Apple offers excellent deals for refurbished computers, and some retailers offer great deals on PCs, too. Is it a good idea? The price is right, of course, but you don’t want to get a lemon computer.

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Here are some do’s and don’ts:

Do buy a refurbished computer from a manufacturer. Usually, their refurbished computers have only been used lightly. It may have been a store model, or perhaps somebody returned it after only a few weeks of use. If you buy a refurbished computer from the manufacturer, they’ve probably run it through lots of tests and it’s in good shape.

Do ask about the return policy. If you get home and discover that your new (old) computer has some serious issues, you ought to be able to return it. If you buy it from a store with a non-customer friendly return policy, you’ll be in trouble.

Do be wary of private sellers. Luckily, you can usually check out reviews and ratings of eBay sellers, but you should still be cautious. Again, if you can’t return it, you probably shouldn’t buy it.

Don’t get a computer without the original license keys and software. If the owner (or store) doesn’t have this stuff, then it’s not a good idea to buy the computer.

Do figure out what you need before you buy. Consider the memory and speed of the computer you’re considering. Remember: computers have changed a lot since the early days, and you don’t want to get stuck with an old clunker!

So, buying a refurbished computer can work out well for you and your wallet, but do your research first.