Do all refurbs come in such good condition?

[GlynJones]

Had 3 refurbs and all 3 had problems but Apple resolved them all.

My latest one is detailed here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/657568/

 

[millerj123]

I'm 1 for 2 on good refurbished Shuffles, 2 for 2 on new Shuffles, 1 for 1 on a new iPod, 1 for 1 on a refurbished Mini and 1 for 1 on a new first generation iPhone.

I've run through the same thing with all of them: try out as many of the features as you can as soon as you get it, and look for any issues.

Everything has come looking new, just the refurbs were in lesser packaging. For the price difference, I can live without the package.

The one Shuffle wouldn't load more than 4 or 5 songs before being unavailable, and was replaced with a different one that works just fine.

 

[techound1]

No issues here, either, and I've purchased several, including both macs and ipods. Although I'm apprehensive about posting this as I'm sitting here waiting for the fedex guy to come with my refurb rev a air today . If ever there is going to be a troublesome machine, I suspect this will be it, but fingers crossed and all that.

Really, can't recommend the refurbs enough!

 

[Tomorrow]

Its been my experience too. Packed like new, works like, warranty like new. Why would you buy anything else?

Because (1) you might want a BTO, or (2) you can get it less expensive with the education discount.

Otherwise, I completely agree.

 

[flopticalcube]

My mini was perfect. No problems whatsoever and looked good as new.

 

[Abstract]

I also had a bad refurb experience, two actually. I mean, of course not "every single" refurb is going to be in terrific condition, it's just not possible.

The reason some "slip through" the system is because they're not all checked. It's such a myth perpetuated by members of message boards such as this. If they were all checked, then your 2 poor experiences, and the poor experiences reported by others would NEVER happen. How could it? Supposedly, they're all checked. That's even better treatment than new machines get.

Apple doesn't check every machine with a fine-tooth comb. They'll definitely check the hardware if it was returned as a DOA unit, if a component had to be replaced first, or if it's a few weeks old and some AppleCare person thought, "Meh, I'll let him return it anyway." However, if someone buys a 15" MBP, opens the box, turns on the machine, but then returns it to Apple immediately for a new 17" MBP, then Apple's not supposed to be able to sell it as new. These machines are sold as refurbs. Are all these returns checked thoroughly? Yes, but most likely, they're only checked cosmetically.

It's really hard to say. However, I'm fairly certain sure Apple doesn't check every individual refurb unit. Their hardware diagnostic test takes hours to complete, and it wouldn't make any financial sense to check a practically new machine that they plan on selling at a reduced price, when AppleCare exists to take care of any problems that would arise anyway.

Though, if you get a bad one, like I did, they offer to exchange it or give you a refund.

True. That's the great thing. They're not "as is". You can exchange it for another refurb if you're not satisfied.

 

[dXTC]

I picked up two refurb 2nd gen iPod shuffles for my niece and nephew for Christmas 2007. Both are still fully operational.

My next Mac will probably be refurb. Now if I can only get my wife to go along with it...

 

[daneoni]

Im 4 for 4 on all my refurb purchases, all have been pristine out the box. My current main machine is a refurb and i got silent upgrades too.

 

[Snowguy]

Both my 20" iMac and my 80gb black iPod classic are refurbs... and both came in perfect condition. There is absolutely no reason to believe that you are somehow getting inferior product!

I never would have known my computer was a refurb except for the great price and the different box it came in.

 

[MattZani]

My Current (And First) MacBook Pro was brand new, and i wanted it new, but im most likely to buy my next one Refurb unless its a major change and i must have it

 

[jamesdmc]

Refurbed mac pro and refurbed macbook pro. Both in perfect condition.

 

[snguon]

Im 4 for 4 on all my refurb purchases, all have been pristine out the box. My current main machine is a refurb and i got silent upgrades too.

what did you purchases that was refurbished? and when did you buy it? if longer then a year... is it still in great condition??? i'm getting a replaced ipod and it's refurbished so i'm alittle scared

 

[daneoni]

Im 4 for 4 on all my refurb purchases, all have been pristine out the box. My current main machine is a refurb and i got silent upgrades too.

BlackBook, MacBook Pro Core Duo, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro Early 08. I've sold the first 2 now and returned the Air. The first two had no issues whatsoever, it was just time to upgrade. The Air had only one issue which is it kernel panicked whenever i tried to use remote install but thats not a hardware issue but rather a software bug with remote install.

The MacBook Pro Early 08 is still going strong 5 months later and is what i'm typing this on right now and was flawless out of the box

I also have a refurbed replacement 5G iPod and an iPhone 3G and both have never given me problems. The iPod is over a year old now and the iPhone is also 4 months old

 

[janstett]

Plus, sometimes refurbs are never actually used -- a company could buy 10 Macbooks and only issue 6 to employees and just return the extras, for example. Because Apple can't legally package it as new, even though they're still in the box, they are sold as refurbs. If you luck out, you get one of those.

 

[Airforcekid]

Thats the standerd sometimes I think they are new!

 

[LizKat]

Plus, sometimes refurbs are never actually used -- a company could buy 10 Macbooks and only issue 6 to employees and just return the extras, for example. Because Apple can't legally package it as new, even though they're still in the box, they are sold as refurbs. If you luck out, you get one of those.

You are likely better off if your refurb is really a refurb and not just a new one that was returned unopened. The true refurb has gone through all the checkout procedures for a second time, so your chance of getting something that's DOA or croaks shortly thereafter is reduced.

I have bought for myself or as gifts multiple ibooks, powerbooks (12" and 15"), a couple blackjacks, many iPods (minis, shuffles, nanos 1G and 2G, several 40GB 3G clickwheels, a U2 special edition and the video-capable update of it, a classic 160GB) as refurbs.

ALL this stuff arrived cosmetically pristine, perfectly functional and is still working. Some of the ipods and ibooks must be more than six years old by now. The batts don't last long now on a couple of the really old iPods, and of course I have replaced batts for the ibooks and powerbooks.

I should say that I tend to load lots of playlists on iPods and my typical use of them is to grab one, turn it on, select some playlist and let it run until it quits or I put it to sleep. So if you typically ask much more of your iPods -- making a lot of individual track selections, scrubbing, making on the go playlists and so forth, your experience could obviously be different. But, that would be true whether your device was new or a refurb.