Hamlet: To refurb or not to refurb, even a laptop?

[Shane Ross]

I have a G5 and a Powerbook G4 that I bought thru Apple as refirbs…and had mixed results. The G5 was in the shop for 3 weeks after I got it…bad processor and logic board. BUT, it was all covered under warranty. Still, I bought the Applecare. The Powerbook didn’t have similar issues. Great from the get go.

[Bob Cole] “Where does Apple get the computers for its refurbs?”

You can lease computers from Apple…and many companies do. That is where they come from.

Shane

Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net

[Russell Lasson]

I’ve had good and bad experiences too. I would probably buy a refurb desktop but not a used laptop. Desktops just sit there so not much abuse. But buying a refurb laptop is like buying a used laptop.

We’ve purchased about about 3 desktops refurb and 3 laptop refurb. (I’m typing this on a refurb MacBook Pro that needed a new display after I purchased it.)

-Russ

[13]

Ether way make sure you get Apple Care.

[Michael Bloodgood]

After doing computer sales for the last four years, I would say Apple refurbs are the only way to go. No point in buying new. But the real rapin’ deals aren’t directly through Apple, they are through CompUSA. I just bought the last generation 12″ Powerbook for $150 and a last gen top-of-the-line Macbook Pro for $700. If the computer is more than a year old, you can’t get Applecare through this way but you can still get the CompUSA warranty which is just as good for hardware support (they end up either sending it directly to Apple or if they have an Apple tech, order parts from the factory) just without tech support.

Just make sure that it cosmetically looks good as everything will be fine on the inside. And actually, most refurbs are just what it sounds like, defective units returned to the factory. Thing is, they get all brand new insides since practically everything inside a laptop is soldered to one another (they even replace the hard drive).

[Leia Vogelle]

All useful info re refurbs…but Mr mbloodgood…since when has rapin’ been an acceptable adjective to describe something that the writer believes to be a good thing…?

[Walter Biscardi]

[Bob Cole] “‘m thinking of buying a refurbed Powerbook. They seem like a good deal, and if you buy the AppleCare three-year plan, is there anything to worry about?”

Nope, I have three refurbs now and am taking delivery of a iMac refurb any day now. The nice thing about these is that a person actually has to personally inspect these machines before they are re-released unlike the automated inspection process for new machines.

[Bob Cole] “Where does Apple get the computers for its refurbs? How bad can they be? And, are laptops more likely to be lemons than desktops?”

Some come back from lease. Some are returned to Apple for whatever reason, such as they didn’t like the machine or there was something wrong with it. Once it leaves the store and is returned for whatever reason, the unit is now classified as a refurb if they want to sell it again.

New or Used, AppleCare should be included with every purchase.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation Broadcast Television

All Things Apple Podcast! https://cowcast.creativecow.net/all_things_apple/index.html

Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi

[Walter Biscardi]

[mbloodgood] “No point in buying new. But the real rapin’ deals aren’t directly through Apple, they are through CompUSA.”

I actually would not recommend this at all. If you’re going refurb, then go through Apple. CompUSA may or may not completely re-check a machine before re-selling it. Those may be open box items or items that came back to CompUSA after a lease.

I have person experience with two CompUSA’s in Atlanta and let’s just say their Mac knowledge (both sales and support) is extremely limited so I would not trust their technical staff to properly go over a Mac computer prior to re-sale.

With Apple, the machines have been returned to either Apple or an authorized Apple Repair Center and if anything goes wrong, you’re dealing with Apple and not a third party company that really does not sell many Macs to begin with.

And I’ll agree with Leia, rapin is a poor choice of words for describing a good deal.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation Broadcast Television

All Things Apple Podcast! https://cowcast.creativecow.net/all_things_apple/index.html

Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi

[Arnie Schlissel]

And some refurbs may have been making the rounds at trade shows. Lots of companies sell off the demo units that you see at their booths at trade shows. Some companies label them as refurbs, others label them as B-stock or open box.

Arnie
Now in post: Peristroika, a film by Slava Tsukerman
https://www.arniepix.com/blog