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Refurbished Products

D

Dodgeman

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Nov 30, 2016
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Going to post this here... (Mods feel free to move if need be.)

Has anyone had any experience with Apple refurbished products?
I am more so looking at the computers like the MacBooks.
Typically wonder if anyone has purchased one and what the end result was?
I am also curious if everything they state turns out to be 100% true as far as the item looking and performing like new and being inspected multiple times.
I am also sure some of the refurbished products are just simple returns like if a customer picked up a MacBook and then decided to go for a pro.


Curious to hear feedback and thoughts.
 
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Dodgeman said:
Going to post this here... (Mods feel free to move if need be.)

Has anyone had any experience with Apple refurbished products?
I am more so looking at the computers like the MacBooks.
Typically wonder if anyone has purchased one and what the end result was?
I am also curious if everything they state turns out to be 100% true as far as the item looking and performing like new and being inspected multiple times.
I am also sure some of the refurbished products are just simple returns like if a customer picked up a MacBook and then decided to go for a pro.


Curious to hear feedback and thoughts.
Click to expand...

Hi i had experience with my iphone X i had replacement with refurbished iphone x from apple and now i have the device 3 week everything good no issue

And i ask apple about what’s mean refurbished that apple answers :

Refurbished devices are not given out for replacements. Replacement devices have not been used by anyone else before you -- they are manufactured specifically as replacement devices. It has an all new housing (the outer portion of the device), and all new glass display too. The reason they are different than buying a new one off the shelf, is that the original purchase date remains the same after a device has been replaced and they don't include any accessories in the box.
 
Dodgeman said:
Going to post this here... (Mods feel free to move if need be.)

Has anyone had any experience with Apple refurbished products?
I am more so looking at the computers like the MacBooks.
Typically wonder if anyone has purchased one and what the end result was?
I am also curious if everything they state turns out to be 100% true as far as the item looking and performing like new and being inspected multiple times.
I am also sure some of the refurbished products are just simple returns like if a customer picked up a MacBook and then decided to go for a pro.


Curious to hear feedback and thoughts.
Click to expand...
I am typing this on a 2010 MacPro. It was a refurb sold through Apple's online refurb store. My boss got it for about 50% of the original price.

That was 2013. It's 2018 and it's never failed once.

It's left on 24/7 and handles all our ad design, newspaper layout, legals and classifieds (we're a newspaper). Recently it got a 32GB ram upgrade (from 3GB) and it's been even better.

I have no issues with Apple's refurbs.
 
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Excluding one, all of the computers I have purchased, regardless of vendor, have been refurbs. There's no reason not to consider refurbs.
 
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Yeah I might have to give this some major consideration.
My only issue the refurb price was the same as B&H Photo which is selling one new. Only issue is there is no returns with B&H if the device is opened.

Wonder if the outer casing on the MacBooks will show wear and tear...
 
I always buy Apple refurb products when available. They are just as good as new (maybe even better since they've been tested) and they come with the same warranty as new. Often the outer casings and glass are brand new as well. I've never purchased a refurb that was less than perfect from Apple. Why not save 10%-20%?
 
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Buying Refurbs from Apple is always a good bet, most of my Apple gear, save iPhones have been refurb units. Never had issues with them, as others have shared, they do a good job testing.

The box may not be original, but otherwise the packaging leads you to believe you are getting a new unit.
 
Yeah I never really considered it until someone mentioned it. Just that in the past I have heard horror stories with refurbished products. Almost makes me wonder if it is such a great deal how come we don't hear more talk about it on the forums with people making purchases.
 
I would buy a refurb from Apple every day.
I don't have the same confidence in a "refurb" from B&H, or some other Apple reseller. I suspect those retailers don't replace plastic trim or whatever might be needed to give the new owner a "brand-new" experience, at the same level that Apple does.
Those companies decide what their refurb will be, and don't go through the several-step inspection and checkout process that Apple does for their own refurbs.
Get your refurb from Apple.

