Why don't people buy Refurbished instead of brand new?

[DevNull0]

I have a relative who's a teacher. New through the education store is too close in price to refurb.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Of course we can't live in the today's world without a mobile phone

Wow. They sure got you.
Congrats marketers everywhere.

 

[AlexGraphicD]

Wow. They sure got you.
Congrats marketers everywhere.

What do you mean?

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Plenty of people do. Heck, the last time I bought a brand-new Mac for myself was the very first MacBook Pro, ordered on the day of the Intel launch. That's also the only brand-new Mac I've ever bought.

Mostly I buy used Macs that are a couple years old. My current desktop is a 2011 iMac I bought early last year. My current laptop is a 2009 Aluminum MacBook I bought a couple months ago.

Before that, I had a 2008 MacBook Pro (bought in 2013,) and a 2007 iMac (bought in 2013.) Before that it was just my 2006 MacBook Pro.

Before the MacBook Pro was a 2003 12" PowerBook G4, purchased refurbished about 6 months after the model was released.

My wife does have a 2014 MacBook Air that was bought brand-new, but only because we had a discount that made it cheaper than refurbished (and didn't apply to refurbished.) Had been planning on refurbished, but since the deal wasn't valid on refurb, and it made new cheaper, we went with new.

 

[MacInTO]

Who buys a computer based on environmental reasons?

I do. Buying used is better for the environment because I don't add to the demand for product and resources that are required to manufacture the products. Here's a good article about that - although it's about a Prius, but applies to everything.

http://www.wired.com/2008/05/the-ultimate-pr/

I haven't bought a new Mac since 2003. Since then, I've been buying refurbished or used (from eBay or Craigslist). I only buy mint condition machines and resell them after I'm done with them.

Buying from eBay or CL is more risky, but I consider buying refurbished like buying a new machine because I can return it or get Applecare.

Two years ago, I bought a 2012 rMBP on CL with 18 months of Applecare left. It turned out that it had image retention issues and was able to get a new screen under warranty. I just sold this machine for $200 less that what I paid for it!

 

[deeddawg]

I do. Buying used is better for the environment because I don't add to the demand for product and resources that are required to manufacture the products.

Strictly speaking, even if your used purchase isn't directly adding to the demand for new products, you are indirectly feeding that demand by supporting the used market. A strengthened used market better enables those who sell their used computers to generate capital to buy new. So while you have a valid case for saying you're not adding as much to the demand, don't think you're not adding some to it through your used/refurb purchase. (you are of course free to disagree, I'm not here to convince you and am not going to argue the point)

 

[MacInTO]

Strictly speaking, even if your used purchase isn't directly adding to the demand for new products, you are indirectly feeding that demand by supporting the used market. A strengthened used market better enables those who sell their used computers to generate capital to buy new. So while you have a valid case for saying you're not adding as much to the demand, don't think you're not adding some to it through your used/refurb purchase. (you are of course free to disagree, I'm not here to convince you and am not going to argue the point)

I don't disagree with you. I am adding to demand for new product indirectly. However, the used market will always exist because machines will become slow, break or new features will cause people to upgrade. Or simply some people just want the latest models.

But by buying a used machine, there is only a need to manufacture and ship one machine (and packaging) instead of two new machines. I'm reducing the overall demand for new machines and the consumption of raw materials.