How does the refurb store work?

[joeysarks]

Should I be holding out for a baseline MBPr with 16gb of RAM in the refurb store, or do they just sell those in with the 8gb baseline ones listed? Is it just a luck thing if there's more?

[designs216]

Originally Posted by joeysarks

Should I be holding out for a baseline MBPr with 16gb of RAM in the refurb store, or do they just sell those in with the 8gb baseline ones listed? Is it just a luck thing if there's more?

That thing is hyper-expensive so the refurb route is a good idea but if you want the deal you've got to be patient. Instead of constantly checking and making yourself crazy, you can use refurb.me.

Or you can compare prices at B&H, Amazon and New Egg. Sometimes the tax free angle beats the savings of a refurb.

[joeysarks]

Originally Posted by designs216

That thing is hyper-expensive so the refurb route is a good idea but if you want the deal you've got to be patient. Instead of constantly checking and making yourself crazy, you can use refurb.me.

Or you can compare prices at B&H, Amazon and New Egg. Sometimes the tax free angle beats the savings of a refurb.

Well I figured I'd go the Apple Refurb store just in case I get any issues listed. Figured they'd have the easiest to deal with return policy. Also those ones have been tested thoroughly by Apple for all the issues like IR on the screen...right?

[designs216]

Originally Posted by joeysarks

Well I figured I'd go the Apple Refurb store just in case I get any issues listed. Figured they'd have the easiest to deal with return policy. Also those ones have been tested thoroughly by Apple for all the issues like IR on the screen...right?

Yes, the thinking is that they have been tested twice and are therefore less likely to have problems. Also, they carry the same warranty at a much lower price point than new models. The two that I've purchased have been pristine.

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by joeysarks

Well I figured I'd go the Apple Refurb store just in case I get any issues listed. Figured they'd have the easiest to deal with return policy. Also those ones have been tested thoroughly by Apple for all the issues like IR on the screen...right?

Apple refurbished products are considered by most to be a very good deal, as they're pretty much like buying a new Mac, except for the box.

Apple Certified Refurbished Products are pre-owned Apple products that undergo Apple's stringent refurbishment process prior to being offered for sale. While only some units are returned due to technical issues, all units undergo Apple's stringent quality refurbishment process.

Click the link in that quote for more details on the refurbishment process.

• Apple Certified Refurbished Products are available online from the Apple Refurb Store and are not sold in local Apple stores
• Educational discounts do not apply to refurb products.
• Refurb products come with the same warranty as new products, and qualify for AppleCare
• Refurb products have a changed serial number that identifies them as refurbished
• Refurb products come with whatever OS version and software they originally shipped with as new
• Refurb products come with the same items in the box as new products, only the box is a plain one, not the new box.
• A refurb product could have some cosmetic signs of prior use, but rarely do
• A refurb Mac may have some cycles on the battery, but not a significant enough amount to affect usable life
• The refurb store inventory changes frequently, sometimes several times a day, and doesn't have any direct relation to upcoming product releases. What's available in the refurb store is determined by what has been returned to Apple.
• If you're looking for a particular item, refurb.me can alert you when it becomes available.