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What to expect from shopping Refurb?

B

BlueXIII

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 31, 2014
27
0
Hi Friends,

What should I expect if I decide to shop on the Apple Refurb for a late 2013 rMBP? I really want the top end 15" and would like to save money, but this is also my first macbook. I don't want to get a machine that is already going to have any wear and tear/scratches in the exterior, etc in it.

What say you? Good experience or bad to go refurb?

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Well, maybe not. Looks like refurb on that model only saves you $200.
 
From my experience, you'd never know the difference.

By top end do you mean the model with discrete graphics? Or do you mean the model with discrete +16GB/1TB?
 
The odds of you getting a refurbished machine with any cosmetic flaw is extremely small. Essentially, the only thing you're not getting with a refurb that would would with a new machine is the fancy white box.
 
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 pre-owned Apple products that undergo Apple's stringent refurbishment process prior to being offered for sale. While only some units are returned due to technical issues, all units undergo Apple's stringent quality refurbishment process.
Click to expand...
Click the link in that quote for more details on the refurbishment process.
  • Apple Certified Refurbished Products are available online from the Apple Refurb Store and are not sold in 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 notebook 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.
 
capathy21 said:
You won't be able to tell the difference between a refurb and a new model except for the money you save.
Click to expand...

I couldn't have said it better, I am typing this on my refurbished mid 2012 15" rMBP. It will be a year in August since I've owned it and it has been perfect, I have had absolutely no issues with it. It arrived in pristine condition absolutely NO dents,scratches or marks on it. The display is also perfect as well, no ghosting, yellow tint etc. Buying refurbished saved myself $600 and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I just recently put an OWC 480GB SSD in my machine with no issues as well. As someone who owns a refurbed 15" rMBP I would highly recommend buying a refurbished unit, literally the only difference is you don't get the original box, but depending on which model you buy, you will save hundreds.
 
You just won't get the box. And you can buy one of those on eBay for $25 if you really want to.
 
Go for Refurbished

I got a refurbished Macbook Pro back in 2010 and it was totally fine. I was able to get the high end 13' for a lower price, which I would say has helped me have a computer that lasts a little longer. Through out the years I've upgraded RAM and SSD so it works even better than when I bought it. Considering I've had no problems with it, I would say that refurbished is a good option. I will probably get a refurbished retina soon. Very recommendable.
 
GhettoMrBob said:
That model is currently $400 off. That's, IMO, worth going for the refurbished.
Click to expand...

I can get edu discount, so its only $200 for me. Still not sure if I want to save that extra $200, I'm always hesitant to buy used (especially because this is my first mac).
 
BlueXIII said:
I can get edu discount, so its only $200 for me. Still not sure if I want to save that extra $200, I'm always hesitant to buy used (especially because this is my first mac).
Click to expand...

Since they carry the very same warranty as a new one, what does it matter? You'll get taken care of the same way you would've if you'd bought new.
 
BlueXIII said:
I can get edu discount, so its only $200 for me. Still not sure if I want to save that extra $200, I'm always hesitant to buy used (especially because this is my first mac).
Click to expand...
Based on the countless reports from refurb buyers in this forum and elsewhere, chances are very slim that you won't be completely satisfied with a refurb. In fact, the chances of getting a good refurb is probably better than getting a good new model, since refurb models go through extra scrutiny before being offered for sale. In many cases, a refurb model was never opened by the original buyer, but was returned for other reasons. And, as snaky69 mentioned, you're protected by warranty, just as you would be buying new. You can also return a refurb with no questions asked if it doesn't meet your expectations when you first open it.
 
I just bought a 15" rMBP - entry level quad Core i7 2.0 GHz with 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM for $1699. You wouldn't be able to tell that it is a refurb, as its perfect.

A couple of years back I bought a dual Core i5 2.5GHz with 500GB hard drive and 4GB RAM. Again, it was in perfect condition. I paid $519 for it.

The only thing you don't get is a retail box.

Sometimes you get a bonus. A friend of mine bought a Mac Pro (6 core) and got 12GB RAM instead of 6GB that was advertised. You might get lucky ;)

I would highly recommend refurbs

pac
 
Do you get the full ilife and iWork suite? Is it guaranteed to not come in an original box and what does it cone in? Lastly, does it take considerably longer for refurb units to ship than brand new ones?
 
gtanner00 said:
Do you get the full ilife and iWork suite?
Click to expand...

Same software as a new Mac.

Is it guaranteed to not come in an original box and what does it cone in?
Click to expand...

Sometimes the come in an original box with "Refurbished" stickers on it, other times they come in a brown box that says "Apple Refurbished"

Lastly, does it take considerably longer for refurb units to ship than brand new ones?
Click to expand...

If they're in stock, they ship right away. If they're not, you can't order them.
 
BlueXIII said:
Hi Friends,

What should I expect if I decide to shop on the Apple Refurb for a late 2013 rMBP? I really want the top end 15" and would like to save money, but this is also my first macbook. I don't want to get a machine that is already going to have any wear and tear/scratches in the exterior, etc in it.

What say you? Good experience or bad to go refurb?

My 2010 MBP and 2011 MBA are both refurbished and both have worked wonderfully. No cosmetic issues on arrival. Other than the box it comes in, you couldn't tell it was a refurb.
Click to expand...
 
BlueXIII said:
Well, maybe not. Looks like refurb on that model only saves you $200.
Click to expand...

Well then you're literally paying $200 for the box, and any sort of psychological barrier to the machine not technically being "new."

If you watch refurb unboxing videos on YouTube, they're all in perfect condition, and come in the original plastic wrap, along with new accessories, Apple stickers, and all of that. In the small chance that it has some sort of flaw, just return it and buy another one.

And if you really want a box, you can buy one for $25 on eBay.
 
1) if you are talking about iPhoto, iMovie, yes. it also comes with pages, numbers, keynote (at least i think you were able to get it for free or something like that)

2) brown box (who cares about the box? the device is new, my 15' MBP had 1 battery cycle), a friend of mine that got the same computer (but brand new) as me at about the same time and neither one of us couldn't tell the diff.

3) no, at least not for me. took 3 days from order to delivery.


gtanner00 said:
Do you get the full ilife and iWork suite? Is it guaranteed to not come in an original box and what does it cone in? Lastly, does it take considerably longer for refurb units to ship than brand new ones?
Click to expand...
 
Not only are the refurbs indistinguisable from non-refurb, but you can be sure its been tested with apple hardware tests, etc, before it goes out the door.

here's a good resource for looking at purchase options and price comparisons.

http://www.macprices.net/macbookpro.shtml

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Barney63 said:
The 2.3/16/512 is $2,599 and the same model is only $2,199 in the refurb store.
A $400 saving.


Barney
Click to expand...

Did you see that option in stock? When I look, its listed as an option but "out of stock". Yet it shows the option to ship to store for pick-up, but not to click through, so I can't see that is actually available.
 
CASLondon said:
Not only are the refurbs indistinguisable from non-refurb, but you can be sure its been tested with apple hardware tests, etc, before it goes out the door.

here's a good resource for looking at purchase options and price comparisons.

http://www.macprices.net/macbookpro.shtml

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Did you see that option in stock? When I look, its listed as an option but "out of stock". Yet it shows the option to ship to store for pick-up, but not to click through, so I can't see that is actually available.
Click to expand...

It was in stock when I posted.


Barney
 
Can you get the 100$ gift card w/ the back to school promotion while shopping refurb?
 
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