Advice, on buying refurbished Macbook from Apple

In article
,
" " wrote:

> I really want a Macbook, but the model I like (2.2 ghz, 120 gb hd
> etc..) is a little steap in price for my budget, however Apple offers
> this same model for the right price in a refurbished version.
> According to Apple they clean and burn in every single refurbished
> machine. I bought an Intel iMac 2 years ago when they came out and I
> couldn't be happier with this machine, but I have no experience with
> refurbished products from Apple. I would appreciate anyone's advice
> in this matter. I really want to go the refurb route, so I can get
> the laptop I want, but I don't want to walk into something that could
> be disastrous!! Any experience or advice would be appreciated.

I've bought refurbs from Apple a couple of times. Aside from packaging
and price, they were exactly like a new Mac. I can't promise yours
would be as good, but I'd certainly do it again.

--
Tom "Tom" Harrington
Independent Mac OS X developer since 2002
http://www.atomicbird.com/
 >> Stay informed about: Advice, on buying refurbished Macbook from Apple 

In article
,
" " wrote:

> I really want a Macbook, but the model I like (2.2 ghz, 120 gb hd
> etc..) is a little steap in price for my budget, however Apple offers
> this same model for the right price in a refurbished version.
> According to Apple they clean and burn in every single refurbished
> machine. I bought an Intel iMac 2 years ago when they came out and I
> couldn't be happier with this machine, but I have no experience with
> refurbished products from Apple. I would appreciate anyone's advice
> in this matter. I really want to go the refurb route, so I can get
> the laptop I want, but I don't want to walk into something that could
> be disastrous!! Any experience or advice would be appreciated.

I'll start off by saying that it's my understanding that my single
experience with Apple refurbs was atypical, but someone has to be in the
lower tail of the bell curve.

About 4 years ago my primary machine was a Sawtooth (G4 tower) 450 MHz
model and I wasn't really feeling pressure to upgrade, but I was looking
at the store one day and saw a really nice price on a refurb G5 tower.
With the improved underpinnings, I expected to a huge performance
improvement moving from a single 450MHz G4 to a dual 1.8GHz G5 and I
essentially impulse bought. The machine was delivered a week later in a
condition that in retrospect was laughable. Not funny at all at the
time, though. I documented 8 distinct problems, 7 of them individually
large enough to warrant rejecting the machine. The last was a small part
simply missing.

The problem I have with the experience, though, is not the condition the
machine was in when it showed up. It's the number of hoops I had to jump
through to get a working version of the machine I paid for. Being a
refurb they didn't have guaranteed availability of a replacement. I went
back and forth to the local Apple store a couple of times and dealt with
AppleCare directly in between. AppleCare kept telling me to just have it
fixed up at the store (at their cost, of course). The store techs took
one look at the machine and the list of issues I had compiled and
declared that it wasn't worth fixing. Then AppleCare said "Of course
it's fixable" (which isn't really addressing the store's statement).
Ultimately the store called Cupertino directly and apparently read them
the riot act. I ended up with a new machine for the refurb price and
that machine has been going strong ever since.

I can't say I won't try refurbs from them again, but I'll be hesitant
about it.
 >> Stay informed about: Advice, on buying refurbished Macbook from Apple 

On Feb 7, 9:09 am, Gregory Weston wrote:
> In article
> ,
>
> " " wrote:
> > I really want a Macbook, but the model I like (2.2 ghz, 120 gb hd
> > etc..) is a little steap in price for my budget, however Apple offers
> > this same model for the right price in a refurbished version.
> > According to Apple they clean and burn in every single refurbished
> > machine. I bought an Intel iMac 2 years ago when they came out and I
> > couldn't be happier with this machine, but I have no experience with
> > refurbished products from Apple. I would appreciate anyone's advice
> > in this matter. I really want to go the refurb route, so I can get
> > the laptop I want, but I don't want to walk into something that could
> > be disastrous!! Any experience or advice would be appreciated.
>
> I'll start off by saying that it's my understanding that my single
> experience with Apple refurbs was atypical, but someone has to be in the
> lower tail of the bell curve.
>
> About 4 years ago my primary machine was a Sawtooth (G4 tower) 450 MHz
> model and I wasn't really feeling pressure to upgrade, but I was looking
> at the store one day and saw a really nice price on a refurb G5 tower.
> With the improved underpinnings, I expected to a huge performance
> improvement moving from a single 450MHz G4 to a dual 1.8GHz G5 and I
> essentially impulse bought. The machine was delivered a week later in a
> condition that in retrospect was laughable. Not funny at all at the
> time, though. I documented 8 distinct problems, 7 of them individually
> large enough to warrant rejecting the machine. The last was a small part
> simply missing.
>
> The problem I have with the experience, though, is not the condition the
> machine was in when it showed up. It's the number of hoops I had to jump
> through to get a working version of the machine I paid for. Being a
> refurb they didn't have guaranteed availability of a replacement. I went
> back and forth to the local Apple store a couple of times and dealt with
> AppleCare directly in between. AppleCare kept telling me to just have it
> fixed up at the store (at their cost, of course). The store techs took
> one look at the machine and the list of issues I had compiled and
> declared that it wasn't worth fixing. Then AppleCare said "Of course
> it's fixable" (which isn't really addressing the store's statement).
> Ultimately the store called Cupertino directly and apparently read them
> the riot act. I ended up with a new machine for the refurb price and
> that machine has been going strong ever since.
>
> I can't say I won't try refurbs from them again, but I'll be hesitant
> about it.

Wow what an ordeal and something I would want to avoid, but it's
comforting your story has a happy ending.

I can upgrade the HD and RAM myself as needed or when prices
warrant, but I hate to buy the 2.0 ghz new just because I can't afford
the extra few hundred dollars to get a 2.2 ghz model. I am the
perfect candidate for a refurbished Macbook. $1200 is a lot of money
and I don't want to end up buying something I am going to kick myself
for later especially since part of the reason I love Macintosh's is
the quality of the hardware. At one time I was a computer technition
but life is too short to waste my time diagnosing problems,
reinstalling OS's etc... I like Mac's not just because OSX is the
best OS available but the Macintosh hardware works seamlessly and
hardware problems are very rare if at all. It sounds like I will be
taking a small chance of getting a lemon, but if I do Apple will
repair/replace it. I guess I can live with that especially if I have
a good experience like the majority of people. I will take your
advice, after one year I will extend the warranty with Apple care
service.


Thanks very much everyone for easing my mind a little.

-Kev
 >> Stay informed about: Advice, on buying refurbished Macbook from Apple 

In article
,
" " wrote:

> I really want a Macbook, but the model I like (2.2 ghz, 120 gb hd
> etc..) is a little steap in price for my budget, however Apple offers
> this same model for the right price in a refurbished version.
> According to Apple they clean and burn in every single refurbished
> machine. I bought an Intel iMac 2 years ago when they came out and I
> couldn't be happier with this machine, but I have no experience with
> refurbished products from Apple.

I have bought a refurbished iMac from Apple in the past, and I have
clients who've bought all sorts of refurbished equipment from Apple.
Never a problem. Apple refurbs include a full warranty, too.

--
Photography, kink, polyamory, shareware, and more: all at
http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html
 >> Stay informed about: Advice, on buying refurbished Macbook from Apple