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Do you absolutely trust Apple's refurbishing?
- Thread starter DieBeachballDie
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I would agree that refurbs are a great deal and would be indistinguishable from new in most cases.
But I am a little finicky when it comes to the MacBook Pros. I just like to know I am the first and only owner of the machine I just sold my left pecan for. And yes, I know they replace all touchable surfaces.
I push this company a lot here, but B&H is my go to for Apple products if I don't buy them in the Apple Store just a mile from here. Tax free and usually some great deals going on. Next day shipping was only like $28 so not even a long wait to get your machine.
Hope you enjoy the purchase when it arrives.
But I am a little finicky when it comes to the MacBook Pros. I just like to know I am the first and only owner of the machine I just sold my left pecan for. And yes, I know they replace all touchable surfaces.
I push this company a lot here, but B&H is my go to for Apple products if I don't buy them in the Apple Store just a mile from here. Tax free and usually some great deals going on. Next day shipping was only like $28 so not even a long wait to get your machine.
Hope you enjoy the purchase when it arrives.
If you are overseas, then no.
I had to go through a few Mac Pro 2013's until one was ok. It seemed they just received it and put it back in the stock and wait for a complaint...or apple care..
I had bought a brand new MacBook white polycarbonate in 2006 brand new from the Apple Store near me.
Opened the box and there were fingerprints on the screen and the tape sealing the main tab was cut and another circular tape dot was placed over the original. This is before they wrapped the whole box in plastic. Took it back and got an unopened machine.
Yes, I experienced that too recently buying a MacBook Air one week before the new ones came out...sent it back and order the new one in its place.
It is a hit or miss when it comes to buying apple products more so as the culture has changed. Of course I am not saying that this is a standard, but I think it depends on the store, location and what country.
You bought a brand new or refurb MBA and it was "used"? I wonder if factory workers may have haphazardly handled the machine. My issue with my MacBook White was way back in 2006.
Well, I also returned an inCase hardshell a few weeks ago that I didn't like on my MBP 16". The associate gave me an Apple Gift Card credit and promptly took the case and put it right back on the shelf without really examining it whatsoever. Gave a little uneasy feeling as the whole CV19 thing was starting to gain our attention.
Yeah, there's a difference between "Refurbished Mac" and "Apple Certified Refurbished." If it doesn't come with an Apple standard one year warranty, it's not an Apple Certified Refurb.
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What I find ‘concerning’ is there’s no tear down of a refurbished MacBook, I want to know what it looks like on the inside but I’ve found no such image. Does it look as clean as new MacBooks or are there burn marks, water damage, partially damaged components, etc, if anyone has an image of one that would be great 
I’ve had R refurbed Macs over the years and all of them looked and ran like a new machine would have. Only thing I’m noticing with the MBP I got a few weeks back came with 7 cycles on the battery and now has 20 and the battery life has already dropped from 100 to 97.5. Pretty sure that’s not a normal drop.
Mixed experience but would probably do it again direct from Apple.
A while ago, I bought a Santa Rosa white macbook 13" refurb direct from apple which I later maxxed ram/HD on my own, as I was mostly working on external displays at the time and the 'pros' at the moment had the same RAM limits. Was a good machine for a while, but right out of the box, I think it was the 'T' key which wasn't working at all, so some disappointment. Was fine and still works even now after keyboard replacement - although was highly annoyed they wouldn't just hand me a keyboard to do it myself, then had to be sent off - for a keyboard.
Bought a refurbed/current-at-the-time model for my wife and saved a few bucks some years ago. She later 'killed' it but she's managed to do this to a new MBP as well - machine just dies instantly when she uses it. Made it years before 'wife-killing-MBP-event' in both cases (thought on the first one it was a frayed cable but no luck..)
A while ago, I bought a Santa Rosa white macbook 13" refurb direct from apple which I later maxxed ram/HD on my own, as I was mostly working on external displays at the time and the 'pros' at the moment had the same RAM limits. Was a good machine for a while, but right out of the box, I think it was the 'T' key which wasn't working at all, so some disappointment. Was fine and still works even now after keyboard replacement - although was highly annoyed they wouldn't just hand me a keyboard to do it myself, then had to be sent off - for a keyboard.
Bought a refurbed/current-at-the-time model for my wife and saved a few bucks some years ago. She later 'killed' it but she's managed to do this to a new MBP as well - machine just dies instantly when she uses it. Made it years before 'wife-killing-MBP-event' in both cases (thought on the first one it was a frayed cable but no luck..)
If you order a refurb now, chances are they'll send you one of the ones Stone Rodger sent back lol.
Apple refurbs should be ok - I mean only those direct from Apple, don't trust anyone else.
As people mention, if it arrives with an issue promptly return it. I have a feeling a lot of Apple refurbs are pedants buying, trying a machine for a few days then getting buyers remorse (can't afford it or spec envy with upgrade anxiety**)... so they basically unbox, hit psychological barrier, then ship it back. Apple goes through their process and sells as refurb. No doubt there are a large amount of refurbs needing to be refurbed also... but don't underestimate needless 'buy then return'.
** I've met people like this. Constantly anxious that the machine they paid for wasn't 'the best' and watching every news announcement for new CPUs coming, so they decide to wait to next cycle.... (while running outdated machine for years and complaining about it)
As people mention, if it arrives with an issue promptly return it. I have a feeling a lot of Apple refurbs are pedants buying, trying a machine for a few days then getting buyers remorse (can't afford it or spec envy with upgrade anxiety**)... so they basically unbox, hit psychological barrier, then ship it back. Apple goes through their process and sells as refurb. No doubt there are a large amount of refurbs needing to be refurbed also... but don't underestimate needless 'buy then return'.
