Refurbished vs new

[KG2002]

I am about to get a Mac Pro. I have an option to get a new one with about 10% discount through my office or to get a refurbished one at about 15% off. I know that 5% may not seam a lot but with the current MP prices, it means an extra HDD or a video card. At the same time, if I am spending over $2K I do not want to get "used" stuff.

So, my question is - have anyone purchased refurbished MPs? Are they worn or they look like new, come with all the packaging and etc? Keyboard, mouse... Any known issues with refurbished products?

I am looking for either the basic 4 core config or for the basic 8 core config.

[RKO]

Well refurbished may be used or it may not. Generally the condition of the machines can have some wear and other times look brand new. They will not come in the original box but generally a plain one with no pretty pictures. They have the usual accessories included for that model. I have purchased refurbs before and find them the same if not better as sometimes they are fitted with new replacements parts.

[maghemi]

I bought mine refurbished. Apart from coming in a plain white box it was as new. Came with all accessories in new packaging. For all intents and purposes it was brand new.

Having said that I've got a refurb mini and it was almost perfect except for a small nick in the bottom from where it had been opened, and a noisy hdd which I replaced.

But I'd doubt you'd be likely to get some raggedy old bucket-o-crap through refurb.

[thegoldenmackid]

I'd get the refurb. The quality tends to be on par with new, if not better.

[chrono1081]

+1 for refurb. I have ordered many refurbs (including my current laptop) and only one refurb (my parents iMac) ever had a problem. (The problem was easily missed, it was something on the inside of the screen, almost like fingerprints but only visible on a white background.) They never even noticed it, I did. Aside from that I'm really happy with Apple refurbs.

[gugucom]

I also bought a refurb MP. Happy.

[kenscott30]

typing on a 1 week old Refurb Mac Pro, as far as I can tell it is mint. Shipped in a plain white box and everything was wrapped as new.

Ken

[alphaod]

Refurbished with Apple is not returned and resold; it's literally gone back to the factory, everything cleaned and checked and then reassembled. So if there are scratched those and damage those parts would have been replaced with new parts.

[Jarman74]

At the same time, if I am spending over $2K I do not want to get "used" stuff.

That's what I was thinking before buying one :D I would add that it was (and still is, in my opinion) too good of a deal to pass up.

It was as pristine as it could be. It also had 4GB of RAM instead of the two I was expecting (just don't know why).

Here's a pic (http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=196875&d=1254329609) of the box you may get.

[KG2002]

Thanks everyone! Refub it is then.

Just need to figure out if I would ever need 8 cores. They are expensive to upgrade. Double the cost of CPUs you know :-)

[DualShock]

I have a refurb Mac Pro. The only problem I had (if you want to call it that) is that it didn't come with a wireless card preinstalled. And you can't get refurbs built-to-order (BTO), aka configured-to-order (CTO).

If you need a wireless card, it may be a bit of a challenge getting said wireless card after the fact. That is, if you're not willing to lug your Mac Pro to the Apple store to have one installed. They won't sell one to you directly unless they install it, though occasionally there are ways around that (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=8728045&postcount=7).

[Scepticalscribe]

I'd strongly recommend the refurb route, also. What you are getting is a computer that has been individually tested and tried, is as good as new, and comes with all of Apple's warranties that a brand new machine has.

Cheers and good luck

[KG2002]

Shipped.... Will see

[knmlee]

I was going to go with refurbished, but ended up buying a new base model quad from Amazon instead. No sales tax from Amazon along with their $200 discount, the amount I paid was about $80 more than the refurb. Plus, I was able to get it on the next day compared to a 3-5 day wait for the refurb. That was worth it to me.

[maghemi]

Oh and that reminds me, you may get lucky with a refurb.

I ordered a 2006 Mac Pro with 2x2.66dual core cpus, 7300gt vid card and 250gb hdd.

I got sent a 2007 with 2x3.0quad core cpus, x1900xt and a 500gb hdd.

I've heard of a number of stories like that.

[300D]

Refurb is identical to new other than the price since they can't legally sell them as new once a component has been replaced. If you set the same spec machines next to each other and tested each, there is no possible way to know which one is the refurb without looking at the serial number.

maghemi story is a good example of the occasional benefits of refurbs. Apple doesn't have to send you the exact machine you ordered, it only has to be at least those specs.

They pulled that with the last G4 Mini. Rather than releasing a whole new 1.5GHz mini with 64mb vRAM, they put them in the old 1.42ghz marked boxes so there was no way to know which you were buying without opening the box. :)

My 160GB iPod is a refurb and I haven't had a single issue with it in the 2 years I've owned it.

[Tutor]

Clean up

[Jarman74]

maghemi story is a good example of the occasional benefits of refurbs. Apple doesn't have to send you the exact machine you ordered, it only has to be at least those specs.

I guess this explains why I got 4GB instead of the two I paid for. Thanks Apple :D

[umbilical]

new smell better ;)

[KG2002]

Got one last week. No good surprises in terms of extra memory or video card. However, I am quite sure it is a brand new box. I figured that with upcoming Mac Pro upgrade Apple simply clears the stock under refurb umbrella. Even a month ago there were only a few refurbs available. Now it is a full stock of recent models.

