Why wouldn't I buy a refurbished mac book pro?

[MuckSavage70]

The "real apple box" only lasts until you open it up. After that it's just a mac.

I've only bought one brand new mac, all the rest have been refurbs and they have all been excellent. And as someone else noted, you occasionally get an upgrade.

I only had one refurb I didn't like, it was a 5th gen airport extreme that never really worked well.

 

[catan]

There are plenty of empty MBP boxes for sale on eBay and Craigslist. Usually for $15 - $20.

^ This will do nicely for the argument of not getting the original box. Also if you upgrade to another Mac in the same form factor/generation the packaging doesn't change.

Refurbished vs. new is almost a no-brainer for me, because the only perceivable downsides for refurb are:
1) More effort finding the one with specs you want (especially non-base model)
2) Refurbs will not be as readily available for the latest model the month it was released.

The real question is why wouldn't you buy a refurb MBP when you can get one for even cheaper on Craigslist.

 

[powerbook911]

The responses to the issues I brought up were spot on the mark.

Nevertheless, I would still ask anyone to look at the price they can get from other retailers and/or their student discount if still a student. It can sometimes surprise you that you can come out right near or sometimes better then refurbished. Not always, but sometimes. Might as well get the extra special unboxing experience if the price is pretty much a wash or even better.

When I purchased a refurb iMac years ago, it still came double boxed. The inner box was obviously not the color retail box, but it was still a second double box.

Are the notebooks and mac mini the only refurbs where the machine is directly in the shipping box with no additional box inside?

vbedia - I feel the same as you. Nevertheless, most refurb units get all new exterior casing just like the refurbished iPhones they give us when ours break.

 

[campyguy]

Lots of good points here, my only add is the question I asked myself "Why didn't I do this sooner?" I'd been buying new Macs since 1992 and didn't hop on the refurb conduit until last year, although I have bought new "last year's" on sale from MacMall (via AppleInsider) or looked for "free" included AppleCare.

I have one new rMBP and one refurb rMBP. Physically, I can't tell either apart. Both have been free from problems. Both have Samsung LCD panels, free from ghosting, and all of the ports were free from wear and work perfectly. I also own two 2012 quad-core Mac Mini Servers - one new and one refurb, and both are working perfectly.

My only want now is a Retina iMac, and I'll be scouring the Refurb Store first when I'm ready. Stop reading this post and go buy one already...