All iPads If I Purchase 2 Refurbished iPads as Gifts, Will They Know?

[HappyDude20]

As a wedding gift I am wanting to purchase the bride and groom an iPad for each of them.

Considering Just about every Apple product I’ve ever purchased for my own self has been from the Apple refurbished store has worked 100% well, I’m considering purchasing 2 refurbished iPads from the Apple refurbished store for the bride and groom as well.

I know the box the iPads come in say ‘refurbished’ but I’m planning on gifting the iPads without the box and instead placing them in a decorative, more elegant wedding gift bag.

I’m wondering if they were to put the iPad serial number on the Apple website if it would state their iPad is refurbished. I know refurbished iPads come with the same 1 year warranty but am wondering if anything would state these 2 iPads are refurbished?

 

[EugW]

Refurbished items from Apple have different serial model numbers. The serial model numbers begin with "F". For retail items, the serial model numbers begin with "M".

I would not gift a new or new refurb iPad without the sealed box. Seems very odd to me.

 

[HappyDude20]

Refurbished items from Apple have different serial numbers.

does this mean it states refurbished on the Apple site when checking warranty information or would only a Kern eye such as an Apple enthusiast know?

 

[Plutonius]

As a wedding gift I am wanting to purchase the bride and groom an iPad for each of them.

Considering Just about every Apple product I’ve ever purchased for my own self has been from the Apple refurbished store has worked 100% well, I’m considering purchasing 2 refurbished iPads from the Apple refurbished store for the bride and groom as well.

I know the box the iPads come in say ‘refurbished’ but I’m planning on gifting the iPads without the box and instead placing them in a decorative, more elegant wedding gift bag.

I’m wondering if they were to put the iPad serial number on the Apple website if it would state their iPad is refurbished. I know refurbished iPads come with the same 1 year warranty but am wondering if anything would state these 2 iPads are refurbished?

Why hide it ?

Be upfront and tell them that they are refurbished.

 

[TiggrToo]

And just what's wrong with giving them refurbished devices?

a) It's a gift!
b) Refurbs are usually better quality than new since they've been directly checked out before being boxed up.

 

[AustinIllini]

Give the refurbished iPads sealed in the box. Best way to go. It's a very generous gift either way.
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And just what's wrong with giving them refurbished devices?

a) It's a gift!
b) Refurbs are usually better quality than new since they've been directly checked out before being boxed up.

I wouldn't say "better" but they're basically "as good"

 

[Richard8655]

I'm wondering why not be straightforward and just gift them with the box they come with? Refurbished or not, I'm sure they'll be well appreciative. If either iPad develops an issue and needs attention from Apple, it would become known anyway.

 

[EugW]

does this mean it states refurbished on the Apple site when checking warranty information or would only a Kern eye such as an Apple enthusiast know?

I don't know if you saw the rest of my post but any item's serial model number that begins with "F" is refurbished, so it's really easy to tell. However, if you check the warranty, it doesn't mention refurbished on the support coverage page. Also, under My Devices in iCloud, it doesn't show up as refurbished there either.

However, I agree with Plutonius, it's better to be upfront about refurb than to be weird and open up the box and discard it. If they find out it's a refurb, then they'll know you removed the box to hide that fact, and that won't look so good. Or else just bite the bullet and get new retail. You can wait for a deal.

Or even better, just get them a gift card, and they can buy whatever they want.

 

[NT1440]

I wouldn't say "better" but they're basically "as good"

Edit: apparently I referred to a state law, disregard.

 

[HappyDude20]

Edit: apparently I referred to a state law, disregard.

i readwhat you original wrote. What state were you mentioning specifically?

 

[rui no onna]

Refurbished items from Apple have different serial numbers. The serial numbers begin with "F". For retail items, the serial numbers begin with "M".

Don't think this is true any longer. Bought a brand new, retail Air 3 and its serial number starts with F (shipped and sold by Amazon.com).

 

[HappyDude20]

Don't think this is true any longer. Bought a brand new, retail Air 3 and its serial number starts with F (shipped and sold by Amazon.com).

the plot thickens.

 

[rui no onna]

Looks like it's not serial number but rather the model number that denotes the origin.

I can corroborate the N one. My current iPad Pro 12.9 was replaced via AppleCare+ and the model number is NPLJ2LL/A.

I left my only refurb iPad at the office. Makes no sense to buy refurbs any longer when brand new retail iPads are cheaper on sale so I haven't bought one recently. I do believe the model number for the refurb one did start with F, though.

Models - The iPhone Wiki

www.theiphonewiki.com

First Letter
Main article: Model Regions
The first letter in the model number represents the source of the device. Currently, there are four known possible choices:

• "F": refurbished unit
• "M": retail unit
• "N": replacement unit
• "P": personalized (engraved) unit

 

[Richard8655]

Looks like it's not serial number but rather the model number that denotes the origin.

I can corroborate the N one. My current iPad Pro 12.9 was replaced via AppleCare+ and the model number is NPLJ2LL/A.

I left my only refurb iPad at the office. Makes no sense to buy refurbs any longer when brand new retail iPads are cheaper on sale so I haven't bought one recently. I do believe the model number for the refurb one did start with F, though.