I am very happy with the purchase. Thanks a lot for your help, folks. Even though I have a good discount with Apple anyway, the $200 I saved funded 2x1T HDDs!

Now it is RAM, UPS and Speakers time and I am all set. Back to work.

BTW, this is my first Mac Pro. Being an iMac user it is a big difference! Really impressed so far.

[MacLovin78]

I had the chance to get anything in the apple store at 15% off. I could have gotten the base line MBPro at 15% off $1699. I was looking in the refurb store and saw an early 2009 MBP for 20%. The early 2009 was the $1999 model with 6MB L2 cache, the 9400 + 9600 graphics card plus 512MB video memory. I opted for the refurb because I preferred the better specs over the 7hr battery and SD card slot. It was $1698 with MA tax which was only $150 more than the baseline new MBP. It came in a white box with all the accessories and a drop in SL disk and I couldn't be happier. The machine looks like it is brand new and I have not found one issue with it. I don't think I would ever pay for the new pricing again.

[Jason Beck]

refurb

[TorontoSS]

That's what I was thinking before buying one :D I would add that it was (and still is, in my opinion) too good of a deal to pass up.

It was as pristine as it could be. It also had 4GB of RAM instead of the two I was expecting (just don't know why).

Here's a pic (http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=196875&d=1254329609) of the box you may get.



Hello - I know this is a very silly question - but how did you find out you had 4GB instead of 2GB? Did something say this when it arrived or did you open the computer?

[gugucom]

Click on the Apple in the upper left corner and select about this Mac.

[splitpea]

I've got a refurb cinema display that's been running flawlessly for 5 years. My next purchase will be a refurb unless the configuration I want isn't available -- but with a Mac Pro that shouldn't be an issue, since you can swap out almost any part.

[TorontoSS]

Click on the Apple in the upper left corner and select about this Mac.

Oh - thank you! I still don't have my mac yet - I bought a refurbished MBP and just waiting for it to arrive now! Thanks!

[cfitz7111]

I have owned several refurbs, never a problem. I also owned a "refreshed" iBook that was a return to the store, and resold as a refresh, they dont do them anymore, that came with AppleCare and I didnt pay for it.

I am planning on buying the MBP 13 refurb, in the next few weeks.

[Msbeezy]

My early 09 2.93 quad and 24" ACD both refurb = outstanding. Had I not known they were refurb you'd never know..add applecare and you're good to go !

[cfitz7111]

+1 on the AppleCare. Best money that I never spent ;) but saved me on a new battery and a memory issue that my iBook had.

[Yebubbleman]

If you're not going to customize the computer and don't care about it not coming in the cute Apple packaging, buy refurb. Always. Same warranty, same AppleCare eligibility. Cheaper. Better quality control. End of story. If you don't see the model you want, wait. Chances are, it'll crop up eventually and at the most random of times. MacBooks and Mac minis are more ellusive. So are MacBook Airs. iMacs, MacBook Pros, and Mac Pros are much more consistent.

If you are going to customize the computer (like with a faster processor and/or a bigger hard drive), it makes way more sense to buy the computer new through the online Apple store.

[mdgm]

I have a refurb Mac Pro. The only problem I had (if you want to call it that) is that it didn't come with a wireless card preinstalled. And you can't get refurbs built-to-order (BTO), aka configured-to-order (CTO).
I'm pretty sure the 2010 Mac Pro comes with a wireless card pre-installed. So if you want to be sure to get a wireless card get a refurb 2010 Mac Pro

When getting refurbs it's a good idea to work out what generation the model you are getting is and look up the bare minimum specs on the web to see what you can expect.

[DeeEss]

I'm typing on my new Refurb 3.33 Hex. Just got it this week and the RAM and SSD's arrived on separate order today. I'm so happy with it. I don't think i'd buy another new mac again. The only thing to tell it from a new one is the box it came in. It's a plain white one. I saved almost £500 and that went towards RAM and SSD's. It really is unmarked. The only thing I could find was a finger print on the CPU tray. Also, the computer came with a bonus 6gb of Ram as it must have been part of the returned order. So I would actually recommend waiting to receive your computer before you order any RAM if you have the time.

[gglockner]

I'm usually comfortable with refurbs for desktop computers. I'm not so eager to get a refurb for a laptop - especially one with a physical drive (not SSD) because I've seen how people carry laptops roughly.

In 2007, I got an iMac refurb that had a big scratch on the rear. It worked fine otherwise, and I still use it.

One thing I've found is that refurbs are slightly less desirable if/when you plan to resell them on ebay, Craigslist, etc.

Still, I frequently look to refurbs for desktop Macs.

[Yebubbleman]

I'm usually comfortable with refurbs for desktop computers. I'm not so eager to get a refurb for a laptop - especially one with a physical drive (not SSD) because I've seen how people carry laptops roughly.

In 2007, I got an iMac refurb that had a big scratch on the rear. It worked fine otherwise, and I still use it.

One thing I've found is that refurbs are slightly less desirable if/when you plan to resell them on ebay, Craigslist, etc.

Still, I frequently look to refurbs for desktop Macs.

I'm pretty sure that they, at least now, provide a brand new exterior and test every single component before putting it in. The quality control that they have on the refurbished units is apparently worlds better than what's on the new ones.