[bigt0169]

If you have bought a refurbished mac I would like to know your experience. I have see mixed reviews of where they send you a perfect computer. Some where they send you crap. So I just want to get your all's stories of what you experienced.

[Tomchu]

I bought a refurb Core Duo Mac Mini almost two months ago. Everything came in pristine, plastic-wrapped condition -- just in a plain brown box as opposed to the fancy Mac Mini packaging. The computer is humming along just fine as a media center box in my living room.

Oh, and it came with 2*512 MB of RAM, as opposed to the advertised 2*256. I'm happy. I saved money, got a brand-new-looking Mac Mini with all brand-new accessories, and I still get a one year warranty.

[firefly]

I bought a Macbook Pro CD 2.0/80/512 for £925 (inc. VAT) GBP which is about 35% off. Delivery was within 2 days, and it came in a brown box with all original bits. The computer itself looked mint, as if somebody had used it for a day and put it back. It was specced with a matte LCD and a 100GB 5400RPM Seagate HD not 80. No whine problem; heat is not excessive. I noticed some people complaining about uneven lid closure, well mine is not totally flush on the left side but it's not a problem.

Overall would definitely go refurb again, there's a 14 day return policy if not satisfied, plus full 1 year warranty.

[praterkeith]

I bought a 12" PB refurb about 2 months ago and I'm pretty sure my next computer will be a refurb. Perfect condition. I have owned about 12 Macs and this is my favorite one.
DO IT!

[copanewbe]

Do a search and you'll find a lot of threads on this.

[SierraDragon]

Originally Posted by bigt0169 

...I have see mixed reviews of where they send you a perfect computer. Some where they send you crap. So I just want to get your all's stories of what you experienced.

I buy refurbished when they meet my needs. Mostly you get a perfect Mac. Sometimes you don't, so you send it back. No big deal.

-Allen Wicks

[Castor Troy]

I would buy another refurb.

[Etnier]

We've had good luck with refurb Macs. NOT good luck with refurb iPods, btw.

[jasonv1]

4 purchases only 1 problem.

My last unit (a MBP C2D) had a 3mm by 1mm scratch through the aluminum skin.

I called Apple, calmly explained that while a scratch may be commonplace a scratch THROUGH the aluminum (to the black plastic) was not.

They RMA'd the laptop, the new one is one the way.

The local Apple store (Raleigh, NC) would not replace the "body part" because it was a refurb, even with the approval from corporate. They said that in my case if I got approval from corporate I had to go through the repair with corporate. Of course they just RMA'd the thing, so there was no "repair" so to speak.

Just give the unit a good once over when you get it, odds are you'll be fine.

Jason

Originally Posted by bigt0169 

If you have bought a refurbished mac I would like to know your experience. I have see mixed reviews of where they send you a perfect computer. Some where they send you crap. So I just want to get your all's stories of what you experienced.

[chris v]

I don't think your odds of getting a bad machine are any higher with refurbs. I've bought three. One, a Powerbook G4 had 2 problems that plagued the series it came from (white spots and bad video card). Apple fixed them both right up, as if it were a new machine. The warrany returns were very speedy and painless. The other 2, (iBook G4, G5 Dual 2.0) have been flawless.

Oh, and there is an outside chance that you'll get someone's build-to-order upgrades. It's not frequent, but it does happen, like a little extra free RAM, or a bigger HD.