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How Are the Refurbished Macs?

M

MaxMike

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 6, 2009
487
36
I have been looking into getting a Mac mini and Apple just recently put a few in the refurbished section of the Apple Online Store. Are these computers of good quality? I don't want to be taking this to the Genius Bar all the time just because I sought to save a few bucks by buying refurbished. I have been getting refurbished phone replacements from my local Verizon store that break all the time, but I am guessing that Apple makes a bit of a better product than LG lol. Thanks! :)
 
MaxMike said:
I have been looking into getting a Mac mini and Apple just recently put a few in the refurbished section of the Apple Online Store. Are these computers of good quality? I don't want to be taking this to the Genius Bar all the time just because I sought to save a few bucks by buying refurbished. I have been getting refurbished phone replacements from my local Verizon store that break all the time, but I am guessing that Apple makes a bit of a better product than LG lol. Thanks! :)
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Apples Refurbished products are of equal if not better quality than their new units IMO. I have had several minis and several macbook pros, all with great history. Also the warranty is the same as a new one.
Mac minis do not appear in the refurb section often so I would bite while you get the chance.
 
optophobia said:
Mac minis do not appear in the refurb section often so I would bite while you get the chance.
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Oh man. I hope they will stay in until Monday, becuase I have to wait for my bank to transfer some funds from my savings to my checking account :(. oAlso, is Apple supposed to be coming out with iLife '10 at their event in two weeks? Or will Apple offer some kind of discounted upgrade if they do come out with it after two weeks of me having this computer?
 
MaxMike said:
Oh man. I hope they will stay in until Monday, becuase I have to wait for my bank to transfer some funds from my savings to my checking account :(. oAlso, is Apple supposed to be coming out with iLife '10 at their event in two weeks? Or will Apple offer some kind of discounted upgrade if they do come out with it after two weeks of me having this computer?
Click to expand...
This batch will be gone in an hour or two. There will be more just be patient and keep watching when you already have the money then pounce. Not likely to get an iLife upgrade, they usually come with whatever came with the original.
 
I have a 24" i got as a refurbished model... i've noticed in the last few weeks it has one tiny little dead pixel. a little annoying, but tbh i only ever notice it on bright white websites, like this one ;) other than that it's been a top little machine. well i should say big. :p
 
flopticalcube said:
This batch will be gone in an hour or two. There will be more just be patient and keep watching when you already have the money then pounce. Not likely to get an iLife upgrade, they usually come with whatever came with the original.
Click to expand...

Yup, long gone.

When you see it, buy it, do not wait.
 
is it possible?

am i able to get apple care on a refurbished product? and if so... HMMMMMmmmmmmmm might snag myself something
 
Badger^2 said:
refurb macs carry the exact same warranty and get same service as new
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when i first found out about this i was shocked... ive purchased refurbished products before and never had issues... the only part that worried me was they have limited warranties... usually 3 months.

For apple refurbs to offer the same exact warranty as brand new ones is just awesome!

I almost WANT to get a refurb due to the savings i would get.
 
If a refurb is available in the specs you want, there is no legitimate reason to buy a new one instead.
 
do not buy the refurbs! they are awful.......


ok, i admit i want them. i buy refurbs and they are according to my exerience and to what most say brand new unused and between 15-40% cheaper.

sometimes a upgrade brings only limited performance increase and you end up with a MBP with 5% less power for 35% less money.

the only drawback i can see is that you get a brown box and the serial number indicates it's a refurb. that in theory can affect the resale value.


BTW: the arrandale macs could be such a situation. this pure speculation but we will see. it could be that the arrandale version of a MBP costs $2500 and the refurb 2.8GHz MBP drops to $1600 (now $1989). The notebooks could have similar processing power, screens, HD, RAM, GPU, battery but you pay ~30% less than the new MBP.
 
I've been watching the refurb section of the Apple Canada store for the past few weeks and have noticed that when it comes to the Mini, they seem to update it with fresh stuff every day around 11 to 11:30am EST. But they disappear quickly, all of them are usually gone within the hour, and I haven't noticed them updating that section at any other times of the day.

Just to be safe, my advice to anyone looking to buy a refurb is to check the page every half hour during the day and if you see something you want, jump on it right away before someone else does.
 
Agree with all posts. I've been buying refurbs from Apple and have had no problems. I also have no problems getting AppleCare for them; in fact, this MacBook Air that I'm typing on is a refurb and I just got AppleCare for it.:)
 
I think refurbs are the way to go--got my iMac, several iPods and a Dell mini that way and all have been trouble free.

However, I did get a refurb Mac Mini right before Christmas that has been troublesome--doesn't consistently power on. I left it at the Apple Store today for diagnostics, possible repair--of course it turned right on at the store so they don't yet know what the problem is.

But this experience doesn't turn me off to refurbs, as the customer support is there, I am sure it will get resolved, and the same thing could have happened with a brand new machine.
 
Though I did not get a refurb this time around I generally do buy them for the savings. It makes buying Applecare a no-brainer and I still come up ahead than buying new. Just make sure you get the current gen
 
I have an imac 24" and a MacBookair and my wife has the iMac 20", all bought as refurbished in 2009. My iPod Touch 2nd gen was also a refurb. I always wait to buy a refurbished unit. I just check the Apple Store Site each day and when I see what I want, I buy. You need some patience to finally get what you want but the savings have been well worth it. I have been with Apple since the first Apple in 1981. I have gone through a whole lot of Apples and have never had any trouble with any of them. I have been lucky but I see no reason not to buy a refurbished Apple product.:)
 
I love my 24in iMac that work bought for me! It saved money and I got the exact machine I wanted! Unfortunately you don't get to customize what mouse and keyboard you want - only downside i see.
 
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