Three Tech Items You Should Never Buy Refurbished

There are exceptions. Here's a rundown of the three kinds of tech gear I won't buy refurbished:

1. Hard drives
The argument for buying anything refurbished goes like this: if it was returned because it had a problem, that problem has already been fixed -- meaning you're potentially better off with a refurbished unit than you are with a new one.
I don't think that applies to hard drives. Whether it was returned owing to a defect or simply because a person didn't like it, the fact is that it's been used. There is no "refurbishment" process I'm aware of that can restore a hard drive to factory-new condition. And with drive prices so low already, is it really worth gambling your data on a unit that's already seen some action?
2. Printers
This is more of a guideline than a rule, as a refurbished printer might prove to be a decent deal.
My chief concern is that if ink or toner has already cycled through the printer's innards, then what you're really getting is a used printer, not one that's been restored to factory-new condition. And as we all know, ink and toner have a way of gumming up the works, especially if the printer sits idle for a long period.
That said, if you can confirm from the seller's description that the printer has indeed been recertified by the manufacturer, and that it comes with brand-new ink/toner, it might be worth buying -- especially if the savings are significant.
3. Televisions
Buying a refurbished TV can save you a decent chunk of change, sometimes amounting to hundreds of dollars. But I flatly refuse to buy one, in part because I already did.
In fact, I've purchased two refurbished TVs in my life, and both arrived in a condition best described as "horrendous." One had a broken stand, the other looked like it had been packaged by monkeys. And I've heard from others about scuffed, damaged, and/or poorly shipped TVs.