Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
New -v- Refurb
- Thread starter andy317
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
If you buy a refurb, they're held to the same standards as new, and have the same warranty. You can buy applecare on it just as easily as a new one. The only difference between buying a new one at an apple retail store and a refurb online is that you have to wait two or three days for the refurb to be shipped.
The refurbs usually has a refurb sticker on the back, since it is essentially remanufactured. Otherwise, when you enter the serial number, apple support may tell you that you're not eligible to buy applecare since the computer was manufactured over a year ago.
And when I sold my g5 powermac, two people seriously looked at it. The first did turn his nose up a little bit at first at it originally being a refurb FOUR YEARS AGO. The other didn't care and bought it instantly.
I view it as buying a one year old car; the car still has the warranty, the bugs have been identified and worked out in it, and you get essentially a new car for 10-20% off. Except there's less of a difference between buying a new imac and an identical refurb.
I bought a new in box white imac last month, and it is closer to the two year old car analogy. It's still a new computer.
The refurbs usually has a refurb sticker on the back, since it is essentially remanufactured. Otherwise, when you enter the serial number, apple support may tell you that you're not eligible to buy applecare since the computer was manufactured over a year ago.
And when I sold my g5 powermac, two people seriously looked at it. The first did turn his nose up a little bit at first at it originally being a refurb FOUR YEARS AGO. The other didn't care and bought it instantly.
I view it as buying a one year old car; the car still has the warranty, the bugs have been identified and worked out in it, and you get essentially a new car for 10-20% off. Except there's less of a difference between buying a new imac and an identical refurb.
I bought a new in box white imac last month, and it is closer to the two year old car analogy. It's still a new computer.
I picked up a 24" Imac refreb - no screen issues, no disk issues, no heat issues, ect.. runs perfectly.
I would buy referb again.
Ian
I would buy referb again.
Ian
The refurbs are usually the current generation, unless specified otherwise. Even older generations still qualify for Applecare--check when buying.
I was also wondering the same thing as I'm thinking about getting my first mac (the $1,049 refurb blackbook). This thread has been quite helpful. Thanks
One more question, some earlier posted that the refurbs come with a sticker on the back? Is this on the back of the computer or the box... I don't want a big sticker on my "new" computer !
One more question, some earlier posted that the refurbs come with a sticker on the back? Is this on the back of the computer or the box... I don't want a big sticker on my "new" computer !
No stickers on the iMac, two macBooks, iPhone and AppleTV refurbs that I've purchased. Only the box they came in...
Just got my refurbed Black MacBook yesterday and it's flawless. I miss the neat small Apple retail box but the generic cardboard box I got is perfect to send my PowerBook to it's new owner. LOL. BTW - no stickers anywhere. No one will ever know it's refurbed unless you mention it.
Bought a refurbed mini and above the serial number it did say 'refurbished' in small print...