Refurbished products are not the same as open box items. Open box generally refers to an electronic item that was purchased and returned. The product is inspected, and as long as it doesn't show too many imperfections, will be marked down and placed for sale. I have never purchased an open box item and would recommend against it. That being said, I have been wrong before and thanks to the law of averages it's entirely possible to find a good product in an open box situation.