Purchasing a new e-reader is a deeply personal endeavour. Most people buy new devices from online retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Rakuten Kobo. It is possible to save money by trading in your old device; Amazon has an excellent program for this sort of thing. However, buying a used or refurbished e-reader is also a great way to save money. Amazon has its renewed program, WOOT has deeply discounted previous generation e-readers that are refurbished, and even Bigme, Boox, and Kobo have a used section on their websites, where they sell customer returns.
Amazon has a renewed section of its website for Kindle e-readers. Their latest generation hardware is often discounted from $10 to $40, depending on the product. Amazon also has a trade-in program for Kindle e-readers, where you can get an Amazon gift card for your return and an additional 20% off a qualifying Kindle e-reader.
Rakuten Kobo has a certified refurbished section on its website for e-readers. The e-readers are a mix between the current generation, such as the Elipsa 2e and Sage, and older ones, such as the Nia and Libra 2. The discounts range from $10 to $100 off, so it makes sense to buy a used device, especially since Kobo discontinued the Libra 2, and there is a significant demand for it. Kobo also supports all the devices they sell when they release firmware updates. The devices and discounts may vary depending on your country, and the refurbished models are only sold online, directly from the Kobo website.
Barnes & Noble doesn’t sell refurbished NOOK e-readers online, but you might have better luck visiting one of their bookstores. NOOK e-readers are available at Walmart in the USA.
Onyx BOOX sells e-readers directly through their online store to customers worldwide. They have a used device section where they sell the Note series, Ultra Series, Go Series, and other devices. You can often save between $20 and $200 by buying a used one vs a brand new product. It is hard to know precisely how used it is, ONYX doesn’t disclose if there are any dings or scratches. However, they do have an FAQ that outlines their policy.
Likely, the number one online destination is online marketplaces such as EBAY. EBAY has been around the longest, and it is pretty easy to determine whether the seller is legit, based on their star ratings and what type of reviews people are leaving about their overall experience. I like EBAY, because I can find old e-readers such as the Sony PRS-350. People often sell newer devices like Kindles, NOOKS, and Kobo e-readers. Customers also like WOOT for older Kindles, Unclaimed Baggage for all sorts of e-readers at crazy discounts.
Do you know a good place to buy used or refurbished e-readers that aren’t on this list? Please comment below.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.