As we’ve noted before, Apple keeps a tight rein on its pricing. one of the best tried-and-tested ways to get cheaper Apple gear is to use its refurbished gear outlet, which offers Apple-guaranteed geals on gear that has been factory-refreshed. Just how much can you save that way?
Gear sold through Apple’s refurb store isn’t brand-new, but it does come with a one-year warranty from Apple, matching its offer on new hardware. so if the specs meet your needs, the only practical difference is that you don’t get a shiny Apple box. Really, who cares?
Inspired by a US CNet post looking at prices there, I decided to check out what’s currently on offer in the Australian Apple store. of course, one challenge with a refurb outlet is that there isn’t guaranteed product availability, but there are significant savings to be had, as you can see in the listing of what was on sale this morning.
As you can see from the table, much of the product on sale through the refurb store is no longer available new. when comparing Mac specs, make sure you check the processor generation as well as the speed; many of the refurb models use older i5 or i3 series processors.
Savings on iPad 2 models are a fairly consistent $110. iPod savings range between $20 and $30; the discount on Mac products is generally around $200.
Apple is certainly the most visible local refurb player, but other offers do come up; big W, for example, regularly sells refurb Kindles. know of other good local refurb deals? Share them in the comments.