Was it as good as new? Got what you paid for? Or full of regrets?
Anyone ever bought refurbished IT (phone, tablet, computers etc) items?
Lpoor_me on 19/01/2014 - 07:40
Comments
I bought a Dell XPS13 manufacturer refurb and it has been great. Looked exactly like new when it arrived. Far better than anything I could have bought new at the same price.
Refurb by the manufacturer are usually close to new, in my experience. Typically customer returns, I think.
Refurbs by others usually means second hand.I bought a manufacturer-refurbished Asus F55A last year ($299) and the condition was virtually indistinguishable from new, apart from non-original packaging and the serial number being replaced with an Asus "Refurbished Warranty 12" number. It works perfectly and I'm very happy with it.
After working at Toshiba doing refurbs, its pot luck what you get. For example items that were returned, were fixed and tested before re sale. All wear and tear ie scratches and were pretty much ignored, unless they were major. Although most returns do happen in the first 3 months. You can be unlucky to get one that's close to 12 months old
The items are either customer or dealer returns which essentially means the same thing. Its all second hand as others have used it before you. Refurb also means demo units sometimes.
I bought a refurb from Apple directly a few years ago. It looks identical to a new one. Plus it has the same warranty as a new one as well. It all comes down to personal preference really. Some people just love buying new stuff only.
Apple refurbised = New apple product = full warranty
Apple refurbs are not new Apple products. They are second hand returns that have been fixed up in the factory.
Apple does however, put a lot of work ensuring the refurb performs like new, so they'll replace any parts that are defective, and clean up the machine and put in fresh, unused batteries.
Complex question to answer. Some interpret their secondhand units as being refurbished if the battery has been replaced. Others return units to authorized repairers be tested cleaned repaired and then supplied with a new specific warranty and allowed to be sold as refurbished. Bigger firms/manufacturers tend to be very good with their treatment of refurbished items and there is no need for much concern about quality.
I bought a refurbed Acer laptop last February. Close inspection upon arrival revealed zero marks or scratches.
It really was like new.One year warranty, which I did claim on but honestly, that was my fault for trying to mess with the secured BIOS on it. That's my only gripe with it. Still looks and runs like new.
Manufacturer refurbs have always been great for me
Bought a refurb macbook Pro and iMac a few years apart and had absolutely 0 problems with them.
Edit- Forgot to add iPod touch as well
Had the chance of buying refurbished DSLR and lens as there is almost no difference between them. However, I won't buy other products especially tablet in refurbished. I don't trust in them.
Bought 2 x refurbed Transformer tablets + docks from asusnotebooks.com.au couple years back and they were as new condition.
Have also picked up 4 various refurbed iPods from Apple over maybe 6 years and again everything in pristene as new condition. No fingerprints or scratches and fitted with those celaphane "peel before use" protection sheets.
I bought a refurbished Asus Zenbook Prime, and it's definitely as good as new. Go for something that is manufacturer refurbished, rather than the dodgy EBGames 'refurbished' which means just a software reset. Some companies like Asus has 12 months warranty on their refurbished products, whereas other companies like Sony only give you 3, so you should be careful of those too.