What things one should know before buying a refurbished Mac?

Many people want a refurbished computer, mobile or tablet. There are many reasons that one goes to get such a used product. Some find it affordable as they cannot spend full amount on a new product. For few its their own choice as they find the refurbished goods for a particular use like many want to play games only; or may just use to browse the internet. Others want to have hands on experience with the oldie before getting a new product. Each month many online commerce sites like Amazon, eBay list such products and offer cheap deals.

When talking of Mac device there some great deals on Mac and MacBooks at the Apple Refurbished Store and other resellers but before you step in to buy one you should know few things which are most important.

Points to remember before thinking of buying a refurbished Mac

Opt to buy from Apple Refurbished Store

Always buy from Apple Refurbished Store or another second-hand seller like Ebay or an official Apple reseller before you pay full price.

Refurbished Macs are likely to be returned models (if it is from a previous year), or reconditioned current models. A reconditioned Mac could be an ex-demonstration model used during Apple teaching programmes, or a unit sold to a customer who decided to return it.

The returned unit may have been faulty and fixed or may simply have been returned under the standard sale-and-returns procedure. Apple allows any customer to return a Mac bought from the Apple Store within 14 days for a refund.

Macs and MacBooks sold through the Apple Refurbished Store are not necessarily old models that have not been sold. Apple company is rumoured to turn over its entire inventory every five days. So Apple does not need to stockpile its products and Macs sold on the refurbished store are in fact second-hand.

The important thing to note is that Macs bought from the Apple Refurbished Store are not different from new ones bought direct from the Apple Store. All Macs bought from the Apple Refurbished Store are cleaned, checked, tested, and visually indistinguishable from brand new models.

Check the price before you buy

The price for reconditioned Macs changes frequently but is typically 10 to 20 percent less than the original price. With Macs commanding a high retail price this can be quite a difference.

Like, a 13.3-inch MacBook Pro can be found on the Refurbished Store from $809.00 and you can save $140.00 and also get 14% off

Other resellers often offer even lower prices than the Apple Refurbished Store though, so it’s worth shopping around – especially during sales events like Black Friday or Christmas, when prices drop even lower everywhere but Apple.

Look at the warranty and returns procedure on a refurbished Mac

According to Apple: “Before we put a refurbished Mac, iPod, iPad or Apple TV up for sale in Special Deals, it undergoes a rigorous refurbishment process to make sure it’s up to Apple’s tough quality standards.” More importantly, a reconditioned Mac or MacBook comes with the same one-year warranty extendable to three years with AppleCare protection. You also get the same sales and return procedure with Apple, and can return a Mac bought from the Refurbished Store within 14 days if you’re not satisfied with it. Also you’ll have to post it back, as Apple will not accept returns to a physical Apple Store on refurbished products.

Also when you get the refurbished Mac delivered it will be packaged in a brown box rather than the white retail box they normally arrive in.

Check the specifications carefully

Because many Macs on the refurbished store are previous years’ models you should check the specifications carefully. It’s worth noting that most new Macs contain the very latest high-end components, so even an older model from the Apple Refurbished Store should still offer great performance.

It’s also worth taking a look at the Refurbished Store if you deliberately want to pick up an older model. Apple is often quick off the mark to phase out features it deems no longer necessary, such as optical drives, FireWire sockets, replaceable hard drives and so on. Many people prefer an earlier model with a feature they don’t quite want to live without just yet.

Buy online from resellers

If you’re going to buy from used or independent shops, your best bet is to seek out a certified Apple Premium Reseller. These are dealers and service providers certified by Apple for their expertise and quality.

They try to meet the service  as you’d get at an Apple Store and prices may be cheaper then buying directly from Apple. Also Apple Premium Reseller stores having special events and discounts, normally when stores open for the first time in a new location.

Some resellers may offer discounts on older Mac models shortly after a new one launches, so look out for bargains.

Online sites like eBay are also worth considering, though buying a second-hand Mac on eBay is a riskier business. Buying and selling anything on sites like eBay can be a problem, but this is particularly true with high-value products such as computers.

When buying from eBay you may find some good bargains. But also it is important to read the eBay policy and terms before clicking the buy button. You should know the return or refund policy.

Now with your eyes and ears open go and shop for the mac of your choice.