Top 5 reasons for gadget buyer’s remorse

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Electronic gadgets

Typical gadget purchases.

Nothing compares to the excitement of getting a brand new gadget home. But, when you get it out of the box, have you ever regretted buying it?

New research from Debt Advisory Centre shows that the majority of people in the UK (82%) have experienced buyer’s remorse – and 20% of them have regretted buying gadgets (that’s just over 8 million people!).

Gadgets can be a big commitment – so if you regret buying them it can feel awful. That’s why Debt Advisory Centre has looked at the top 5 causes of ‘gadget buyer’s remorse’, and suggested a few ways they could be avoided.

1. I didn’t really need it (38%)

Many of us have been guilty of this at some point or another. It can be so easy to get caught up in the excitement when a new gadget comes out – and we feel like we just have to have one of our own. However, in the end, we realise that we didn’t actually need it at all.

One of the best ways to avoid this is to delay your purchase – by a week, a month or perhaps even longer. It might take some determination, but after the time has passed you might have a better idea of whether you actually wanted the gadget in the first place. Plus, if you wait a month or two, the cost might go down too.

2. I couldn’t really afford it (21%)

21% of people with gadget buyer’s remorse regretted their purchase because of the cost. That’s equivalent to 1.7 million people across the UK! And it’s true: gadgets can be very expensive, especially if they’re brand new.

Buying something that’s a bit too expensive is one thing – but getting into debt because of it is quite another. At Debt Advisory Centre, we’ve found that overspending is one of the main reasons people get in touch with us. We hear situations like this every day, along with the other causes of debt like job loss, divorce and other changes in financial situation. Whatever the reason, if you’re struggling with your debts it’s important to get help as soon as possible. A debt adviser could assess your circumstances and suggest an appropriate solution.

If you’re hankering after a gadget you can’t really afford (and you’re sure you actually need it), well: patience is a virtue. Wait it out, and you might find that the price drops significantly – or you might be able to find it much cheaper second-hand.

3. It was poor quality or broken (17%)

If you get your gadget out of the box and it doesn’t work properly, or it’s visibly broken, you should be entitled to return it and get a full refund. If it’s not quite as good as you were expecting (for example, if it’s a bit shoddy or flimsy) you should be able to return it, citing that it’s not suitable for your needs.

Surprisingly, only 7% of gadget-buyers who regretted their purchase actually returned it. Always check retailers’ returns policy before you buy anything from them.

4. I rarely or never use it (15%)

One day, your gadget can be your favourite possession, and never out of your hand. Then, a few months down the line, it can be in a cupboard – forgotten.

In this case, you may not be able to return it to the retailer (as you may have had the item for too long). So you could take an example from our respondents, who sold their item on (21%) or gave it away (6%). Have a look on eBay or similar sites to see how much other people are selling your item for. It’s worth at least getting some of the money you paid back.

5. I didn’t like it (10%)

It’s reassuring to see that ‘didn’t like it’ is the least popular reason for regretting gadget purchases. Gadget-buyers clearly do their research to see whether a gadget is right for them before they buy it.

However, if it does turn out that you don’t like it – don’t just keep it (like a whopping 66% of our respondents did). Act quickly and you can return it.

5 thoughts on “Top 5 reasons for gadget buyer’s remorse

  1. Great article Rebecca! I have fallen into #1 and #4 before. At this point in time, no matter what I am buying, I always try to truly ask myself if I will use this and if I really need this. Often times the answer comes back no and I don’t make the purchase. However, the times that I do make the purchase, I rarely have buyer’s remorse.

    • Christopher Roberts

      If I were to fall into two categories Domonic, I think I would probably be in number 1 and 4 like you.

      I wont buy anything second hand that could be broken, I only spend money that I have and usually do a bit of research, so try not to buy things I don’t like!

  2. I would never buy a brand new gadget that has been newly released unless it is a really cheap device. If you are going to spend more than a hundred dollars, the prudent thing to do is to wait for reviews from users to make sure the gadget lives up to its promises. Are there any bugs? Does it work as described? How is the support? etc.

    • Christopher Roberts

      Hi Roy,

      I would agree with you, sometimes, however I do feel that the are occasions when you don’t need to know everything about a specific gadget before buying it. I recently bought the S4 Mini and love it. I got it just 6 days after it was released, when there were very few reviews. I researched its specs and knew that the S3, S3 Mini and the S4 were great phones, so took a calculated risk; which paid off.

      Would you never buy anything expensive/long-term without extensively reviewing it and it having been out a while first?

      Thanks for the comment, welcome to the blog 🙂
      Christopher – Admin Team

      • I would if I am the reviewer 🙂

        I would take a risk if I am happy with the company’s previous products but I wouldn’t buy any gadgets or any big ticket items blindly. I would still do some research online since it is so easy to do so nowadays. I guess it is the product reviewer in me.

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