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mhanley mhanley
 
M$1 January 14, 2009 01:47 AM

Is a refurbished iPhone worth it?

I am considering purchasing an iPhone, and was wondering if I should even consider a refurbished model? I understand they carry the same warranty, so aside from some possible minor wear, is there any other down side?
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teff torbe... teff torbe...
 
 January 14, 2009 01:57 AM
Personally, I don't hesitate to purchase refurbished items in most categories. A phone would be included in this. Refurbished parts tend to be a bit less reliable, but they were sent back for a reason and fixed.

The only thing to really consider is how much the difference is in the total cost of ownership. If you're going to pay $100 less now, keep in mind that your TCO is only $100 less over a 2 year contract - a drop in the bucket, in reality - at $80/month, you're at $1920 for 2 years. $100 is only 5% off or so on that.

That being said, you've got nothing to worry about. Apple gives you the same warranty, and they have very good customer service, so in the unlikely event that you have a lot of problems with it, you should be pretty well taken care of.
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drmatt drmatt
 
January 14, 2009 01:50 AM
I've heard VERY good things about buying refurbished items from the Apple store. Take that with a grain of salt...

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ssharon ssharon
 
January 14, 2009 02:05 AM
Apple has some of the best refurb products available. Statistics aren't available, but I would venture a guess that they are more reliable than new units. Refurbs undergo more testing before they get sent out the door than the minimal testing that new units get. I have never heard of someone getting a refurb lemon for example.

I have also purchased many new and refurbished items from Apple and I have never had any regrets. Some of the refurbished items are clearly brand new, but were returned for whatever reason and can't be sold as new any more.

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n74jw n74jw
 
January 14, 2009 02:43 AM
No. In my opinion the iPhone's battery is it's biggest drawback. My experience with both devices has shown that carrying the charger around is a good idea. The 2.2 firmware has made the device's battery even less efficient. AT&T's coverage in my area (19104) is poor.
Source(s):
2+ years experience with the device.


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randomlose... randomlose...
 
January 14, 2009 03:32 AM
i buy refurbished items all the time. the only time ive gotten a bad product was a refurbished ipod.

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netfreak45... netfreak45...
 
January 14, 2009 03:42 AM
The iPhone is amazing but you can get it for $200 at the apple store or att, but you get a really horrible 2 year contract, if your looking to get the old here are the 2 main facts abou choosing a iPhone
1 Price: How Much are you willing to spend
2: Gps and 3G: if you are going to use the faster internet and or the gps

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pvera pvera
 
January 14, 2009 04:50 AM
I have been extremely lucky with Apple refurbished gear. I have purchased refurbished macs and iPods and never had issues with warranty claims, even without purchasing Apple Care. I would only buy Apple refurbished items directly from Apple or from smalldog.com , they have been Apple dealers forever and they have always managed to get their hands on some of that stock.

On the iPhone itself, you are going to get an item that is going to be almost new (my macs were cosmetically flawless). The packaging may be a little different, but the earbuds and documentation will be brand new.

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