I buy a 5150, and use it for a week, but decide the battery life isn't what I want, and get a 8600 instead. I send back the 5150 in my 30 days period. Since its 'used' the 5150 is technically not new, and so they sell it as refurb, even though there is nothing wrong with it.
Of course, it could be a machine that really did break, and they fixed it - you never know.
And it works great! I haven't had any problems with it. Additionally, ALL refurbished systems are extensively tested before they're shipped out to ensure nothing's wrong with them. Basically, a refurbished system has been 'used' by another owner for up to 30 days, then returned.
I bought the 5150 back in Jan.04, and I am pretty sure that it was one of those that was 'ordered' but never delivered. Runs great and NO complaints.
The little known secret is that the Dell refirbs are the way to go when buying a computer. I saved about $500 on the refirb.
Additionally, ALL refurbished systems are extensively tested before they're shipped out to ensure nothing's wrong with them. Basically, a refurbished system has been 'used' by another owner for up to 30 days, then returned.
I bought my first laptop, a 3700, had to return it 4 times in 1 year to fix a "extensively tested" machine, before they got it right. I told customer support if I have to return it again, I will return it and sue to have it replaced with a new system. Funny, they fixed it right that 4th time. I bought my 8200 refib'd, Hmmm if they had someone who isn't colorblind and just plain blind, look at the screen, they would have seen it was YELLOWed!! So they replaced the screen, but after getting it back in a week, it started to shock me. They sent me this 8600 as a replacement, and even let me hold onto the 8200 till it arrived and I could get the data off the 8200 HD.
But I still love my Dell. ANd the $$$$$ I saved with the refib was worth the trouble. It's just a shame that the 3 day turn-a-round I have with the 3700, turned into a 8 day turn-a-round with the 8200. Oh well, lucky I have 2 hard drives, and clone it every week.
ejn63
9 Legend
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87.5K Posts
0
May 7th, 2004 14:00
No. There is no way to know - and there may in fact have been nothing wrong with it.
mattcowger
2.6K Posts
0
May 7th, 2004 17:00
I buy a 5150, and use it for a week, but decide the battery life isn't what I want, and get a 8600 instead. I send back the 5150 in my 30 days period. Since its 'used' the 5150 is technically not new, and so they sell it as refurb, even though there is nothing wrong with it.
Of course, it could be a machine that really did break, and they fixed it - you never know.
bradley walters
144 Posts
0
May 7th, 2004 18:00
Hey,
I bought a refurbished Inspiron 8600 with:
Pentium M 1.4 Ghz
60 GB 7200 RPM hard drive
512 (1 x 512) MB DDR SDRAM
WSXGA+ 15.4" screen
CDRW/DVD Combo
Intel 2200 (a/b/g) wireless card
XP Home Edition
64 MB nVidia geForce 5200 graphics
paid $1400.
And it works great! I haven't had any problems with it. Additionally, ALL refurbished systems are extensively tested before they're shipped out to ensure nothing's wrong with them. Basically, a refurbished system has been 'used' by another owner for up to 30 days, then returned.
CruiserMD
90 Posts
0
May 7th, 2004 22:00
The little known secret is that the Dell refirbs are the way to go when buying a computer. I saved about $500 on the refirb.
Oditius
2 Intern
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808 Posts
0
May 8th, 2004 16:00
I bought my first laptop, a 3700, had to return it 4 times in 1 year to fix a "extensively tested" machine, before they got it right. I told customer support if I have to return it again, I will return it and sue to have it replaced with a new system. Funny, they fixed it right that 4th time. I bought my 8200 refib'd, Hmmm if they had someone who isn't colorblind and just plain blind, look at the screen, they would have seen it was YELLOWed!! So they replaced the screen, but after getting it back in a week, it started to shock me. They sent me this 8600 as a replacement, and even let me hold onto the 8200 till it arrived and I could get the data off the 8200 HD.