One can easily assume that the return rate/refurbish rate for a laptop would be correlated with their sales rates, right?
If so, then one would expect the best selling laptop, the 13" MBP (per Apple's words), would be in the Apple refurb store more than other models. Instead, we see a bunch of Macbook Airs and 17" Macbook Pros, and no 13" or 15" MBPs.
To me, that helps reinforce my belief/understanding that Apple is just using the refurb store to liquidate stock of some of their higher priced models. This is an example of Apple just gaming it's customers from an economic perspective. If you're in the market for an Air or 17" MBP, the retail store will keep those prices high because people in that market will be willing to pay that price, and wants to extract the maximum price from those customers.
But other customers just won't pay those high prices, and Apple wants their cash. That's why Apple has them in loads and on rather consistent basis in the refurb store. They know some people just won't spend retail on the higher priced models. Apple can attract those in their refurb store and therefore help achieve a bit of bazaar pricing (variable pricing) for their goods...
That's just my way of saying that you should buy from the refurb store when possible, leave the fancy packaging and pay no heed to any stigma that you're getting an inferior product...
If so, then one would expect the best selling laptop, the 13" MBP (per Apple's words), would be in the Apple refurb store more than other models. Instead, we see a bunch of Macbook Airs and 17" Macbook Pros, and no 13" or 15" MBPs.
To me, that helps reinforce my belief/understanding that Apple is just using the refurb store to liquidate stock of some of their higher priced models. This is an example of Apple just gaming it's customers from an economic perspective. If you're in the market for an Air or 17" MBP, the retail store will keep those prices high because people in that market will be willing to pay that price, and wants to extract the maximum price from those customers.
But other customers just won't pay those high prices, and Apple wants their cash. That's why Apple has them in loads and on rather consistent basis in the refurb store. They know some people just won't spend retail on the higher priced models. Apple can attract those in their refurb store and therefore help achieve a bit of bazaar pricing (variable pricing) for their goods...
That's just my way of saying that you should buy from the refurb store when possible, leave the fancy packaging and pay no heed to any stigma that you're getting an inferior product...
