Target trialing online sales of pre-owned electronics

Although you may be accustomed to picking up your used wares from locales such as GameStop, Target is hoping that the scavengers of all things pre-owned will stop by its online electronics site, too. The retailer is currently testing online sales of used gizmos, including iPods, camcorders and HDTVs. Reportedly, the company made the call to start selling these goods after noticing that many returned items came back in "perfect working order," but it has yet to decide whether it will continue the business. We also heard that refurbished consoles would be up for grabs, but after running a quick search, we came up empty handed. Still, we'd be awfully careful before we ordered, say, a pre-owned iPod, from Target -- you really never know what you're gonna get.

[Ryan Trevisol @ Nov 21st 2007 9:17AM]

You know, that's pretty cool. And a cheap 20GB 3g ipod is the way to go if you're doing a car stereo with an iPod in the glove compartment. That way it never leaves except to add music.

[SnowB @ Nov 21st 2007 9:24AM]

Gotta agree with Ryan. I've got a 3rd Gen 20GB in my car's armrest, connected via the amazing USA Spec PA-11 integration kit ($100 shipped from eBay) and it's the perfect use for an older, used iPod. It never gets bumped or shaken, and works great as my car's jukebox.

[Ryan Trevisol @ Nov 21st 2007 9:28AM]

That, or one of the new Sony head units that has an integrated iPod cable. I'm putting one in my wife's car for $129 including dash kit and wiring harness from Crutchfield. I'm seriously thinking about one of these, so she could just use her mini for the gym.

[Jason Gold @ Nov 21st 2007 10:38AM]

don't ipods get scratched pretty easily though? i'm a freak about keeping my stuff clean, so this wouldn't be for me.

[BradVT @ Nov 21st 2007 10:03AM]

You know, I've been thinking about the whole mp3 player in the car thing, and couldn't you use a zune with the new firmware, and just have it sync wirelessly from right in your car. I don't remember if the 30 gb original can sync wirelessly, but if it can then it seems that it would be a pretty simple way of always having your tunes in your car, and cheap too since you can get a brown one for what, 90 bucks?

[Rob @ Nov 21st 2007 10:06AM]

I agree with everyone saying that an iPod connected to your card stereo and stored in the glove compartment, or anywhere else in the car, is a convenient feature. I want to do that myself. But, I wouldn't get a 5.5 for that. Might as well go even lower and get a 4th generation or lower. It'd be a waste to pay for a video feature you won't be using.

My question is, why isn't Target selling these used/refurbished units at the stores? They'd fly off the shelves within seconds. It's not as if Target, or any other retailer, is making money off the iPods alone. They make money off the accessories. In any event, as our economy enters more and more uncertain times, the refurbished market will grow pretty fast real soon.

[Ryan Trevisol @ Nov 21st 2007 10:29AM]

Probably these are coming from the Amazon side of things . . .

[Binkles @ Nov 22nd 2007 1:26AM]

My guess is that their aim was to centralize the process. The most obvious reason for this is that i doubt individual stores (at least some of them) get returned ipods in "perfect working condition" in bulk. Online distribution allows there to be a common pool and therefore a greater supply. Also, by going with online distribution they don't have to guess what stores would have a better chance of selling them and sending them off just to sit on a shelf in a poor market.

[JS @ Nov 21st 2007 10:13AM]

Does this include pre-owned rocks for online sale? Perfect working order...

[tande @ Nov 21st 2007 10:44AM]

I must be missing something in your guys logic. I've always used an ipod in the car too but I've always thought that the best thing about it was that I take it out when I leave the car and then I've got the same music at home, in the office, etc. I don't think I'd want to have two seperate ones to keep up to date.

Now a cheap nano to give out this christmas is a different story.

Hasn't Target been doing this for awhile though? I always saw them on there as "refurbished" is it really a new program or are they just changing what they call them?

[Randy @ Nov 21st 2007 11:06AM]

I just checked, and the pre-owned ipods are the same price as the refurbished ipods at the apple store. How is this a better deal?

[YouFaceTheTick @ Nov 21st 2007 11:26AM]

Welcome to a months and months ago Engadget. so are all the stories just recycled or non-news today?

[David Clark @ Nov 21st 2007 11:39AM]

Considering the customer reviews thus far has only been 3 stars (see picture), I doubt this will go over well. Everybody wants a new iPod for a used price, and that's not what's going to happen.

[SuperChuck @ Nov 21st 2007 11:43AM]

Trialing? Really? Try "trying"

[AndrewP @ Nov 21st 2007 11:50AM]

They are now showing a GameCube in the pre-owned merchandise.
http://tinyurl.com/2tu55u
Also, I think their prices are a bit high unless they still come with the full 'new' warranty. I don't see any comment on the issue.
The site does say...
"All pre-owned iPods are quality tested and receive a cosmetic check and cleaning, an inventory of all components, download and play tests, product repackaging and, if necessary, battery charge, restoration to default settings and replacement of components."
But you can only trust the internets so much, on the 20gb 3rd Gen. I also found
"Batteries required"

[CaliforniaKid @ Nov 21st 2007 3:25PM]

Anyone know what Costco does with all their returned stuff?

[billy bob thorton @ Nov 21st 2007 8:07PM]

the prices are over inflated for being used. The JVC camera for instance cost $299 second hand on target's website and is $230 on amazon's website.