An Open Box Could Help You Save $112 on a New TV: How to Shop Through Amazon Warehouse

Do you care if you buy a laptop and it has a small scratch on the case? What if the packaging is a bit damaged, but the item is in great shape?

If you don’t mind minor imperfections, shopping at Amazon Warehouse could save you serious cash.

What Is Amazon Warehouse?

Not every item in Amazon’s giant distribution centers is 100% perfect.

Sometimes items are a little damaged from being dropped in transit, and they arrive at the buyer’s home in less-than-perfect shape. Maybe the items just weren’t quite what the customer had in mind. The buyer can send those items back to Amazon — and that’s where you come in.

Through Amazon Warehouse, you can purchase these refurbished, slightly damaged and returned open-box items at a steep discount.

While these items don’t meet Amazon’s definition of “new” items, they still work just fine. The company tests every item before shipping it to make sure it’s functional.

How Amazon Warehouse Helps You Save Money

Often, the damage is just cosmetic. Sometimes, the packaging is damaged, but the item itself is in perfect shape!

Just because the original purchaser decided they didn’t want it, doesn’t mean anything is truly wrong with it. Each item has a detailed description explaining its imperfections.

For example, a Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera‘s description notes:

“Comment: Small scratches on screen (less than 1/4 in. x 1/4 in.). Small scratches on front of item (less than 1/4″ x 1/4″). Small scratches on sides of item (less than 1/4 in. x 1/4 in.). Item has been tested and is fully functional. Item will come in original packaging. Packaging may be damaged.”

This means you’ll have a good idea of what you’re getting before you click “Buy.” And if you don’t like the item, return it — just like a regular Amazon order.

Choosing an items with some small amount of damage means you can save some serious cash. For example, you can save $112.25 on a 55-inch, 4K Ultra-HD Smart LED TV listed as “pristine and without scratches,” or $144.18 on a 3TB external hard drive in “acceptable used” condition.

And it’s not just electronics. Amazon Warehouse offers a range of products, from home supplies to sporting goods.

While special warranties aren’t available on these items, many are covered under manufacturers’ warranties. Some products come with the option to purchase a third-party warranty.

An added bonus? Many items are eligible for free shipping if you have Amazon Prime, or if the items meet certain requirements (generally, a total purchase of $35 or more).

Your Turn: Have you ever purchased open-box, refurbished or slightly damaged items through Amazon Warehouse? How much did you save?

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We would have shared them with you anyway, but a true “penny hoarder” would be a fool not to take the company’s money. 🙂

Kristen Pope is a freelance writer and editor in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.