400 yuan; and for a power air conditioner, it's between 300-600 yuan. The price differences are significant, usually based on the appearance and quality of the appliances. Most of the second-hand household appliances purchased by regular consumers come from these sources.
Government Policies Protecting Second-Hand Appliance Trading
Facing the chaos in the secondary home appliance market, the Ministry of Commerce announced the "Measures for the Administration of Circulation of Used Electrical and Electronic Products." According to this regulation, second-hand electrical and electronic products for sale should be clearly labeled as used goods. Additionally, legal entities, other economic organizations, and individual industrial and commercial households engaging in the acquisition or sale of second-hand electrical and electronic products must register the acquired products. The registration information should include the name, brand, model, original purchase certificate of the seller, or the seller's identity information. Operators are also required to establish archives for old electrical and electronic products.
Buying Second-Hand Appliances Requires Savvy
Compared to new appliances, second-hand appliances offer a significant advantage in terms of price. They are often much cheaper than new ones, but their quality and after-sales service cannot compare. Therefore, when purchasing second-hand appliances, there are several issues that require attention.
Pay Attention to the Approved Service Life of the Appliance
In 2012, the Detailed Rules for the Use of Household Appliances Safety were approved by the industry standardization management committee. Through this detailed rule, the public gained a clearer understanding of the useful life of various types of home appliances and when they should be "retired." Currently, this rule specifies the useful life of most home appliances, such as 8 to 10 years for color TVs, 8 years for electric water heaters, 12 to 16 years for refrigerators, 10 years for rice cookers, 8 to 10 years for air conditioners, and 8 years for gas stoves. 8 years for washing machines, 4 years for hair dryers, 6 years for personal computers, 10 years for microwave ovens, 10 years for electric fans, and 8 years for vacuum cleaners.
From the perspective of the aforementioned useful life, it is recommended that even the hair dryer with the shortest service life can last for four years, while others can generally be used for up to 10 years. The service life is relatively long, so when buying second-hand household appliances, identifying particularly old appliances will help eliminate the purchase of "retired" products.
Understand Some Basic Electrical Principles for Inspection
When buying some second-hand appliances, we often require a boot trial in the store, or some home appliances will be installed and commissioned by the second-hand appliance owner. In such cases, we need to understand some of the most basic characteristics of appliances to identify "retired" appliances. Here are some examples of appliance inspection techniques.
TV: If it's an old-fashioned CRT TV, screen jitter or unclear images when turned on are mostly due to aging or faulty internal components, making the product's reuse value very low. For flat-panel TVs, if noticeable color unevenness or water ripples appear on the screen when powered on, the situation is likely due to a problem with the LCD panel, often involving irreversible conditions. Therefore, when buying second-hand TVs, it's mainly up to everyone to judge whether the product can continue to be used in terms of both picture quality.
Refrigerators: The quality of second-hand refrigerators is also relatively easy to judge. First, listen to the operating sound. If the refrigerator's operating sound is too loud and there is noticeable trembling when running, the refrigerator compressor may be aging. Additionally, there are conditions to test the refrigerator's cooling rate. If the cooling speed is too slow or the cooling effect is poor, it indicates that the refrigerator's cooling efficiency is too low, and the malfunction or long life of the refrigerator will increase power consumption. Therefore, second-hand refrigerators need to be carefully evaluated.
Air Conditioners: For second-hand air conditioners, a more recommended way to purchase is to allow the seller to come to the door for installation. After the trial, decide whether to buy the air conditioner. The quality of the second-hand air conditioner can be simply checked by observing the stability of the internal and external air conditioners and whether the running sound is uniform and the actual cooling effect.
Washing Machines: Washing machines can also be judged by the stability of operation. If the operating sound is too loud and the inner tube shakes excessively, it's not worth buying.
Pay Attention to Whether There Are Still After-Sales Service or Extended Warranty
Some second-hand household appliances are used for a very short time, and some are even within the warranty period. When purchasing newer second-hand appliances, it may be worth checking the date of the appliances. Without sales invoices, some manufacturers will calculate the warranty period based on the manufacturing date of the appliances. If you can purchase appliances that are still under warranty or can purchase second-hand appliances with extended warranties, it will undoubtedly be a great advantage.
Second-hand appliances also need to choose the right brand
When buying second-hand appliances, brand differentiation is also more important. After all, different brands of appliances may have different assembly processes and materials, resulting in varying qualities. Therefore, we should try to choose second-hand appliances from brands with good reputations.
Renters can buy low-cost appliances that can be rented in addition to second-hand options
Previously, we heard a lot about renting houses and cars. However, household appliances can also be rented. This is something many people didn't think of. In today's first-tier and second-tier cities, tens of thousands of college graduates seek employment each year. This large but low-income group rents apartments throughout the city. However, there are a number of rentals, such as air purifiers, water purifiers, and other appliances that are rarely equipped. In the face of such a wide range of appliances, many renters cannot afford them, creating significant room for development in the home appliance rental model.
Some home rental platforms stipulate that for the rental of home appliances, tenants are required to pay 70% of the price of the goods as a deposit, and choose rental periods ranging from one-year, three-year, or five-year periods, to short-term leases of several months. The rent will be relatively higher. The author once contacted a home appliance leasing platform in Shenzhen City. At that time, they wanted to rent a refrigerator. The platform customer service informed the author that renting a refrigerator should start within 3 months. Even for short-term rentals of 1 month, it needs to follow 3-month rental charges. If rented for 3 years, the refrigerator will be given to the tenant, and 10% of the rent will be returned.
In summary: In the very popular phrase of economics, "where there is demand, there is a market." With its low prices, the consumer market for second-hand household appliances is very large. The reason why such a large market cycle can form is not only because buyers emphasize price factors, but also because many users eager to follow new trends are eager to update and become sellers in the market. If such products are purchased, not only is the price reasonable, but the quality is also guaranteed. The existence of the second-hand household appliance market is not without reason. For recent graduates who have just left school, it is undoubtedly the most suitable option for their current financial capabilities to purchase additional second-hand appliances. Although the country is already in the process of rectifying the second-hand household appliance market, there will still be some influx of inferior second-hand household appliances. Therefore, for us, we need to know some skills when buying second-hand appliances. Besides, rental and sharing methods have become popular nowadays. Apart from shopping in the second-hand market, we might as well consider home appliance leasing.
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