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is my iMac never used before?

Z

zoran

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jun 30, 2005
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When purchasing a new iMac, how can the buyer be certain or check to know if its brand new and not a used machine or a demo machine placed at some store? Obviously the iMac will not be purchased from some Apple store where things are totally legit and transparent, but from some reseller.
So is there some way to know if its opened from the box and never used before?
 
zoran said:
When purchasing a new iMac, how can the buyer be certain or check to know if its brand new and not a used machine or a demo machine placed at some store? Obviously the iMac will not be purchased from some Apple store where things are totally legit and transparent, but from some reseller.
So is there some way to know if its opened from the box and never used before?
Click to expand...

I think you could do something like check the power-on cycles/hours for the drive. Get a tool like smartmontools and check the S.M.A.R.T. attributes. These should be among them.
 
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Suppose that the specific iMac was used as a demo computer at some Apple Store, can this be seen in the "checkcoverage" website?
 
The serial number will be on the outside of the box.
Look it up yourself.
If it has been registered, you will usually see a purchase date, or at least the day that the warranty started. Your choice should be clear at that point, particularly if any warranty started 2 months ago. :cool:

As a "demo" system may not necessarily be registered, all you have to go on then is the integrity of the shop where you purchase it - so if you don't believe the shop to tell you it was a display model, even if you ask (assuming that is really important to you...) - why would you not take your business elsewhere?
(I would go with the demo anyway, ask for more discount if they tell you it's a demo system
 
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If it is a demo/display iMac, why would they let me know anyway? They would only loose money simply because anyone would ask for more discount! ;)
 
zoran said:
If it is a demo/display iMac, why would they let me know anyway? They would only loose money simply because anyone would ask for more discount! ;)
Click to expand...

Demo models in all Apple Retail Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers and Apple Authorized Resellers use a purchase date of 1984 and are specifically sold as is.
 
The store should answer your question. It costs you nothing to ask the question.
If the system is previously used, then the store should label it as such.
It also costs you nothing to ask for a discount,
It seems like you don't particularly trust that store.... so, why would you mind if they lose a bit of money by selling to you at a small discount?
They may say yes (or no) --- all you did was ask. :cool:

Why are you buying anything at that store?

(Maybe oversimplifying here, but official Apple resellers have to follow Apple's sales guidelines when selling Apple-branded products.)
 
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DeltaMac said:
The store should answer your question. It costs you nothing to ask the question.
If the system is previously used, then the store should label it as such.
It also costs you nothing to ask for a discount,
It seems like you don't particularly trust that store.... so, why would you mind if they lose a bit of money by selling to you at a small discount?
They may say yes (or no) --- all you did was ask. :cool:

Why are you buying anything at that store?

(Maybe oversimplifying here, but official Apple resellers have to follow Apple's sales guidelines when selling Apple-branded products.)
Click to expand...

Exactly  has quite a strong grip on who sells and services their machines. If it is an Apple Authorized Reseller or a Apple Retail Store you really do not have to worry. Of course if you were to find out an Apple Authorized Reseller u=
 
davidmartindale said:
Demo models in all Apple Retail Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers and Apple Authorized Resellers use a purchase date of 1984 and are specifically sold as is.
Click to expand...
Interesting. I had always assumed that they would end up being sold as refurbished after any cosmetic issues gained while on display were fixed.
 
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