** I've met people like this. Constantly anxious that the machine they paid for wasn't 'the best' and watching every news announcement for new CPUs coming, so they decide to wait to next cycle.... (while running outdated machine for years and complaining about it)
I could see that. I save all my 'anxiety' (wrong word) for before the purchase. The second i finally pull the trigger i sit back and relax. Life's too short for anxiety...
What I find ‘concerning’ is there’s no tear down of a refurbished MacBook, I want to know what it looks like on the inside but I’ve found no such image. Does it look as clean as new MacBooks or are there burn marks, water damage, partially damaged components, etc, if anyone has an image of one that would be great
I dont have a picture, but when my 2012 refurb iMac died (accident took it out), i tried to have it repaired. The guy showed my the internals, and there was a sizeable dent in the front of the motherboard. Whatever made it would have had to come through the screen (ie: i didn't cause it). Clearly it worked fine, even with the existing dent (5 years and no problems), but that must have been particularly jarring on the whole when it happened. I would not want a more delicate laptop that had been hit like that.
I get the feeling refurbished is great on the outside but on the inside it’s another story
If Apple tests the board and it is within their specs, they probably would sell a cosmetically imperfect board .
It worked fine. I'll assume it was sent back because the screen got punched. It'd be nice to get a history on these refurbs (that have histories), but i guess thats asking too much for four thousand dollars...
Apple didn't make you spend $4000
It's up to their standards for them to sell it for $4000. If you don't like it, there are other options...
It was "suppose" to be a brand new MBA...It had fingerprints on it also...
How apple has changed..
Apple refurbished products are like custom handcrafted products. They get inspected throughly by personal technician. It’s sometimes safer than the brand new products lol.
Here's my experience. I purchased a refurb rMBP 15 late 2013. Aside from a battery replacement midway through, and in the final days (I just got rid of it,) the AR coating on the screen started to wear - it was a great machine. I decided to go with a refurb 16 MBP. First one, the trackpad didn't seem to line up correctly. Also felt uneven when pressing different parts of the trackpad. Second refurb clicked. When the computer was under load, it would click inside. Not the speaker click, but like a loud expanding and contracting type click maybe from the heat? If your hands were on the thing when the click happened, you could actually feel the click! Third refurb the battery seems to bounce around from 98% design capacity to 84% design capacity, (this seems to happen with the computer is under load, and the battery mah capacity as well as the charge drop even though the machine is plugged in.) In the end I kept the last one, I have AC+ on it. Once all this virus stuff gets sorted out, I'll have to get the battery checked. So IDK... I've had good experience with refurbs in the past. I have friends that have purchased refurb Macs and iPads without issue. My recent experience questions how stringent the refurb process actually is right now.
If your machine had a dent in the motherboard that didn't affect the operation and longevity of your Mac, and that you couldn't see, then it is as good as new. That's the difference between "new" and "as good as new". If I order a Mac, take it out of its packaging, change me mind, put it back into the packaging and return it, it's not new - by definition, but it as good as new.
If you buy brand new, there is a chance that you get a Mac that doesn't even turn on. S*** happens. You return it and get a new one. If you buy a refurbished one, there is a chance that it is _not_ as good as new. Again, s*** happens. You return it and get a new one. It's guaranteed to be as good as new. "Guaranteed" doesn't mean "it's impossible that there is anything wrong", nobody can ever guarantee that. "Guaranteed" means "if there is a problem then we fix it".
My companies tends to buy 2015 15" MacBook Pro's for developers. Mine was bought new for a different developer for about £2,500, and I got it when I replaced them. Then we bought refurbished from Amazon from £1,500, and later two more refurbished for £1,050 each from Amazon. Absolutely happy with them, no problem ever.
If you buy brand new, there is a chance that you get a Mac that doesn't even turn on. S*** happens. You return it and get a new one. If you buy a refurbished one, there is a chance that it is _not_ as good as new. Again, s*** happens. You return it and get a new one. It's guaranteed to be as good as new. "Guaranteed" doesn't mean "it's impossible that there is anything wrong", nobody can ever guarantee that. "Guaranteed" means "if there is a problem then we fix it".
My companies tends to buy 2015 15" MacBook Pro's for developers. Mine was bought new for a different developer for about £2,500, and I got it when I replaced them. Then we bought refurbished from Amazon from £1,500, and later two more refurbished for £1,050 each from Amazon. Absolutely happy with them, no problem ever.
Yes, I do. I bought a Refurbished 16" MacBook Pro from Apple. After I set it up, I checked the battery with coconut battery app and found out my machine was 6 months old and had 96% max charge and 4 cycles. I was a little surprised it was this "old". The exterior was perfect, and look brand new. To some this is worth it if its a work machine, but I'm not bleeding edge nor use it for work, and hold on to my stuff. I ultimately bit the bullet for a new one because of the battery. My current Macbook Pro is almost 7 years old. It has 275 cycles and 95% battery capacity. Knowing this, for a few hundred less was NOT worth it to me. My .02. I will say tho, it is a beautiful machine. LOVE the updates. The keyboard and speakers are awesome! New one was 1.5 months old.