A refurb from Apple may be one that someone just didn't like, or decided that they made a mistake in a new purchase (no problems, just the wrong color, or too big/small, or no reason at all, the customer just needed to return - or could be one that had enough defects that Apple replaced it with new.
The refurb process would be the same for each. Checkout, repair if needed, checkout, inspect for visual defects, replace trim pieces, etc, replace with "zeroed" battery, change the serial number (the original serial number is never kept) inspect again, box with all accessories, again new, or looks new. The refurb from Apple is essentially re-manufactured. Sold with full warranty, and same as brand new, fully eligible for AppleCare +, if the buyer wants that extra warranty.
 
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Dodgeman said:
Yeah I never really considered it until someone mentioned it. Just that in the past I have heard horror stories with refurbished products. Almost makes me wonder if it is such a great deal how come we don't hear more talk about it on the forums with people making purchases.
Click to expand...

Generally, refurbs are dodgy, the horror stories are real for most manufacturers.

If an Apple product is defective, they replace with very little reluctance, then send it back to be fixed and resold. But, many refurbs were never broken, the buyer changed their mind and got a different model\option. The fact that they offer the same warranty on refurb units as new should give you a good feeling that Apple will stand behind the product.

Availability of refurb units is touch and go. Most buy new, and never consider the alternative, often because of the stigma refurbs have in general. You will typically not find refurbs until a device has been in the market for 6-12 months. You will never find refurbs in Apple Stores. Many want the device they day they make the decision, so ordering from the web as you have to do with refurbs will not satisfy.

Only a small percentage of Apple products are bought refurb, so most recommendations never give it a thought because they may have never considered the route.

I sometimes mention it, but mainly where price is a sticking point for the buyer. Often, a refurb of a more expensive model will be the same as a new lower powered model. So when someone is leaning towards a lower powered model based on price, but needs the more powerful device, refurb can be a great option.
 
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I would always buy a refurb unless I had the cash and there was some capability on a new model that I needed and it hadn't been out long enough to show up in the refurb store (usually about 3-5 months). That being said, I did buy a refurb Mac Mini once that had a dead USB port. When I returned it, they didn't ask why & when I tried to tell them, they didn't care. Maybe because they know that it'll get re-inspected before they go to sell it again?
 
Dodgeman said:
Going to post this here... (Mods feel free to move if need be.)

Has anyone had any experience with Apple refurbished products?
I am more so looking at the computers like the MacBooks.
Typically wonder if anyone has purchased one and what the end result was?
I am also curious if everything they state turns out to be 100% true as far as the item looking and performing like new and being inspected multiple times.
I am also sure some of the refurbished products are just simple returns like if a customer picked up a MacBook and then decided to go for a pro.


Curious to hear feedback and thoughts.
Click to expand...

Yep.. Refurbished Apple products are as good as new *They go through the same testing as new products* before they stick them on the refurb. store, and they all are eligible for AppleCare, so you know they're just as good :)

They are just returns, but unlike ebay sellers, Apple passes Quality tests *before* making them available.

Therefore, they are NOT second hand. because of this. I wouldn't say your more likely to get a dud from a refub. than a new product because, regardless of strict testing, it always happens, but you do get them cheaper at least.
 
I've bought many refurb items, and highly recommend it if you're not after the latest configuration. There's a delay of a few months "for new announcement Products" to start to appear. Be careful, things do run out so don't lollygag too long.

I always give items a once-over upon purchase. I couldn't detect any wear. The items even had the "safe" plastic pieces to protect them in shipment.

I am continually surprised how good B&H is on inventory, price, and delivery.

The best news is you can't go wrong with either choice.
 
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an-other said:
I've bought many refurb items, and highly recommend it if you're not after the latest configuration. There's a delay of a few months "for new announcement Products" to start to appear. Be careful, things do run out so don't lollygag too long.

