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Buying refurbished from Apple?

eclipse01

eclipse01

macrumors 68030
Original poster
May 16, 2011
2,935
469
Eau Claire, WI
Just wondering on peoples experiences with doing this?

Bad/Good?

do the devices usually come in perfect/good/ok shape?

I see they offer 1 year replacement is that correct?

I want to purchase an Airport extreme off there but have had HORRIBLE experiences in the past buying "refurbished" electronics. So i am a bit "gun shy"
 
eclipse01 said:
Just wondering on peoples experiences with doing this?

Bad/Good?

do the devices usually come in perfect/good/ok shape?

I see they offer 1 year replacement is that correct?

I want to purchase an Airport extreme off there but have had HORRIBLE experiences in the past buying "refurbished" electronics. So i am a bit "gun shy"
Click to expand...

Go for it. Same warranty as other :apple: products. Sometimes there may be a small cosmetic Mark, but on an AirPort Extreme does it really matter? Also it will ship in a plain white box.
 
eclipse01 said:
Just wondering on peoples experiences with doing this?

Bad/Good?

do the devices usually come in perfect/good/ok shape?

I see they offer 1 year replacement is that correct?

I want to purchase an Airport extreme off there but have had HORRIBLE experiences in the past buying "refurbished" electronics. So i am a bit "gun shy"
Click to expand...

I have bought both new and refurbished products from Apple, and have never experienced any difficulties or problems with a refurb.

Refurbished computers generally offer a decent discount on the full price, and cosmetically, they come in a different box. That's it.

Other than that, they have all of the guarantees and warranties that a 'new' computer comes with, and you can add Applecare to that should you wish to do so, giving you a full three years.

In fact, a refurb computer will have been tested individually, and anything wrong, malfunctioning or otherwise problematic repaired or replaced, usually the latter. They tend to come in excellent shape.

Refurbs can be computers that have been returned during the 14 day 'cooling off' period, a computer that was returned to be repaired for some fault or defect, or problem while under warranty, or a model that has simply been superseded by a model with different, more 'modern' specifications.
 
If it's refurbished from Apple it should be fine and is covered by their warranty. Seems like the best way to buy financially, however some people just like a brand new mac.
 
I bought a Mid 2011 27in refurb in 2012.

It looked and operated as new. Based on that 1 experience I would not hesitate to buy another refurb if they had the machine I wanted
 
Refurbs are definitely the way to go.
Of course the newest models don't become refurbished for several months after there introduction.

And sometimes the refurbished will surprise you. (A friend got mac with more RAM then listed!)
 
eclipse01 said:
Just wondering on peoples experiences with doing this?

Bad/Good?

do the devices usually come in perfect/good/ok shape?

I see they offer 1 year replacement is that correct?

I want to purchase an Airport extreme off there but have had HORRIBLE experiences in the past buying "refurbished" electronics. So i am a bit "gun shy"
Click to expand...
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 to expand...
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 notebook 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.
 
eclipse01 said:
Just wondering on peoples experiences with doing this?

Bad/Good?

do the devices usually come in perfect/good/ok shape?

I see they offer 1 year replacement is that correct?

I want to purchase an Airport extreme off there but have had HORRIBLE experiences in the past buying "refurbished" electronics. So i am a bit "gun shy"
Click to expand...

As others have said: go with it. Apple's reputation of making quality products extends to their refurbished line. Basically they are resold defective units, but they're put through a rebuild for the damaged parts and a stringent testing process. It's true you might find a nick or two on refurbs, but the ones I've purchased from Apple looked like new. I purchased a refurbished '07 iMac the year after it came out, and it's still running strong. I've since purchased a new iMac, but that's because the other machine was getting quite long in the tooth, not because it didn't run.
 
eclipse01 said:
Just wondering on peoples experiences with doing this?

Bad/Good?

do the devices usually come in perfect/good/ok shape?

I see they offer 1 year replacement is that correct?

I want to purchase an Airport extreme off there but have had HORRIBLE experiences in the past buying "refurbished" electronics. So i am a bit "gun shy"
Click to expand...

