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Refurbs are sometimes not as cheap as you think. Apple doesn't drop the prices enough for me to go with a used as sometimes Macmall or other macsites have them cheaper or close to the same price for a new one. A computer is something I personally wouldn't get used but to each their own.

A refurb isn't a used computer. It's a computer that was faulty, and therefore basically unused, which was then replaced for the original customer, so the faulty hardware is later repaired and sold on by Apple at the discounted price. What you actually get is basically indistinguishable from a brand new Mac.
 
A refurb isn't a used computer. It's a computer that was faulty, and therefore basically unused, which was then replaced for the original customer, so the faulty hardware is later repaired and sold on by Apple at the discounted price. What you actually get is basically indistinguishable from a brand new Mac.
True. And sometimes they weren't faulty at all. Sometimes a BTO model is returned unopened and is resold as a refurb.

Apple Certified Refurbished Products
 
True. And sometimes they weren't faulty at all. Sometimes a BTO model is returned unopened and is resold as a refurb.

Apple Certified Refurbished Products

Exactly, and on top of that, you still get the same warranty as you do for a brand new Mac too.

The only reason Apple don't sell these at full price is because, once they've been sold and returned for any reason, they can no longer be sold by a retailer as brand new, even if the product is literally unused.

As einmusiker already said: "the pros are that you save money, the cons are none"
 
Exactly, and on top of that, you still get the same warranty as you do for a brand new Mac too.

The only reason Apple don't sell these at full price is because, once they've been sold and returned for any reason, they can no longer be sold by a retailer as brand new, even if the product is literally unused.

As einmusiker already said: "the pros are that you save money, the cons are none"

The one con may be that you might or tend not to get the shiny new apple box but rather a brown refurb box... thats the only somewhat con there may be.
 
The one con may be that you might or tend not to get the shiny new apple box but rather a brown refurb box... thats the only somewhat con there may be.

You throw the box away or store it somewhere after you get the computer anyway, so it doesn't matter.
 
I would say it depends on the price difference.
And usually a refurb may not be the latest model, so if the price difference is around $100.00, it would make better sense to buy brand new and get the latest model.

Otherwise, as long as the warranty is the same and you can get AppleCare to extend it, you should be fine.
 
I would say it depends on the price difference.
And usually a refurb may not be the latest model, so if the price difference is around $100.00, it would make better sense to buy brand new and get the latest model.

Otherwise, as long as the warranty is the same and you can get AppleCare to extend it, you should be fine.

It'll tell you what model it is on the description page, and if it's an older model you'll get more of a discount, which some people may think is worth it.
 
It'll tell you what model it is on the description page, and if it's an older model you'll get more of a discount, which some people may think is worth it.

I guess it all depends on what's available then.
I usually like to get the latest. Let's say I'm already spending over $2000, so why not add a few hundreds more and get the latest?
 
I guess it all depends on what's available then.
I usually like to get the latest. Let's say I'm already spending over $2000, so why not add a few hundreds more and get the latest?

I personally like to buy base models and spec them up myself, so I'm happy to have, say, a 2010 MBP for a few hundred less. That money will allow me to max out the RAM and fit a 1TB HD with some cash left over for a takeaway pizza ;)
 
My MBA refurb came with a US keyboard, and that in the UK. Don't know if that is just luck of the draw or if they all come like that.

If you ordered it from the UK store, that shouldn't have happened. Why didn't you call and inquire äbout it?
 
I bought my MacBook Pro as a refurb as well as two AirPort Expresses (802.11n) and would do the same again any day.

There were absolutely no cosmetic issues with my MBP, and trust me I tried hard to find one. The battery only had [I think] 7 cycles on it and everything was running perfectly. As others have said, it arrives in a brown box instead of the white MBP box.

I bought a refurb because I couldn't find the justification in spending $500 more for the same product when the only difference is the box (makes for an expensive box).

I couldn't be happier with my refurbished MBP. Whenever I decide to buy another Mac, the refurbished department will be my first stop.
 
Another one for Apple refurbs. Got my late '08 MBP for $650 off the day the early '09 models came out. Only difference from new was the box was plain white.
 
Refurb definitely!!

If you can get the model you want, definitely go with refurb. Add in AppleCare and you will be good to go. I had numerous issues with my previous refurb MBP (which was the first time any of my refurb items has had a problem). Needless to say three months prior to the AppleCare expiring, Apple did right by me and made me an Apple user for life.
 
If you ordered it from the UK store, that shouldn't have happened. Why didn't you call and inquire äbout it?
Because I don't mind. I learned on a German keyboard, used a UK keyboard for quite some time now, and the only key really way out from where I expect it is the '@' key.
 
A refurb isn't a used computer. It's a computer that was faulty, and therefore basically unused, which was then replaced for the original customer, so the faulty hardware is later repaired and sold on by Apple at the discounted price. What you actually get is basically indistinguishable from a brand new Mac.

Someone touched it before me, so it is not new.
 
I got a late 2008 refurb MBP with the flickering screen but caught it in the first week. They offered a brand new current model replacement, but I was moving and took the fastest solution: fixed in 2 days.

Something else to consider if you don't buy Applecare: Some credit card companies double warranties with same conditions up to 1yr but on new products only.

I got a great deal on a 2008 15 inch MBP 6 months after it released... I soon found that it had a major flicker issue when on the 9600GT card. 2 years later I was able to get it fixed with a logic board change though... if it wasn't for that issue the MBP was great for the 2 years I kept it!
 
Because I don't mind. I learned on a German keyboard, used a UK keyboard for quite some time now, and the only key really way out from where I expect it is the '@' key.

What about the £ and € keys?
Much easier than pressing option + 3 and shift+option+2.
 
Another bonus (I didn't see it mentioned), sometimes you get more than you pay for.


My current iMac is a refurb. I ordered, the entry level 2011 27", my plan was to upgrade the ram via Newegg. I got the entry 27" with 16GB of ram and the 2TB HDD, for the price of the default 4GB/1TB combination.

Was a nice little surprise.
 
go for the refurb!

I have had good luck with refurb products. The lower price is a huge plus, and the quality has been great. The only downside I can think of is if you plan on selling the item later, you might get a lower resale price.
 
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