When is a "refurb" a refurb?

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Handsomedan

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#189310 23-Dec-2015 15:43

I've recently purchased what I consider to be a second hand mobile from a well-respected vendor - it was advertised as refurbished, mint condition, but in my opinion if it was actually refurbished it would've been like new cosmetically, as well as being 100% guaranteed to be defect free.

What I got was a slightly less than perfect (cosmetically) second-hand phone, with minor scratches etc on it, a bit of dirt and a 1 year back-to-base warranty.

I'm not at all convinced that it's been refurbed at all...I'd say it's simply second hand and being on-sold.

I'm OK with that as it's under warranty and I can live with that for a less-than-new price, but my question remains...what constitutes refurbishment?

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Athlonite

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#1456084 23-Dec-2015 15:51

When it has been sent back to the manufacturer and has been fully restored to factory condition anything else is just secondhand

Sideface

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#1456097 23-Dec-2015 16:08

...what constitutes refurbishment?

When it looks like new, is packaged like new, and has a new warranty.

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Coil

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#1456099 23-Dec-2015 16:09

Sideface:
...what constitutes refurbishment?

When it looks like new, is packaged like new, and has a new warranty.

So a refurb isnt a phone you get in a little cardboard box with no charger like they sometimes sell?

antoniosk

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#1456156 23-Dec-2015 17:25

TimA:
Sideface:
...what constitutes refurbishment?

When it looks like new, is packaged like new, and has a new warranty.

So a refurb isnt a phone you get in a little cardboard box with no charger like they sometimes sell?

Not by Apple standards, and I would say no in general. A refurb should be cosmetically defect free with warranty and charger/cable. Missing plastic wrappings etc is ok.

Phone in a box is 2nd hand

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tripp

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#1456213 23-Dec-2015 18:41

Refurb: Returned to manufacturer, tested if any defects (hardware/software) to be replaced by manufacturer with genuine parts.
I would expect new charger cable and maybe even new earphones however not a retail box.
New warranty from Manufacturer.

2nd hand I would expect fair wear and tear (for age of phone) everything working and any faults to be listed. i.e. small chip on charging port etc.
If sold by shop then I would expect a warranty from the shop.

hyperman

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#1456273 23-Dec-2015 20:44

tripp: Refurb: Returned to manufacturer, tested if any defects (hardware/software) to be replaced by manufacturer with genuine parts.
I would expect new charger cable and maybe even new earphones however not a retail box.
New warranty from Manufacturer.

Refurb units come from manufacture with no accessories or box however if the retailer has done "boxswap" then they may have included them

as for warranty they actually carry a 90 day or the remainder of the original what ever is greater

these are superposed to be a one for one swap ie. customer sends in phone for repair and gets refurb back with receipt from service center stating imei number swap details

The views expressed by me are not necessarily those of my employer

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#1456332 23-Dec-2015 22:12

If it's well respected vendor i would return it immediately. The longer you hold on to it the higher the risk they will not take it back.

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mattwnz

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#1456356 23-Dec-2015 23:47

IMO, if it has past usage marks on it, then it is second hand. A refurb as others have mentioned, should be in as new condition without defects or showing past usage. Many refurbs are actually brand new, but are returns which are unused after a buyer changed their minds. They legally can't be sold as brand new, as they have been opened.