As others have said: go with it. Apple's reputation of making quality products extends to their refurbished line. Basically they are resold defective units, but they're put through a rebuild for the damaged parts and a stringent testing process. It's true you might find a nick or two on refurbs, but the ones I've purchased from Apple looked like new. I purchased a refurbished '07 iMac the year after it came out, and it's still running strong. I've since purchased a new iMac, but that's because the other machine was getting quite long in the tooth, not because it didn't run.
 
tjwilliams25 said:
Basically they are resold defective units, but they're put through a rebuild for the damaged parts and a stringent testing process.
Click to expand...

Actually, most have never been defective. If someone buys a device and returns it 7 days later for whatever reason, it cannot be sold as "new" anymore, so it is sold as refurbished. Also, whenever a new device is released, all the unsold but brand new old devices will be sold as "refurbished".
 
Buying refurbished from Apple is like buying Apple products at the price they should have been sold at as new in the first place.
 
Pakaku said:
Buying refurbished from Apple is like buying Apple products at the price they should have been sold at as new in the first place.
Click to expand...

What makes you think that? Do you think Apple should sell their computers 15% cheaper than comparable competing products? Why would they?
 
gnasher729 said:
What makes you think that? Do you think Apple should sell their computers 15% cheaper than comparable competing products? Why would they?
Click to expand...

They wouldn't. That's why they offer a Refurbished section, except hidden out of the way in the back of the website.
 
I only ever buy refurbs from Apple. They are a great choice. You can get the latest machines (provided they are not brand new model) for significant savings. In the one case I had a problem Apple repaired the machine - no questions asked.
 
Have bought both my 2010 iMac 27 and 17' Mac Book pro from the Refurb store.

Perfect condition with both of them and nothing to distinguish them from a full price one.

The only difference is that the model is normally 6 months old and may be running on slightly older hardware e.g. chips than the ones on the normal store. For me the savings of about 20% make that a sensible move.

At the moment I am currently awaiting the 27' Retina iMacs to appear on the UK refurb store and I'll be picking up another one then. They are on the US store already, but have not made it to UK yet.

Taff
 
Well I am VERY impressed with my purchase **knock on wood**

it came in 2 day shipping, in what looks like the original box. Everything is wrapped up and plastic'd up as if it is brand new.

everything works great. Thanks for all the comments.
 
I'm a fan of refurbs.. So far I have an iPod, an iMac and a MacBook Pro under my belt and they were all great.
 
xbpr said:
I'm a fan of refurbs.. So far I have an iPod, an iMac and a MacBook Pro under my belt and they were all great.
Click to expand...

I'm a fan too. I got a 2012 model Mac mini (base level) for $200 cheaper and my rMBP for $400 cheaper too.

I don't need the fancy retail packaging, I'd rather save the money
 
eclipse01 said:
Well I am VERY impressed with my purchase **knock on wood**

it came in 2 day shipping, in what looks like the original box. Everything is wrapped up and plastic'd up as if it is brand new.

everything works great. Thanks for all the comments.
Click to expand...

Great news. I am delighted that it worked out so well for you.

Long may you enjoy it.

Remember, as well, that, legally, it is as new, with all of the warranties that entails. Bear in mind, as well, that you can add Applecare to that should you wish to anytime during the first year.
 
Cheffy Dave said:
Gnasher , it basically it does away with the Apple Tax, I think that's what he ment;)
Click to expand...

What Apple Tax? Apple is not a country that can demand that you pay any tax. So what are both of you talking about?

Pakaku said:
They wouldn't. That's why they offer a Refurbished section, except hidden out of the way in the back of the website.
Click to expand...

The refurbished section is in no way hidden.

And refurbished Macs are computers that cannot legally be sold as new.
 
We found several refurbished Mac in UAE 2 years ago. The store offered us a to get an iMac. The price was pretty good but unfortunately we were not able to buy it coz a friend suggested us to get a brand new one instead. We ended up with Samsung :(
 
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