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Question About Refurbished Products

C

ceehjayem

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 12, 2006
167
0
I've never purchased a refurbished Mac before and had a few questions. I understand that it has a warranty and everything but has many people experienced any problems with theirs?

I am considering purchasing an iMac tomorrow. Do refurbs usually have dead pixels? Also, is the condition of the parts in brand new condition? Or are the items subject to dents, etc? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
 
The only difference between a new iMac and a refurb is that one comes in a nice white box with pictures and the other comes in a brown box with shipping labels.
 
I have bought a few Apple Refurb products and each one has looked brand new the only difference, as stated above, was the packaging. If you read Apples refurb policy page it does state there may be minor blemishes or scratches so I guess it's a chance you take on that. However it would seem that the products go through a thorough testing before shipping so all should be working OK. As you mention, there is a full Apple warranty with each refurb so if things do go wrong they have it back.
 
Just know that if you do have a problem with your refurb, you actually have to send it back to Apple. You cant just take it back to the store.

My refurb pretty much died after one day and the process to get it exchanged is a lil bit of a hassle..

see my thread here about the return process:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/667268/
 
I just ordered a 2.8ghz 24" iMac on refurb. Packed in brown box, came with the iLife 09 drop-in DVD installation disk, and all new accessories wrapped in plastic.

Cannot for the life of me tell that it's been refurbished. The screen was covered in plastic, as was the back. No dead or stuck pixels.

Incredibly happy with the purchase!
 
This topic has been covered a number of times in the forums, but count me as a refurb evangelical. I don't mind the brown box and the price difference is helpful. Every refurb I've bought/used has been in minty condition.
 
Also Remember...

bagelche said:
This topic has been covered a number of times in the forums, but count me as a refurb evangelical. I don't mind the brown box and the price difference is helpful. Every refurb I've bought/used has been in minty condition.
Click to expand...

Also remember that most of the iMac refurbs on Apple's site now are actually brand new and are being sold as "refurbished" due to the introduction of the new model.:apple:
 
I bought a refurb the other day. So if I'm reading this right, if something goes wrong within the year ( if I don't buy AC) I have to deal with the phone? I can't bring it to the Apple Store?
 
macatak911 said:
I bought a refurb the other day. So if I'm reading this right, if something goes wrong within the year ( if I don't buy AC) I have to deal with the phone? I can't bring it to the Apple Store?
Click to expand...

I would like to know this as well. I picked up a 24" 2.8Ghz refurb for $1199 online a few weeks ago, and this would be good info to know.
 
Well this is what happened when I figured out something was wrong with my Imac.

I first called the phone for support. After talking with them about what was going on and trying a few things suggested, they told me I needed to take it to either an Apple store or one of the authorized Apple repair places to confirm the problem with Imac. Even though the authorized repair place was closer I opted to go the Apple store. The rep gave me a case file number and even set up the appointment for me. Thank goodness there was an opening that evening.

The genius bar confirmed I indeed had the problem and the computer was basically DOA due to bad power supply. I told them that I would like to do an exchange then. They gave me the computer back and told me I was responsible for contacting Apple and sending it back for exchange.
Their reason for this is that the individual Apple stores do not sell the refurb models. It is a model that is not in their system. So they cannot do exchanges of refurbs.

So far as exchanges go for refurbs, you have to deal with the online store.
If I had just wanted a repair, they probably could have dealt with it at the store.
 
I really appreciate all the helpful responses. I will make my order for the refurb today as it saves quite a bit of money.
 
thebeans said:
Also remember that most of the iMac refurbs on Apple's site now are actually brand new and are being sold as "refurbished" due to the introduction of the new model.:apple:
Click to expand...

I dont think that is necessarily true with all the Imacs.
If you go the apple store the 24" 2.8 refurb has a 3-5 day lead time.
On the other hand the clearance model ships in 24 hours.
If the refurb was actually a new unit, why would it take 3-5 days over the cleance item.

So I dont think in this instance the brand new older model is being sold as a refurb.
 
15 days ago I bought a refurbished MacBook Pro 17" in the Apple Store. The cosmetic condition of the item was flawless, but functionally it was not: it hunged up all the time in a very weird way so I returned it to Apple 2 days later. They never asked what was the failure and it seemed to me a big mistake because possibly it will be sold again in the same condition.
 
Zmmin3 said:
Well this is what happened when I figured out something was wrong with my Imac.

I first called the phone for support. After talking with them about what was going on and trying a few things suggested, they told me I needed to take it to either an Apple store or one of the authorized Apple repair places to confirm the problem with Imac. Even though the authorized repair place was closer I opted to go the Apple store. The rep gave me a case file number and even set up the appointment for me. Thank goodness there was an opening that evening.

The genius bar confirmed I indeed had the problem and the computer was basically DOA due to bad power supply. I told them that I would like to do an exchange then. They gave me the computer back and told me I was responsible for contacting Apple and sending it back for exchange.
Their reason for this is that the individual Apple stores do not sell the refurb models. It is a model that is not in their system. So they cannot do exchanges of refurbs.

So far as exchanges go for refurbs, you have to deal with the online store.
If I had just wanted a repair, they probably could have dealt with it at the store.
Click to expand...

Did you have to pay for the return shipping cost?
 
patricem said:
Did you have to pay for the return shipping cost?
Click to expand...

I purchased a 2007 20"/2.4 then decided to get the 2008 20"/2.66 when the new iMacs were announced. I called Apple and they paid for return shipping on the 20"/2.4 no questions asked. The emailed me a pre-paid FedEx label and put it on the box and sent it right back. I would hope for a defective unit that they would do the same.
 
I got a refurb iMac a year ago. I couldn't tell it wasn't new.

I tried a Macbook refurb before that but just didn't like the screen and decided a MB wasn't for me. NO problems/cost to return it.

Yesterday I ordered a 24" iMac refurb.
 
Another on the refurb bandwagon here. Picked up my first Mac, the 20" 2.66, immediately after the new models came out and couldn't be happier so far.
 
2007 vs 2008 imac refurbs

Mike in Kansas said:
I purchased a 2007 20"/2.4 then decided to get the 2008 20"/2.66 when the new iMacs were announced. I called Apple and they paid for return shipping on the 20"/2.4 no questions asked. The emailed me a pre-paid FedEx label and put it on the box and sent it right back. I would hope for a defective unit that they would do the same.
Click to expand...

Mike,
Just curious, why did you opt for the 2008 model over the mid 2007? I am looking at both of these now on the refurb site and the 2007 is 849 whereas the 2008 id 999. Both seem identical except for the slight processor speed increase from 2.4 to 2.66. Both have 2600 pro GPU and 320 GB HD.

Is there any other benefit to merit the 150.00 difference?
 
rjp said:
Mike,
Just curious, why did you opt for the 2008 model over the mid 2007? I am looking at both of these now on the refurb site and the 2007 is 849 whereas the 2008 id 999. Both seem identical except for the slight processor speed increase from 2.4 to 2.66. Both have 2600 pro GPU and 320 GB HD.

Is there any other benefit to merit the 150.00 difference?
Click to expand...

2008 model has faster system bus (800MHz vs. 1066MHz), more L2 cache (4MB vs. 6MB) and faster processor. It's not worth of 150$.
 
Hellhammer said:
2008 model has faster system bus (800MHz vs. 1066MHz), more L2 cache (4MB vs. 6MB) and faster processor. It's not worth of 150$.
Click to expand...

Sorry but I don't understand your last sentence. It is or is not worth the 150?

Are these really the only changes? Any difference in screen quality?
 
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