There are three ways to get a Mac for less than new, and we’re only one of them. Sometimes we’re not the right one.
Second-hand, from a private seller
Cheapest. Also entirely your risk. No warranty, no right of return, and no idea whether the battery is healthy or the machine is locked to someone else’s account unless you check it yourself, in person, before paying. It’s a perfectly good route if you can do that. If the Mac is being posted to you, it’s a gamble, and the losing outcome is a machine you can’t use.
Apple Certified Refurbished
Apple’s own programme. They replace the battery and the outer shell, ship it in a new box with a new one-year warranty, and the result is a machine you cannot tell from new. It’s also the most expensive of the three, and the stock is whatever Apple happens to have taken back that week, so you take the configuration you find.
If you want a Mac that is new in everything but the invoice, and the price difference doesn’t matter to you, buy from Apple. We mean that.
Independent refurbished, which is us
Tested, graded, sold with warranty, at a lower price than Apple’s programme and with far more choice of models and configurations. The catch is that the quality depends entirely on who you buy from, and “refurbished” isn’t a protected word. Anyone can print it on a listing.
So the question isn’t whether a seller says they test their machines. It’s what they show you about the specific one you’re buying.
Five questions for any refurbished seller
- Do you publish the battery cycle count and health of this exact machine, or of the model?
- Do you verify Activation Lock and MDM before listing?
- How long is the warranty, and does it cover business purchases?
- What does your test actually cover?
- If you have several of a model, do I choose which physical unit I get?
For what it’s worth, our answers: per unit and on the page before you buy; both locks checked at intake; 24 months, business included; 52 points; and yes, you pick the unit.
Questions we get
Is refurbished just a nicer word for used?
Used means sold as-is. Refurbished should mean tested, cleaned, repaired where needed, and sold with warranty and a return period. Should. Check.
Is Apple’s refurbished store better than you?
For a machine closest to new, yes, and you’ll pay for it. For choice and price, we think we are.
What should I check before buying refurbished?
Whether the seller shows the real numbers for the individual machine, verifies both locks, and gives a warranty that covers your situation.