If you're in the market for refurbished electronics, what you find can be less important than where you find it. This page not only compiles an array of useful links for buying refurbished electronics, but also outlines the possible pitfalls and advantages of buying from certain categories of retailers.

When shopping for a refurbished item, whether you're in the market for a compact digital camera or a tower server, it's crucial to know exactly what you're getting into, not just what you're getting. The type of retailer you're dealing with can be every bit as important as the make and model of the product. For a complete primer on refurbs, see how to buy refurbished electronics. To find out where to find them and what to expect, read on.

Many electronics manufacturers offer factory-certified refurbished electronics directly from their own sales outlets. Though the discount can be less impressive than those given by independent outlets, a factory-direct refurbished product is your best bet for quality and customer support. Some of these manufacturers include:

1. Sony Outlethttp://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=16160
2. Epson Clearance Centerhttp://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/BuyEpson/ccHome.jsp
3. Dell Outlethttp://www.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/notebooks?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh&dgc=ST&cid=20564&lid=461130
4. Hewlett-Packardhttp://www.shopping.hp.com/
5. Applehttp://store.apple.com/

Once you've located the manufacturer's webstore, select the category of the item you're looking for, or enter the exact model in the search bar. Results should include refurbished products as well as new items. Sometimes the main page will contain links for "refurbs," "specials" or "open box items."

Online retailers unaffiliated with the manufacturer sometimes offer better deals, but are a somewhat riskier proposition. Many of their products are factory refurbished products complete with manufacturers' warranties, but some may be in-house repairs or open-box returns that haven't been tested by the manufacturer. Look for the phrases "factory refurbished," "re-certified" and "manufacturer's warranty," so you'll know what to expect. Some online retailers known for selling refurbished electronics include:

1. New Egghttp://www.newegg.com
2. B&Hhttp://www.bhphotovideo.com/
3. Tiger Directhttp://www.tigerdirect.com
4. Refurb Electronicshttp://www.refurbelectronics.com/
5. Second Acthttp://www.secondact.com/
6. Refurb Depothttp://refurbdepot.com/
7. Overstock.comhttp://www.overstock.com/
8. Factory Refurbs Direct http://www.factoryrefurbsdirect.com/
9. PC Mallhttp://www.pcmall.com
10. MacMallhttp://www.macmall.com/

Some retailers carry refurbished products in their brick and mortar locations. The advantages of lugging home that 65" plasma screen yourself include the obvious savings in shipping and the benefit of dealing with a flesh-and-blood human in case you need to make a return. On the other hand, there's always a broader selection online. Note that the online selection vastly exceeds that in any individual store location. You'll need to call the individual location to verify availability.

Electronics dealers on eBay are a wildly mixed bag, ranging from major retail chains (Best Buy has its own eBay outlet) to grey-market importers operating from self-storage units. Do not assume that all smaller retailers are unscrupulous—many offer quality products and service—but be sure to do your homework. Depending on the retailer, you might find the best price for your item, but potentially not the best value.