I always give items a once-over upon purchase. I couldn't detect any wear. The items even had the "safe" plastic pieces to protect them in shipment.

I am continually surprised how good B&H is on inventory, price, and delivery.

The best news is you can't go wrong with either choice.
Click to expand...

I agree that stock doesn't seem to last long for some items that hit the "refurb" site... but I have also noticed that stuff comes and goes in something of a cyclical nature - if you miss out on your target machine, keep checking, as most items do come back in stock.
 
Dodgeman said:
Almost makes me wonder if it is such a great deal how come we don't hear more talk about it on the forums with people making purchases.
Click to expand...

There's plenty of talk about refurbs. It just seems to come in spurts. Also the refurb units tend have spotty availability. You can't simply decide you want X model as a refurb and go get it. A lot of the time, the refurbs are all base models so if you want a higher end model, you may be waiting for a while.
 
thanks for all the feedback, this does increase the comfortability standpoint.
 
Dodgeman said:
thanks for all the feedback, this does increase the comfortability standpoint.
Click to expand...

I have a 2013 trash can Mac Pro, and a 2012 Mac Mini both refurbished, no problems. I got lucky with the Mini, as the hard drive was in the upper tray, so when I added a ssd, it was much easier to do. I bought a new 23" Cinema Display back in 2003, and after a week it died. I took it back to the reseller, who sent it back to Apple. I saw it for sale again a couple of weeks later on the Apple website. I assume it was the same one, and not a coincidence.
 
In 2014, I made the decision to try a Mac and OSX. At that time, I loved my iPhone (from original to my current X) and iPad so next step was the Mac. I purchased a MBP 13 at my local Apple Store. About a year later, I LOVED the Mac and OSX, but was not happy with the 13” (non Retina)screen size, I NEEDED (wanted) the 15” Retina (size matters) but it was much more $. So I did what many of us do (but never admit), I had to justify to myself that the significant upgrade was worth the additional money...:cool:

I purchased a mid 2012 MBP 15” Retina refurbished directly from Apple. It came in a plain white box (which was much bigger than the svelte retail box). My new “precious” looked brand new (not even a spec of dust), it was FLAWLESS. It even smelled new... it’s 2018 and it’s still running strong and has never failed me. The upgrade was definitely worth it.

I saved around $480 from the MSRP of the Retina 15 (which was a model you had to order from Apple directly as the Apple Retail Store did not stock that configuration) and I sold the MBP 13 to offset the cost of the 15”. The MBP 13 had kept its value (approx 75% in a year). Any Windows laptop is worth zero in a year! Just like iPhones keep some value while ANY Android is worth zero in 2 years (the old 2 year upgrade that carriers had us locked in).

With that experience, I purchased a refurbished iPad Air 2 to replace my damaged iPad 3 (the “new iPad”). Another big, plain white box, but inside a flawless iPad.

Don’t hesitate buying a refurbished directly from Apple. Unless the retail box is a MUST HAVE for you. :)
 
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Dodgeman said:
Yeah I never really considered it until someone mentioned it. Just that in the past I have heard horror stories with refurbished products. Almost makes me wonder if it is such a great deal how come we don't hear more talk about it on the forums with people making purchases.
Click to expand...
[doublepost=1528043553][/doublepost]It's all I buy, in the days Apple was having a fire sale on the 11" MBA with 64 GB SSD's,(REFURB's), I snapped up 50-60 and put in a 512GB SSD, and sold to friends, 4 were stolen, the rest,as far as I have heard are all still working after 6 years, pretty good record,I'd say!
 
Cheffy Dave said:
[doublepost=1528043553][/doublepost]
It's all I buy, in the days Apple was having a fire sale on the 11" MBA with 64 GB SSD's,(REFURB's), I snapped up 50-60 and put in a 512GB SSD, and sold to friends, 4 were stolen, the rest,as far as I have heard are all still working after 6 years, pretty good record,I'd say!
Click to expand...

Wow that must have been expensive up front!
 
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