I typically buy a refurbished computer and have had good experiences. I almost always do it through Apple's website, but as I prepare to buy a new computer for my spouse, I was wondering if there are other sites worth checking out for a refurbished mac besides Apple. Are there other sites folks would recommend or should I just go straight to the source?
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Should I use Apple to buy refurbished or buy refurbished from someone else?
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Always buy refurbished from Apple. Not only you'll get practically a new device in white box (new battery as well), you get the same warranty as new Apple products and you are also eligible for Apple care to extend the warranty. I don't see why one wants to spend a lot of money for "refurbished" Apple products from other sellers.
Only buy used products elsewhere if it's significantly cheaper. And you probably should add on the cost of replacing the battery later (if it's a laptop).
I wish we have official Apple store in my country.
Only buy used products elsewhere if it's significantly cheaper. And you probably should add on the cost of replacing the battery later (if it's a laptop).
I wish we have official Apple store in my country.
I’ve bought a few Macs from Craigslist and eBay and never had a problem. Also bought Apple items from Woot. As mentioned the advantage to the Apple refurb store is the warranty.
I wouldn't trust anybody else's "refurbished" Mac.
Apple-refurbished is the way to go.
Apple-refurbished is the way to go.
Apple refurbished is truly refurbished to look like new with a full warranty.
Other refurbished is just a used computer. That they turned on. Saw it worked. Then slapped refurbished on the box to increase the price. It may also have repairs done with knockoff parts. They'll typically have scuffs and scratches. At least as per Amazon's rules. May be as low as 80% battery capacity.
There really is no legal requirement for refurbished. So, I treat them the same as used. Except for direct from Apple. As they set a high standard for themselves.
Other refurbished is just a used computer. That they turned on. Saw it worked. Then slapped refurbished on the box to increase the price. It may also have repairs done with knockoff parts. They'll typically have scuffs and scratches. At least as per Amazon's rules. May be as low as 80% battery capacity.
There really is no legal requirement for refurbished. So, I treat them the same as used. Except for direct from Apple. As they set a high standard for themselves.
I have bought 4 refurbished items from Apple, an iPad (works perfect), 2 Apple TV's and an iMac. with the iMac (also never had a problem) I bought AppleCare for the iMac just in case.
Apple refurbs are better than they used to be. Fifteen years ago, I'd have said "do not buy Apple refurbs, it's good that they get a warranty because there's a 50% chance you'll be using the warranty as soon as you take it out of the box."
The refurb process seemed to be "Is it shiny? Does it turn on? Then ship it. If it's not shiny, then put it in a new case and if it turns on, ship it." Our customers who bought refurbs would be bringing them in for service as soon as they plugged them in. It wasn't uncommon that I'd be replacing half the parts in the machine.
They're better now, mostly because they aren't really refurbs any more, they're almost new customer returns; and occasionally you'll get a good deal on them, but they're usually priced pretty close to new. Back then Apple didn't really accept returns, so the refurbs were actual broken computers that were usually just sort of fixed.
So it really depends on what you want. If you actually want a refurbished computer, don't buy from Apple; you're not really keeping something good but a little bit older out of a landfill. If you want a slightly discounted virtually-new computer, that's what Apple is selling as refurbs.
I can't really suggest a particular third party refurbisher because I'd buy a broken one and fix it myself. I'm typing this on a 2018 MacBook Air that I got for really cheap because it was broken, I refurbed it. I'm not thrilled with it, it's too light, the keyboard sucks, so there's a decent chance this one will end up on ebay and I'll keep using my really well built 2012 MacBook Pros.
Apple. I don't trust the refurbs from other sources... especially some place like Best Buy... Apple's process is rigorous and I trust it totally... I have purchased most of my Apple gear through the Apple Refurb store.
And get more quality for the slightly extra cost. Well worth it, IMO. I have purchased iPods, iPads, Mac minis, iMacs and one MBP through the Apple Refurb store... paid on average about 10-15% less for a quality machine. In all of my purchase, I have not had a single issue.
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The shoddy refurbishing that you describe and attribute to Apple is NOTHING close to what Apple does to refurbish their stuff. It sounds more like what Best Buy and/or Amazon do to "refurbish" Apple products.
The biggest issue buying from Apple is the high price.
While the refurbished by Apple Macs are in perfect condition and pretty much new, you often can get a completely new unit for only a few bucks extra.
Example: MacBook Pro M1
Apple new: 1449 €
Apple refurbished: 1229€
Amazon: 1259€
If you want a refurbished Mac, buy it from Apple. But check for alternatives first
While the refurbished by Apple Macs are in perfect condition and pretty much new, you often can get a completely new unit for only a few bucks extra.
