[PConline Talk] As July rolls around, it marks a month since the college graduation season has wrapped up. Many recent graduates have finished their graduation trips and are now embarking on the journey of finding new jobs. Some choose to stay in their hometowns, while others head to big cities to chase their dreams, which inevitably involves renting. While some may not have everything they need for their new homes, some students might consider purchasing their own appliances. In this situation, will you opt for second-hand appliances? Are second-hand appliances a reliable choice?
Do Not Recommend Buying Second-Hand Appliances
Although there are plenty of affordable options in the second-hand appliance market, it’s a great choice for graduates who are just starting out and have limited spending power. However, I believe there are certain appliances that aren’t ideal to buy second-hand.
When it comes to which appliances are unsuitable for second-hand purchases, washing machines are often excluded from the list due to hygiene concerns. Over time, regular washing machines can accumulate dirt, giving second-hand models a very unclean impression. In fact, many shops that sell second-hand appliances, as well as those that recycle them, often use these appliances as sources for repair parts.
Additionally, kitchen and household appliances that require safety considerations tend to be less frequently purchased second-hand. Items like rice cookers, microwaves, gas stoves, range hoods, electric water heaters, and other appliances are generally not considered good candidates for second-hand buys.
If you're in a position where you can afford new appliances, I would highly recommend purchasing them new. This ensures that all aspects of protection are more comprehensive.
Risks of Second-Hand Appliances
Unsafe Quality
Using second-hand appliances poses potential safety hazards and can pose health risks to users. For instance, many second-hand compressors in the secondary market are popular among floating populations due to their affordability. However, these second-hand refrigerators tend to produce noticeable noise and vibrations as they age. Additionally, the aging starter of second-hand refrigerators often leads to poor cooling effects. Many second-hand products also have a distinct odor inside, affecting food safety. Users opting for second-hand refrigerators should be aware of these issues.
Unreliable Sources
For those living in bustling cities like Kitahiro, the sight of vendors riding tricycles to collect used appliances in the streets and neighborhoods is quite common. These vendors roam the streets daily, collecting a wide range of second-hand appliances, including TVs, washing machines, refrigerators, stereos, and even smaller appliances like hairdryers, electric irons, and soy milk makers. The recycling prices vary significantly, with a 32-inch CRT old TV priced between 60-100 yuan, a 32-inch LCD TV priced between 180-400 yuan, and a power air conditioner priced between 300-600 yuan. Prices are typically determined based on the appearance and quality of the appliances. Most second-hand household appliances purchased by ordinary consumers come from these sources.
Government Policies to Regulate Second-Hand Appliance Trading
In response to the chaos in the secondary appliance market, the Ministry of Commerce issued 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 marked as used goods in prominent locations. Furthermore, legal entities, organizations, and individual businesses engaged 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 receipt, or the seller's identity information. Operators are also required to establish archives for second-hand electrical and electronic products.
How to Be Savvy When Buying Second-Hand Appliances
Compared to new appliances, second-hand appliances are certainly cheaper, but their quality and after-sales service cannot match those of new ones. Therefore, when purchasing second-hand appliances, there are several key points to keep in mind.
Check the Approved Service Life of the Appliance
In 2012, the "Detailed Rules for the Use of Household Appliances Safety" were approved by the industry standards committee. This rule provides the public with a clearer understanding of the service life of various types of household appliances and helps users determine when to retire their appliances. Currently, this rule specifies the service life of most 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 above service life, it is recommended that even appliances with the shortest service life, such as hair dryers, can last for four years. Other appliances generally have a service life of up to 10 years, making them relatively durable. When buying second-hand household appliances, identifying particularly old appliances will help you avoid purchasing "retired" products.
Understand Basic Electrical Principles for Inspection
When buying second-hand appliances, you often need to conduct a trial run in the store or have the owner install and commission the appliance at home. In such cases, understanding some basic features of appliances is crucial to identifying "retired" ones. Here are some tips for inspecting appliances.
TV: If it's an old-fashioned CRT TV, screen jitter or unclear images upon turning it on are usually due to aging or faulty internal components, making the product's value for reuse very low. For flat-panel TVs, noticeable color unevenness or water ripples on the screen during startup suggest problems with the LCD panel, often involving irreversible conditions. Therefore, when buying second-hand TVs, assess the product's picture quality to determine if it can continue to be used.
Refrigerators: The quality of second-hand refrigerators is relatively easy to judge. First, listen to the operating sound. If the refrigerator makes too much noise and vibrates significantly during operation, the compressor may be aging. Additionally, check the cooling rate; if the cooling speed is too slow or the cooling effect is poor, it indicates low cooling efficiency, suggesting a malfunction or long usage life. This increases power consumption, so buying second-hand refrigerators requires caution.
Air Conditioners: For second-hand air conditioners, it’s recommended to have the seller install it at your home for a trial before deciding to purchase. The quality can be roughly assessed by observing the stability of the indoor and outdoor units and checking if the running sound is uniform and the actual cooling effect.
Washing Machines: Washing machines can also be evaluated by the stability of their operation. If the sound is too loud or the inner tub shakes excessively, it's best not to buy it.
Pay Attention to After-Sales Service or Extended Warranty
Some second-hand appliances are used for a very short time, some even within the warranty period. When purchasing newer second-hand appliances, check the appliance's manufacturing date. Without a sales invoice, some manufacturers base the warranty period on the appliance's manufacturing date. If you can purchase appliances within the warranty period or with extended warranties, it’s undoubtedly advantageous.
Second-Hand Appliances Require Choosing the Right Brand
When buying second-hand appliances, brand differences are also significant. After all, different brands have varying assembly processes and materials, leading to differences in quality. Therefore, try to choose second-hand appliances from reputable brands.
Renting Low-Cost Appliances
Prior to this, we’ve heard a lot about renting houses and cars. However, household appliances can also be rented, something many people don’t consider. In today’s first-tier and second-tier cities, tens of thousands of college graduates seek employment annually. This large group of people who are low-income yet high in numbers rent apartments across the city. However, there are only a few rental options for air purifiers, water purifiers, and similar appliances. Facing this demand, many renters cannot afford such appliances, creating significant room for the development of the home appliance rental model.
Some home rental platforms require tenants to pay 70% of the goods' price as a deposit and offer rental periods ranging from one year to five years, or even short-term leases of several months. Short-term rentals are relatively more expensive. The author once contacted a home appliance rental platform in Shenzhen. When wanting to rent a refrigerator, the platform customer service informed the author that refrigerators should be rented for at least 3 months. Even for short-term rentals of 1 month, they follow the 3-month rental charge. 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 world of economics, "where there is demand, there is a market." With their low prices, the consumer market for second-hand household appliances is vast. The existence of this market cycle is not only due to buyers’ emphasis on price but also because many users eager for new trends sell their old appliances. Purchasing such products not only offers good value but also ensures quality. The second-hand household appliance market isn’t without reason. For recent graduates with limited budgets, buying additional second-hand appliances is undoubtedly the most suitable option. Although the government is already working to rectify the second-hand household appliance market, some inferior products still enter the market. Thus, for us, it’s essential to know some skills when buying second-hand appliances. Besides, rental and sharing models are gaining popularity. Apart from the second-hand market, we might as well consider home appliance leasing.
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