Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Looking into a reburb MBA...

N

Nerddette

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 27, 2012
1
0
To make a long story a short one, I'm looking into buying a MB for school and home and I don't have the money or time to go get a brand spanking new one. This will be my first laptop, and I'm looking to make it last for as long as I can.
I'm planning on using it to type up research papers, handle my Itunes, and Photoshop E10.
I have a family friend who simply adores the MBP and loves everything about Apple and it's products and is showing me used ones on sites such as Craigslist.
Would I be better off buying a reburb from the Apple store or one from places like Ebay?
 
Nerddette said:
Would I be better off buying a reburb from the Apple store or one from places like Ebay?
Click to expand...
Refurbs are a better way to go than used. 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 only available from the Apple Refurb Store and are not sold by any 3rd party or 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 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.
 
I got a 2010 13 uMBA 1.5 years ago, still perfect, came w/ only 3 batt. cycles.
 
I bought a refurb MBA for my gf and she loves it :)

I would say that it really depends on your budget and how comfortable you are with computers. The more comfortable you are, the more money you can save!
 
I am so pleased with my base 2010 11" MacBook Air which I purchased refurbished back in September...that I will definitely go that route again when I purchase an upgrade later on from Apple!
 
Couple of other possibilities...

a) Best Buy open box specials. Commonplace occurrence right after a mac upgrade. Someone buys a mac, finds out a couple of weeks later that it's been upgraded, return it for a refund and get a new one. Best Buy restocks it, often with discontinued item and open box discounts.

b) Craigslist. People craving the newest, fastest and most shiny items often sell their macs on CL, often with original boxes, receipts and in perfect condition, and often with original and even extended applecare still on the machines.

If it still qualifies for applecare, no worries. You can get it for a better price than the often stingy apple refurb discounts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back