Example: MacBook Pro M1
Apple new: 1449 €
Apple refurbished: 1229€
Amazon: 1259€
If you want a refurbished Mac, buy it from Apple. But check for alternatives first
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i'm also a big fan of apple refurbs. i've bought several over the years.
but i think that the OP's question was about whether you can buy apple refurbs from sources other than apple.
and the answer is YES, you often can.
in 2020 i bought an apple factory refurb from ipower resale.
full apple warranty and applecare eligible.
OWC also often stocks apple factory refurbs.
there may be others, but those are the 2 i know about.
and yes, they're often less expensive from the 3rd parties than the same refurb directly from apple.
apple's refurbs are typically around 15% off list.
i paid about 30% off list for mine.
but i think that the OP's question was about whether you can buy apple refurbs from sources other than apple.
and the answer is YES, you often can.
in 2020 i bought an apple factory refurb from ipower resale.
full apple warranty and applecare eligible.
OWC also often stocks apple factory refurbs.
there may be others, but those are the 2 i know about.
and yes, they're often less expensive from the 3rd parties than the same refurb directly from apple.
apple's refurbs are typically around 15% off list.
i paid about 30% off list for mine.
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Just to clarify, Apple's refurbished machines are never items returned due to technical issues.
Those machines are either clearance, cosmetic issues, or extremely minor technical issues (dead pixels, faulty RAM). The vast majority of Apple refurbs are customized machines that were returned. So in many cases the specs will be higher in one regard or the other. e.g. A new MBP would go for $1299 and the refurbished version $1099, but the refurbed is a model with larger storage or more RAM.
Back in the days of nearly limitless customization, it could be an added Superdrive, Bluetooth, Wifi, etc. That's changed now that the machines are pretty much the same across the board.
Machines with heavy technical issues like GPU, CPU, logic board, etc. are parted out.
Apple's refurbished are the best and safest way to go. Only buy from an independent seller (an end-user) if it's your second machine, a model you can't find anywhere else (12" Retina MacBook) or you don't mind possible losing money.
Those machines are either clearance, cosmetic issues, or extremely minor technical issues (dead pixels, faulty RAM). The vast majority of Apple refurbs are customized machines that were returned. So in many cases the specs will be higher in one regard or the other. e.g. A new MBP would go for $1299 and the refurbished version $1099, but the refurbed is a model with larger storage or more RAM.
Back in the days of nearly limitless customization, it could be an added Superdrive, Bluetooth, Wifi, etc. That's changed now that the machines are pretty much the same across the board.
Machines with heavy technical issues like GPU, CPU, logic board, etc. are parted out.
Apple's refurbished are the best and safest way to go. Only buy from an independent seller (an end-user) if it's your second machine, a model you can't find anywhere else (12" Retina MacBook) or you don't mind possible losing money.
I've recently bought a refurbished Mac from https://www.imendmacs.com/ . I have previously bought from Apple and I personally think there is not much difference in quality! It was much cheaper too.
I agree. I here many people on this site who end up with a problem Mad and the first thing they post is they will sell it on Ebay.
Those prices are exorbitant. They want £850 for a 2012 i5 21.5. Those go used in great condition with box for about £300-350. Another was a 2015 i5 for £1050 with integrated graphics and a HDD. While Apple sells a refurbished 2019 i3 with Radeon 555X graphics and Fusion Drive for £1099 or HDD for £1059.
The truly shoddy "refurbishing" was in fact Apple. I'm not joking when I say my customers had 50% out of the box failure rates with Apple refurbs. It wasn't usually DOA machines, they almost always powered on. But a bad optical drive, a bad hard drive, dead keys, dead pixels, overheating, bad ports, and random crashes were all common. I made money on Apple refurbs, usually more than I'd make selling a new Mac.
Amazon doesn't refurb anything. They'll sometimes sell open box stuff, third party sellers sell the refurbs on Amazon.
And I don't know what Worst Buy does, I haven't done business with them in years.
Apple refurbs now are different than they were back then. They're still not really refurbs, they're new Mac returns that aren't physically damaged but can't legally be resold as new. I'm sure they run diagnostics now, and there aren't any optical drives to fail any more (that was the most common issue). Bad out of the box Apple refurbs mostly ended around 2013-2015. So now they're essentially almost new machines that legally have to be sold as used, and Apple calls them refurbished so they don't have to say "used". They're fine, but they're not discounted much from new.
If you actually want a computer that has been refurbished (as in, something was wrong with it, it's been fixed, and now it's being sold) you're going to have to look somewhere other than Apple, because that's not what Apple sells.