As we head into the New Year, more people are rethinking how they buy electronics. Not just for their wallets, but for the planet.
Yet the impulse to buy new is there. An impulse that we completely understand! Especially when it comes to electronics, you want something shiny and new that will last for years to come.
But refurbished vintage electronics deserve to be considered. We love celebrating vintage technology and truly believe going refurbished is the best choice. We want to share that enthusiasm with our customers, so here are ten reasons why we believe the new year and the new you means chossing old tech.
SpenCertified was founded in 2017 by Spencer Vogt, driven by a lifelong passion for vintage electronics and a vision to keep classic technology alive. What started in a garage has grown into a full-scale warehouse operation serving customers around the world.
Every product that leaves our warehouse is a reflection of our values: quality, sustainability, and integrity. Our team in Mesa, Arizona, is made up of hardworking individuals who share a passion for breathing new life into old technology.
Buying from a niche shop like SpenCertified offers a level of confidence that random online marketplaces simply can’t match. Unlike anonymous sellers with unknown standards, we are an established business with a proven track record built on repeat customers and long-term reliability.
Every piece of equipment goes through consistent quality control, reducing risk and ensuring you know exactly what you’re getting. Beyond the sale, we provide knowledgeable support and accountability, so you’re not left on your own after checkout. All our products also include a 30-day warranty from the delivery date, so if there are any power or functionality issues due to manufacturer defects or internal component failure, our customers are covered.
That difference of experience, transparency, and trust is what sets SpenCertified apart.
Buying refurbished means buying a history. Everything we sell has a story. Rather than just a product, you buy a series of moments in time.
But that doesn’t mean a compromise in quality. In terms of looks and sound, the equipment we sell is often indistinguishable from brand-new equivalents. Our gear is “SpenCertified,” meaning that it’s Certified by Spencer. It undergoes thorough testing to determine its condition before moving into the refurbishment process of repairing and cleaning to be sure it’s in the best shape possible by the time it reaches your hands. And when we ship an item, it even comes with everything you would expect from a brand-new purchase, including manuals, cables, and remotes.
And if something in our shop is not refurbished? We clearly mark it “As-Is” so our customers know that the product is being sold for parts or for tinkering.
We’re dedicated to minimizing waste in everything we do. Whenever possible, we repair and restore equipment rather than discard it. We sell quality used electronics, tested components, and individual parts to keep more gear out of landfills and in use where it belongs.
Even our packaging reflects this mindset. We use recycled materials whenever possible, without ever compromising the safety of your shipment. Every decision, big or small, is made with sustainability in mind, and we’re always looking for new ways to reduce our environmental impact.
Buying refurbished from SpenCertified means making a responsible choice without sacrificing quality or reliability.
Every piece of equipment we sell is properly tested and evaluated by experienced employees, not simply powered on and passed along. We take the time to understand how each unit functions, identify any issues, and assess its overall condition before it’s listed for sale. That thorough evaluation means there are no surprises for our customers. You know exactly what you’re buying and can trust that it’s been reviewed by people who understand the equipment inside and out.
We make every effort to provide complete and transparent information for each unit on our website. Both functional and cosmetic conditions are thoroughly described, and all photos shown are of the actual item, taken at our dedicated in-house photo station. We never use stock images.
And due to the nature of vintage equipment, we also clean and test every item we pull before shipping. Just in case sitting on a shelf introduced unwanted dust or issues between the time it arrived and the time we send it out the door.
Vintage electronics require real knowledge and experience, not guesswork. Our repairs and restorations are handled by a skilled technician who understands the equipment, its design, and its quirks, rather than a reseller simply trying to flip items for profit. That hands-on expertise allows us to make informed decisions, properly refurbish equipment, and stand behind the work we do with confidence.
We specialize in vintage audio/video gear, and the majority of our inventory reflects that. So we’ve been lucky enough to stumble upon some rare gems: The McIntosh C20 and the McIntosh MAC1700 (the Rolexs of the audio world), the MCS Series 6800 turntable (a programmable, remote-controlled record player), the Carver TFM-75 (a power amp crammed with 750 watts per channel) the Pioneer RT-909 (a hobbit-worthy reel-to-reel deck), and the Harman-Kardon HK705 (a CD-esque tray-loading cassette deck).
But we’ve sold some oddballs as well. Expired printer ink, a vintage toaster, mint coin sets, and an MTH electric train set to name a few. So we truly have something to offer for everyone: rare 1970s silver-face receivers for collectors, professional DAT recorders for studios, reliable VHS to DVD converters for labs, and user-friendly turntables for hobbyists.
At SpenCertified, you have access to vintage and professional electronics you wouldn’t find in big-box stores. Our customers always act like kids in a candy store any time they step foot into our warehouse!
Being able to buy vintage audio and video gear that you haven’t seen in years is an experience that we’re proud to offer. But while investing in new old gear is incredible, sometimes you prefer to have the vintage equipment you already own and love to be back to working like new.
That’s why we offer repair services. We’re one of the few places that will work on refurbishing vintage audio and video equipment. This includes turntables, VCRs, CD players, Laserdisc players, cassette decks, Betamax machines, reel-to-reel decks, amplifiers, and more. Our repair process is simple and easy, and we treat your beloved gear like it's our own.
That vintage receiver passed down by your grandfather, that turntable you remember spinning records at your aunt and uncle’s house, that cassette deck you saved up for right after college…sometimes, sentiment makes repairing what you already own preferable to replacing it.
Buying vintage electronics online can feel like a gamble, especially when listings are marked “untested” or “sold as-is.” At SpenCertified, that risk is removed. Every piece of equipment is properly evaluated so customers aren’t left guessing whether it will power on, function correctly, or fail the moment it arrives. This avoids the common pitfalls of mystery listings that often lead to non-functional gear, unexpected repair costs, or lengthy return disputes.
By purchasing from SpenCertified, customers save valuable time, money, and frustration, and gain confidence knowing their equipment has been checked by professionals before it ever ships.
One of the biggest advantages of shopping with SpenCertified is real, dependable communication. Customers aren’t dealing with automated responses from a chatbot; they’re speaking with actual people who know the equipment and are happy to help.
Questions are answered clearly and honestly before a purchase, and support doesn’t disappear once the sale is complete. Whether it’s help choosing the right item or assistance after it arrives, SpenCertified is there to make sure customers feel supported every step of the way.
As the new year begins, it’s the perfect time to make better gear decisions and invest smarter. A fresh start means choosing electronics that will last, instead of rolling the dice on cheap, disposable, or questionable equipment. Where you buy matters just as much as what you buy, and SpenCertified is built around the idea of “buy once, buy right.”
By investing in properly evaluated, quality electronics, our customers avoid the cycle of replacing junk and wasting money over time. It’s a smarter long-term choice that also supports a small business that values craftsmanship, accountability, and doing things the right way.
When you buy from us, you’re supporting thoughtful restoration, reducing unnecessary waste, and investing in technology that still has a lot of life left to give.
At SpenCertified, we’re not just selling electronics. We’re preserving history, reducing waste, and supporting a community that values timeless tech. We’re grateful for every customer who chooses to be part of that mission, and we invite you to experience the difference for yourself.
We are unable to reply to comments, so please message us directly if you have a specific question regarding products, shipping costs, etc. Our office number is (480) 207-1511. Our email is hello@spencertified.com. You can also message us on Facebook. Commonly asked questions and answers can be found on our FAQs page here.
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