Models - The iPhone Wiki

www.theiphonewiki.com

First Letter
Main article: Model Regions
The first letter in the model number represents the source of the device. Currently, there are four known possible choices:

• "F": refurbished unit
• "M": retail unit
• "N": replacement unit
• "P": personalized (engraved) unit

Exactly this. And apparently the first few characters of the serial number indicate location of manufacture.

 

[rui no onna]

Exactly this. And apparently the first few characters of the serial number indicate location of manufacture.

DM is Foxconn, I believe. That's the only one I know about.

 

[Richard8655]

That's right. This seems to support that. But RM strangely appears in the list. So EugW may have a point.

Code	Factory
FC	Fountain Colorado, USA
F	Fremont, California, USA
XA, XB, QP, G8	USA
RN	Mexico
CK	Cork, Ireland
VM	Foxconn, Pardubice, Czech Republic
SG, E	Singapore
MB	Malaysia
PT, CY	Korea
EE, QT, UV	Taiwan
FK, F1, F2	Foxconn – Zhengzhou, China
W8	Shanghai China
DL, DM	Foxconn – China
DN	Foxconn, Chengdu, China
YM, 7J	Hon Hai/Foxconn, China
1C, 4H, WQ, F7	China
C0	Tech Com – Quanta Computer Subsidiary, China
C3	Foxxcon, Shenzhen, China
C7	Pentragon, Changhai, China
RM	Refurbished/remanufactured

sorry, screwed up copy/paste and auto merge.

 

[rui no onna]

That's right. This seems to support that. But RM strangely appears in the list. So EugW may have a point.

Code	Factory
FC	Fountain Colorado, USA
F	Fremont, California, USA
XA, XB, QP, G8	USA
RN	Mexico
CK	Cork, Ireland
VM	Foxconn, Pardubice, Czech Republic
SG, E	Singapore
MB	Malaysia
PT, CY	Korea
EE, QT, UV	Taiwan
FK, F1, F2	Foxconn – Zhengzhou, China
W8	Shanghai China
DL, DM	Foxconn – China
DN	Foxconn, Chengdu, China
YM, 7J	Hon Hai/Foxconn, China
1C, 4H, WQ, F7	China
C0	Tech Com – Quanta Computer Subsidiary, China
C3	Foxxcon, Shenzhen, China
C7	Pentragon, Changhai, China
RM	Refurbished/remanufactured

I believe @EugW meant to refer to the model number and not the serial number given he mentioned "F" for refurb and "M" for retail.

Apple probably ran out of serial numbers to use that start with RM. I think now, they just switched to using the model number to denote origin.

 

[EugW]

I believe @EugW meant to refer to the model number and not the serial number given he mentioned "F" for refurb and "M" for retail.

Yes sorry, my mistake. F for model number, not serial number, means refurbished.

eg. Refurbished 6th gen iPad Canada: FRJN2CL

https://www.apple.com/ca/shop/product/FRJN2CL/A/refurbished-ipad-wi-fi-32gb-gold-6th-generation

Refurbished 3rd gen 11” iPad Pro Canada: FTXP2VC

https://www.apple.com/ca/shop/product/FTXP2VC/A/Refurbished-11-inch-iPad-Pro-Wi-Fi-64GB-Silver

Refurbished 2nd gen 10.5” iPad Pro USA: FQDT2LL

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/FQDT2LL/A/refurbished-105-inch-ipad-pro-wi-fi-64gb-space-gray

 

[blueflower]

I can relate to the OP while people here are saying they are sure they would be happy for iPads refurb or not. Where I’m from gifting refurbs would be viewed as you being cheap or tacky. Let us just say ingratitude runs high amongst certain types. I also do believe that not gifting them in the box would raise eyebrows unless it was done very tastefully in terms of packaging with the iPads perhaps telling a story in the packaging. I agree with a poster that also said refurbs don’t make sense anymore with the cheap prices of iPads new.

 

[Saskat]

So interesting. My iPP 9.7 has model number MM192LL/A. Not on the list?

 

[rui no onna]

So interesting. My iPP 9.7 has model number MM192LL/A. Not on the list?

What list? The one I posted? They drop the region code from the model list (e.g. LL/A).

MM192 is there:
iPad Pro 9.7 128GB Rose Gold (A1673)

If you meant the manufacturer list @Richard8655 posted, that's for the serial number, not the model number.

 

[diba]

If they do not like your gifted refurbs - send them to me, I will not complain at all. First world problems ....

 

[RevTEG]

The price difference between new and refurb isn’t enough $ for me to feel the need to repackage something to hide the fact that they’re refurbs. It’s a very nice gift. Why hide it?
If the couple would prefer new then let them return and pay the difference?
I just can’t see why I’d want to hide something unless I didn’t feel right about it. If I didn’t feel good about something I wouldn’t do it. The price difference isn’t worth the worry.

 

[motulist]

I can relate to the OP while people here are saying they are sure they would be happy for iPads refurb or not. Where I’m from gifting refurbs would be viewed as you being cheap or tacky. Let us just say ingratitude runs high amongst certain types. I also do believe that not gifting them in the box would raise eyebrows unless it was done very tastefully in terms of packaging with the iPads perhaps telling a story in the packaging. I agree with a poster that also said refurbs don’t make sense anymore with the cheap prices of iPads new.

Da funk? Why would you want those people in your life? And if you do have to tolerate them in your life you certainly shouldn't be catering to their nonsense.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Why hide it ?

Be upfront and tell them that they are refurbished.

Hiding the truth would be a terrible idea.