Whether you are Apple enthusiast, an average Joe or Jane, or even if you don’t like Apple’s products too much, there are two things you all probably agree on:
# Apple creates high-quality products, and
# Apple’s new products are rather pricey.
Add both of these definitely apply for all Macbooks. That said, it is not surprising at all that most of us explore ways to get our hands on this high-quality, stylish, high-performing piece of technology. Thus, we decided to perform deeper research and try to find the best place to buy refurbished Macbook.
It turns out that results are not that straight forward, as such, we created a more extended guide that will help you find refurbished Macbook Pro, refurbished Macbook Air, and even certified refurbished Macbook Pro. Of course, we will also present results regarding the best place to buy refurbished Macbook, which you can find within the section ‘Best Place to Buy Refurbished MacBook in 2020’.
After reading this guide, you will be able to perform refurbished Macbook Pro best buy with confidence.
Let’s start our quest to help you locate a refurbished Macbook for sale and pinpoint if it is a good choice.
What Does Refurbished Actually Mean
Before we dig any deeper and declare the best place to buy refurbish Macbook, it is essential that you actually understand what the ‘refurbished’ means.
A refurbished laptop is either a laptop that has just come off a lease or a laptop that has been returned to the retailer or manufacturer for a refund by a customer. It is possible that a computer has had a slight defect or that it simply didn’t meet a customer’s expectations. Before sold, refurbished laptops must be tested and all possible defects removed and repaired. Essentially a refurbished laptop should be ALMOST as good as new.
IT definition out of the Cambridge dictionary:
- Refurbish (verb) – to repair and clean equipment so that its condition is like new
A definition is one thing, while the reality can be rather different. Often times you can encounter shady retailers, who will try to sell you refurbished laptops that actually weren’t refurbished and are simply used possibly slightly malfunctioned laptops. As such, it is extremely important to try and locate the best place to buy refurbished Macbook so you can get the best deals.
What’s The Difference Between Refurbished, Used, and Resold
In case you haven’t remembered the above definition look at it again. Used and resold laptops are NOT the same as REFURBISHED ones. Keep in mind that the ‘NEW-LIKE’ part of the definition is essential here.
Used laptops may be thoroughly cleaned and fixed, which turns them into refurbished ones. However, they also may simply be just cleaned and offered for sale. That is why all refurbished Macbooks have some sort of warranty, while used ones normally don’t.
Let us give an example to make the thing super clear. Let’s say you have a friend who owns a Macbook and he decides to get a new model, you make a deal to buy the old one. This is a typical example of ‘used’ Macbook and a friend ‘resold’ it to you.
If you trust your friend well enough these sorts of deals may be ok, however, we advise you to stick to refurbished Macbooks opposed to used and resold ones.
Why Should I Buy A Refurbished Mac?
“Should” may be a strong word but you definitely MAY buy a refurbished Macbook Air or Pro. And the most common reason behind it is the PRICE. A lower price to be exact.
If the price of refurbished and NEW Macbook would match, probably NOT a single person would choose a refurbished Macbook Pro or Air. I know I wouldn’t. Would you?
So yes, PRICE or should we say TO SAVE SOME MONEY is without a doubt the main reason why people go after the best buy refurbished laptops. So if you want to become a proud owner of a Macbook and not spend a fortune, you too should look for refurbished Macbooks for sale.
Another reason why you may want to focus on a refurbished Macbook is if you’ve set your mind on an older model that Apple no longer produces.
Since we can’t stress this enough, we want to remind you that finding the best place to buy a refurbished Macbook is essential to get your hands on a properly working refurbished Macbook Air or even certified refurbished Macbook Pro.
How Much Money Can I Normally Save?
Since we have established that the main reason why you should consider buying a refurbished Macbook Pro or Air is to save money, this is the only natural next question.
By going after best buy refurbished laptops can save you a noticeable amount of money.
Buying a refurbished Macbook Air you can save around $200 and even up to $700 or more if you are buying a refurbished Macbook Pro. However, these deals vary noticeably and it can be rather tricky to find a cheap Macbook Pro for sale. The age of a Macbook has the most impact on the price.
Typically you can expect 10 to 30 percent lower prices of refurbished Macbook Air or Pro, however, you can get older refurbished Macbook models at 50 or even 60 percent discounts.
Remember that you should prioritize the condition of the laptop over the price, thus buy it only from the best place to buy refurbished Macbook.
