How to make sure the iMac is brand new?

[t0316kcw]

Hi,
How to make sure the iMac I received which was ordered from Apple online store is brand new? from the packaging or through the OS setting?

The reason I asked is because I ordered an i7 iMac on 16th early morning around 7:45am and I got the email on the same day at 22:45 saying it's been shipped ??!! Of course I'm happy that I can get it that fast, but..... Isn't it too quick for a BTO product? or could it possibly be someone's returned iMac?


Thanks

 

[macbookairman]

Its absolutely possible for it to be shipped that fast. You won't get a used model unless you buy it from the refurbished section.

Anyways, if the box with the iMac has a nice design on the outside with a picture of an iMac, its new.
If the box is just a plain cardboard box, its used/refurbished.

 

[foodle]

Despite not being a standard config, Apple may have premade some of the more popular BTO models (e.g. 27" i7). Or if your BTO is simple (e.g. memory upgrade), it could have been done very quickly.

If Apple were to sell you a returned machine as "new" they would get in a lot of trouble with the government for violating consumer protection laws. This is true in the US and the EU has even more stringent consumer protection laws. Dell got caught doing this a few years ago and it was not pretty.

 

[87vert]

I'm guessing it could have also been a machine someone custom ordered with the same specs and then canceled before it was shipped so they had it sitting around and gave it to you instead?

Dunno

 

[pixel-vs-pencil]

Are you in the UK? The same thing happened to me, I ordered on the Thursday morning and it arrived the next day - custom BTO i7 imac with 1TB HD. Mine was brand new and un-opened, I'm guessing they may have a stockpile in Ireland.

 

[ecks618]

Are you in the UK? The same thing happened to me, I ordered on the Thursday morning and it arrived the next day - custom BTO i7 imac with 1TB HD. Mine was brand new and un-opened, I'm guessing they may have a stockpile in Ireland.

The i7 is a BTO but it is a fully stocked item. You can even pick them up in the Apple store without having to order it. If it was the ram that was upgrade, that would probably take no more than a day to fulfill.

I walked into the Apple store for my i7 and 30 minutes later walked out what is essentially a BTO machine. The i7 was stocked and it took them 10 minutes to add the ram.

I think only the addition of an SSD would somewhat delay a shipment although I think Apple is smart enough to keep a certain stock of those as well.

 

[IndustrialSpace]

I dunno.

Some owners have claimed that their "new" iMac had tell-tale signs of prior usage.

The only way to tell is to inspect it. Some had debris under the screen (indicating it may have been returned and a new screen instlled) , scratches on the stand or other signs of usage.

The components may needto be new onthe inside, but don't doubt that Apple is reusing some of the casing from defective returns.

 

[symbology]

I dunno.

Some owners have claimed that their "new" iMac had tell-tale signs of prior usage.

The only way to tell is to inspect it. Some had debris under the screen (indicating it may have been returned and a new screen instlled) , scratches on the stand or other signs of usage.

The components may needto be new onthe inside, but don't doubt that Apple is reusing some of the casing from defective returns.

When I first pulled my 27" out of the box my power cable was lying all on the bottom of the box. Not bound up and held together with that plastic banding. Everything else about it seemed new though.

It would be interesting to keep track of all of the returned serial numbers.......

I have not seen any B stock Mid 2010 27" models yet, but have heard of a lot of them being returned.

 

[PatriotInvasion]

I dunno.

Some owners have claimed that their "new" iMac had tell-tale signs of prior usage.

The only way to tell is to inspect it. Some had debris under the screen (indicating it may have been returned and a new screen instlled) , scratches on the stand or other signs of usage.

The components may need to be new on the inside, but don't doubt that Apple is reusing some of the casing from defective returns.

I highly doubt that Apple does this. If users can detect the slightest yellow tinge in a screen, they'll spot a used casing in an instant. The machine will be new, and you can especially tell because when I unboxed my new 27" iMac, it was packaged so beautifully. Anything that could remotely get scratched in transit was covered in clear adhesive protection AND the white cloth-like covering.