Interesting refurb serial number check

[Trj]

I just purchased a early 2011 macbook pro 13" and running the serial number it shows that this laptop was actually manufactured in Nov of 2012. Does this mean it was refurbished during this time period, or is it possible given extra parts etc Apple put some of these older models back into production to sell as "refurbs", thoughts?

 

[e12a]

I just purchased a early 2011 macbook pro 13" and running the serial number it shows that this laptop was actually manufactured in Nov of 2012. Does this mean it was refurbished during this time period, or is it possible given extra parts etc Apple put some of these older models back into production to sell as "refurbs", thoughts?

This is exactly what happens.

Old stock from stores gets marked as refurbished items to be sold at a discount. That is why if you look online at their refurbished items and use store pick up, the stores i've seen already have a healthy # of refurbished stock.

I push some of my users towards refurbished products especially when a macbook refresh occurs because most of these refurbs are simply new computers taken off the shelf.

 

[T5BRICK]

Apple doesn't build old models to sell as refurbs. They issue refurbished computers new serial numbers, which in turn gives them a new "manufacture date."