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Are Refurbished Macs as high quality their new counterparts?

B

BBSwany

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 24, 2009
5
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Long time browser, first time poster. I tried searching as well, just couldn't come up with a solid answer. I'm looking at picking up a refurbished MacBook Pro 2.4GHz because it's a steal of a deal. Anywho, I'm curious if the refurbished devices are as high quality as the new ones. I'm afraid of buying a problem laptop, which could happen with a new one as well. Just wondering everyone's thoughts. Thanks for any help you can provide. :D
 
Yes they are just like new. A refurbished Mac is a computer returned by a customer either they didn't like it, DOA, etc. Apple replaces all the defective parts and sells it as refurbished.
 
You could argue they're better than new, as all their problems have been taken care of.

I've heard they reassembled by hand, in the USA.
 
I am the proud owner of a referb MacBook - and it's my first one (besides my iPhone and iPods). I love it - NO problems at all! I go as far to say that a refurb MAY be better off than new machines because they are looked at/examined by tech for a second time. So granted they may have had a problem before, it's been fixed.. and checked again! You can't beat the price!! :D
 
If you are willing to forgo the sexy Apple packaging and wait a few months for the new models to show up in the refurb store, refurbs are a great way to save some money. They come with the standard one-year warranty and are eligible for Applecare. My next Mac will prob. be a refurb. :apple:
 
RCGMac said:
If you are willing to forgo the sexy Apple packaging and wait a few months for the new models to show up in the refurb store, refurbs are a great way to save some money. They come with the standard one-year warranty and are eligible for Applecare. My next Mac will prob. be a refurb. :apple:
Click to expand...

I want the refurb 2.0GHz White Macbook with the 9400m, its only $749, what a steal!
 
Thanks for the response everyone! :). The money is coming in about a week or so. Thinking of the 2.4GHz or maybe waiting for the 2.53GHz to hit in the refurb store again!
 
I have never personally owned a refurb. But from what I hear they are very good. And will be the same, if not higher quality than there newer counterpart.
 
hmmm Apple just took away my 8-month-old unibody macbook (swapped for a new 13" mbp). You could be buying a heavily used, 8-month-old 2Ghz MacBook if you go refurb.
You think it's still good as new? ;)
 
I've bought new and refurb twice each from Apple (computers that is - two new MBPs, 1 refurb iMac and 1 refurb Mac Mini), and had better luck with the refurbs so will echo the sentiment that it's a good buy! :)
 
In my experience, the best deal on Macs usually include a refurb and some Apple Store coupons, but I know a lot of people have good luck with Mac Mall and OWC. It all depends on how much you're looking to save; with that iPod Touch promo they're doing (and a possible student discount...), you stand to get a new one at a refurb price anyways.

No problems with my refurb iPod so far, but let's face it: a refurb's only as good as the particular unit you get. Apple's standards are usually better than most, but it all depends on how well they fixed the problems that plagued your Mac.
 
I have always looked at the Refurbished Apple product and have purchased a couple of them before but in most cases the prices aren't that great. If you can get the education discount you get pretty close to the cost of the Refurbished. The other problem is I just purchased a Mac Mini new because I couldn't get it with 4mb of ram. I didn't want to open the case and do it my self. It cost me about $150 more to buy new and get the 4mb of ram instead of the 2mb that are in the ones on the Refurbished side. The thing I hate about the new purchase is it takes forever to get one when you order it on the web store. It should would be nice if you could get an American made Mac!! This China shipping is crazy. Or at least they could stock them here and ship from the US so you could get them faster.
 
caonimadebi said:
hmmm Apple just took away my 8-month-old unibody macbook (swapped for a new 13" mbp). You could be buying a heavily used, 8-month-old 2Ghz MacBook if you go refurb.
You think it's still good as new? ;)
Click to expand...

Better. Anything that is defective is replaced, and anything that is not up to par cosmetically is also replaced. What remains is a unit that is fully burned-in, long past the high-failure timeframe, and gone over by hand instead of rolled down a conveyer.

If that's the model I was looking for, I'd get it in a heartbeat.

Also, if the unit was beat up beyond a certain point, it's not refurb'ed, it's trashed. That's only good practice from a cost effectiveness POV.
 
Yes, they are - maybe better . . .

BBSwany said:
Long time browser, first time poster. I tried searching as well, just couldn't come up with a solid answer. I'm looking at picking up a refurbished MacBook Pro 2.4GHz because it's a steal of a deal. Anywho, I'm curious if the refurbished devices are as high quality as the new ones. I'm afraid of buying a problem laptop, which could happen with a new one as well. Just wondering everyone's thoughts. Thanks for any help you can provide. :D
Click to expand...

I have owned 2 refurbed iMacs (20" G5 and current 24" C2D) - the G5 was
notorious for power supply problems, and mine never had any. Both iMacs
never had any pixel or screen problems.

If I understand correctly, there is a potential issue in laptops not having
every pixel work in its display, and some number (<5?) is considered
"acceptable". So if you receive a refurb that has a few bad pixels, you may
need to deal with that. Not sure what the return policy is on refurbs . . .
 
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