“Refurbish” may be a ridiculous word, but it is definitely the prettiest member of the repair family. Refurbishing involves taking an old digital device, appliance, musical instrument, or piece of furniture – basically any possible possession – and shining it up, inside and out, to look and work like new. Refurbished items are generally more affordable than their counterparts straight from the box, while looking and performing like a totally new gadget.
Several of the repair shops in Portland Repair Finder’s resource list offer their own refurbished inventory, giving you the option to buy something pre-owned with the same confidence in its appearance and function that you’d experience when purchasing brand-new.
We’ve compiled some options for you to peek at, pulled from our listings, to consider if refurbished is right for your gifting needs this holiday season.
For the arty among us:
Phone: 503.978.0333
Neighborhood: Arbor Lodge
Sells: Typewriters, Film Cameras
The devotion Blue Moon has to their craft is clear from their detailed website. It seems like they could talk nuts and bolts of typewriters and film cameras for a long, long time, so if you have specifics you’d like to get into, or enjoy conversations about analog technology filled with passionate gesturing, this may be the place for you.
For the avid (or aspiring) cyclist:
Community Cycling Center
Phone: 503.287.8786
Neighborhood: Alberta
Sells: Bikes + Related
Beyond being a rad community hub, the Community Cycling Center offers a lineup of fully overhauled and rebuilt bikes that ride like new and are backed with a 90-day warranty.
For the gardening fanatics:
Cully Farm Store
Phone: 503.729.3508
Neighborhood: Cully
Sells: Garden Tools
If you know someone who would love to have their set of tools oiled and sharpened this holiday season… we’ve heard of a guy. (If the internet is to be believed, that guy is Farmer Ted.)
For the pragmatic:
Kirby Service Center
Phone: 503.288.5121
Neighborhood: Roseway
Sells: Vacuums
REFURBISHED VACUUM CLEANERS, Y’ALL.
For the digitally inclined:
GadgetFix
Phone: 503.384.2612 and 503.255.2988
Neighborhoods: Sullivan’s Gulch and Montavilla
Sells: Smartphones, iPads, Video Game Systems
All refurbished devices come with warranties and chargers – quite the steal.
This is by no means a comprehensive compilation of shops with refurbished inventory in Portland, or even on our own website – just enough to maybe help you consider if refurbishment is right for you. A deeper dive into our resource list is always encouraged. We recommend calling ahead if you are seeking something specific.