Any thoughts about ordering something REFURBISHED?

[javeryh]

I'm placing an order today for a Dell monitor and there is a $30 difference between a new one and a refurbed one ($219 v. $189).  Is there any reason why I shouldn't go with the refurb?  This will be for arcade use only.

Thanks!

[shardian]

refurbs usually only have a 30 or 90 day manufacturers warranty. A new one gets you at least a year.

[PoDunkMoFo]

My experience with things like monitors..... If it gets ya to 30 days you probably won't have any problems for what would be considered a normal lifetime of the product.

[Neilyboy]

I love refurbs ive purchased a few sony vaio refurb laptops in the past a refurb dell monitor and a refurb dell axim and a few other things a refurb apple ipod. all of them are still running like the day i took em out of the box. I have no complaints on a refub product.

Neil

[Dervacumen]

I've never had problems with refurbished products.  Frequently they are only returns that the original customer didn't want anyway.  Plus refurbished stuff is ususally checked over by a person instead of coming straight off the assembly line.

[Havok]

I haven't had any problems with refurbs; however I would stay way from refurb hard drives, otherwise have at it! Monitors especially are pretty safe - they usually last longer than any other computer component. If it turns on when you get it, and works after a week - you should be golden...

[ChadTower]

Depends on the complexity of the product.  I've had about a 50% success rate with refurbs.

A monitor - if it works out of the box will last as long as a new one.

Was 0-2 for refurb VCRs.  Too complex an item, I guess, and a lemon is a lemon.

My home theater receiver is a refurb that is starting to display video artifacting until it warms up.  I have to see if it's still under warranty.

[RayB]

I've had great experiences with refurbs. My Sony Clie PDA was a refurb. My Sony car discman was a refurb (ok we're talking AGES ago now), my Rio MP3 player was a refurb.

However there is one difference between those items I got and your monitor: I got MUCH better discounts than just $30.  I would expect a much better price.

[javeryh]

I would also expect a better price... I called the CSR and I was told that there is a 90 day warranty on the refurb and 3 years on the new one.  It might be worth it to spend the extra $30 for 2 years and 9 months more coverage.  Oh well.

[fatfingers]

I would also expect a better price... I called the CSR and I was told that there is a 90 day warranty on the refurb and 3 years on the new one.  It might be worth it to spend the extra $30 for 2 years and 9 months more coverage.  Oh well.

Yeah, just walk to work for like two days, save the gas money and spend the money on the non-refurb!   

[Scumgriever]

I've got no problem with refurbished products. I've bought a few things, a PDA, a monitor and a laptop which all worked like they were new. I did have troubles with a refubished VCR that I ended up returning twice before paying the difference for a new one.
There seems to be somthing about VCRs but otherwise I reccomend the refurb path wholeheartedly.

That said, $30 doesn't seem like very much of a price difference, I'd expect a little more so it's up to you.

I'm rarely organised enough to keep track of warranties that last more than a year so the extra warranty time that comes with a new product isn't too much of an issue for me.

[javeryh]

Crap.  I was all set to order the brand new one but they no longer carry it with a black trim - it's silver now and that's not going to cut it.  Looks like I'm ordering the refurb for $189 in black.  I've never done this before and I'm a little nervous... oh well...

[Xam]

I would not worry too much about it. Refurbs as mentioned are usually an unwanted item that was returned. They are generally inspected and any parts not meeting original OEM specs are replaced. In some cases, the warranty is the same as new (depends on company).

I too own several refurbed items. I have never regretted buying one.
The best refurb I own is a Dell computer...$400 less than new and still going strong after 2 1/2 years.

Xam

[shardian]

In some cases, a refurb is better than the original. For example, I have one of those phillips dvp642 dvd players that play divx files. The original had a defect where a capacitor would fry, and the machine would no longer power up. Owning a refurb means they fixed this issue, AND lowered the price.

[javeryh]

I ordered it!  $202.23 shipped for a Dell 19" LCD flat panel monitor.  I hope it works like I want it to...

[tommy]

I've found that when most companies say refurb it means used, brought back to the store by the original owner for whatever reason and is just repackaged.

I would stay away from used electronics.