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israces · Dec 17, 2006, 04:08 PM

I'm looking at getting a 15" MBP. Apple has some MBP refurbs on their site that look like a pretty good deal and some of the other retailers have overstock of the same ones for just a little bit higher price. All other things being equal aside from refurb status and price, when buying an older model MBP, would it be better to get a refurb from Apple than an overstock new one from another retailer?

What I'm getting at is does Apple's refurbishing process fix all the issues that are known to exist with the particular MBP being serviced so that it is arguably better than new, or do they just fix the issue the person who sent it in complained about?

Also, would there be a statistically similar chance of getting a display with dead/stuck pixels on a refurb as with a new one?

Any help would, um, help.

ghporter · Dec 17, 2006, 05:03 PM

To my knowledge, Apple refurbishes devices to meet or exceed all specifications. It would be ludicrous to "just fix the issue the person who sent it in complained about" because users tend to be focused on the problem that bothers them most, not what may be more important but doesn't (immediately) bother them. As for "better than new" I would say NO. But considering that most electronic devices fail within a short period of time or last for a LONG time, I think a refurb is "pre-disastered" enough to be a great idea.

An overstock item is "new," but there's no telling whether it's one of the very first MBPs and has one of the early problems, or a very recent one-unless the vendor releases serial number, and that's NOT likely at all.

MattJeff · Dec 17, 2006, 05:19 PM

refurbs are very good

israces · Dec 17, 2006, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

An overstock item is "new," but there's no telling whether it's one of the very first MBPs and has one of the early problems, or a very recent one-unless the vendor releases serial number, and that's NOT likely at all.

Just so I understand what you're saying, a refurb, if one of the very first MBPs with the early problems, would have all of those problems fixed if I got it today?

The thing I'm trying to avoid/the thing that has me reluctant to buy a refurb is the situation where an early MBP that needed something fairly simple fixed was sent in and repaired a long time ago and has been sitting in a box at Apple ready to be sold as a refurb for months and months. Meanwhile, other issues with the early MBP have been identified and added to Apple's checklist for fixing on refurbs, but the older ones that had already been "refurbshed" to the previous standard are not having any additonal work done.

Is this a legit concern? Does this even happen?

romeosc · Dec 17, 2006, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by israces

Just so I understand what you're saying, a refurb, if one of the very first MBPs with the early problems, would have all of those problems fixed if I got it today?

The thing I'm trying to avoid/the thing that has me reluctant to buy a refurb is the situation where an early MBP that needed something fairly simple fixed was sent in and repaired a long time ago and has been sitting in a box at Apple ready to be sold as a refurb for months and months. Meanwhile, other issues with the early MBP have been identified and added to Apple's checklist for fixing on refurbs, but the older ones that had already been "refurbshed" to the previous standard are not having any additonal work done.

Is this a legit concern? Does this even happen?

A lot of Apple refurbs are units returned for buyers remorse. They can't be sold as new. Apple is constantly recycling refurbs, as you notice they are not alw2ays available. Video Ipods are only available for a day or two at a time before they are snatched up. They all come with a full warranty!

mduell · Dec 17, 2006, 07:07 PM

I don't think there's guarantee that all issues with a refurb are fixed. If someone returns it because the screen is defective, they're not going to replace the logic board to fix a whine issue that they don't know about.

peeb · Dec 18, 2006, 01:05 AM

Well, I beg to differ, but there actually is a 1 year guarantee that all the issues with the refurbs are fixed.

mduell · Dec 18, 2006, 01:59 AM

Originally Posted by peeb

Well, I beg to differ, but there actually is a 1 year guarantee that all the issues with the refurbs are fixed.

The same 1 year "guarantee" (by which you really mean warranty) applies to all the new MacBook Pros that had the issues and were returned to become refurbs in the first place.

ghporter · Dec 18, 2006, 07:14 AM

I think the crucial issue here is "what standards does a refurbished computer have to meet?" A LOT of MBPs were "repaired" to not only fix the issue they were brought in for but also to upgrade some of the hardware. There are reports on this forum of people who took in their computers for a relatively minor issue and wound up with replaced logic boards as well as their minor issues corrected. But there is NO GUARANTEE that any particular refurbished MBP will have had those "everybody knows this is a problem" issues addressed.

The flip side of this is that if you buy a refurb from Apple and it does have a problem they WILL fix it. That's what the guarantee means. Not that they have gone through each returned machine with a fine-toothed comb, but that if one of these issues crops up they'll make it right. (If they could do the fine-toothed comb thing, they wouldn't have had the problems in the first place.)

israces · Dec 18, 2006, 09:28 AM

Ok. Pulled the trigger. 15" MBP on its way to me!!

Anyone looking to buy a gently used 15" 1.25Ghz Powerbook?

peeb · Dec 18, 2006, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by mduell

The same 1 year "guarantee" (by which you really mean warranty) applies to all the new MacBook Pros that had the issues and were returned to become refurbs in the first place.

Yes, that's the one, you are right, it is, in fact, a warranty. But the point is that it is covered by the same assurance. I bought a refurb iPod, it failed, and was replaced by a new one. It's not like you are going to be left high and dry with a broken refurb and Apple saying well, it was refurbed...