It Doesn’t Look Or Feel Used
A properly refurbished Macbook must not look nor feel used; remember the IT definition that says ‘like-new’. If you are buying it in person and notice any signs of wear, it might be better to stay clear of it.
Best Place to Buy Refurbished MacBook in 2023
This is probably the section that most of you have come to view. Herein we’ve listed all of the currently available solid options. It is hard to say which one of these is the best place to buy refurbished Macbook since they often change prices and offer additional discounts. Probably the best choice would be the one that can offer you the best price.
However, if we really had to choose ONE ultimate best place to buy refurbished Macbook, we would have to go with Apple. Macbooks are their laptops and they know them best, thus, they can (at least in theory) make sure all Macbooks are properly refurbished. Plus, if you know anything about Apple, then you’ve heard that they really aim for the highest level of customers’ satisfaction, thus they follow the same policy when it comes to refurbished Macbook Pro, Air, or any other older Macbook models.
1. Apple Refurbished Store
At the Apple Refurbished Store, you are guaranteed to get the Apple quality. And like we said above, overall this might be the best place to buy refurbished Macbook.
As the name suggests, this is a place where you can buy refurbished Macbook Pro, refurbished Macbook Air, and all other Apple products as well.
To view currently available refurbished Macbook deals at Apple Refurbished, visit Apple refurbished Mac page “https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/mac”.
Macbooks purchased at Apple Refurbished store all carry a full one-year warranty, just like new ones. They also offer you to purchase the AppleCare plan to extend the coverage.
Normally prices of refurbished Macbooks at Apple Refurbished Store are 15 – 25 percent lower than those of the new Macbooks.
Here you will also get 90-day complimentary support, all accessories cables, and operating system. Apple Refurbished store also offers free shipping, next-day delivery, returns, and financing options.
2. Amazon Renewed
Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer and they offer almost anything you can imagine. Sure, as we think of Amazon, NEW products are what we initially think of, however, they do offer used and refurbished items as well. Thus, it isn’t surprising at all that they offer Refurbished Macbooks too.
At Amazon, you can find a rather cheap Macbook Pro for sale, however, you should pay some additional attention to details. Amazon is not as strict as the Apple Refurbished store, as such, you may encounter resellers that are not offering high-quality products. Make sure you read the description in detail and look for multiple positive reviews before purchasing refurbished Macbook Air or Pro via Amazon.
That said, the refurbished Macbook offered by retailers at Amazon should all have passed tests and should be certified by quality suppliers. However, not all, only selected sellers are eligible to sell certifies refurbished Macbook pro on Amazon.
You can expect average savings to be around 35 percent, however, you can save as little as 6 to as much as 60 percent by purchasing a refurbished Macbook Air or Pro at Amazon.
Every refurbished Macbook bought at Amazon should come with a minimum warranty of 90 days. The actual length is determined by the reseller.
To view currently available refurbished Macbook deals on Amazon, visit Amazon Apple renewed laptops page.
3. Best Buy
Yes, Best Buy too offers refurbished Macbooks. As a matter of fact, you can get very good refurbished Macbook Pro Best Buy deals rather often.
Best Buy is highly inconsistent and their deals and availability highly fluctuates (often they are sold out) when it comes to refurbished Macbooks. Moreover, you should always read the description carefully to check that all the accessories cables are included.
At Best Buy you can also choose 6-month or 12-month financing options with most of the refurbished Macbooks available.
Moreover, if you are a regular at Best Buy, you might get a special deal on your loyalty point, which can make the Macbook even more affordable for you.
To view currently available refurbished Macbook deals at Best Buy, visit Best Buy refurbished Macbook page .
4. Walmart
Walmart too offers refurbished Macbooks. Moreover, they offer quit many different models of refurbished Macbooks. You can get certified refurbished Macbook Pro for as much as $700 less then the new version. Thus, Walmart deals are worth exploring.
Make sure to read each product’s description thoroughly to check the warranty policy, return policy, what is included in the price and all other details.
To view currently available refurbished Macbook deals at Walmart, visit Walmart refurbished Apple products page .
5. eBay
eBay is a place where you can get the most affordable deals on refurbished Macbooks for sale as there are often times over 70 percent discounts available, however, it is also a place where you have to pay extra attention to avoid shady sellers.
If you decide to give eBay a chance (which you should if you are looking to save as much as possible), make sure to go through product description and seller’s info carefully. Make sure to also check reviews.
To view currently available refurbished Macbook deals on eBay, visit eBay Apple laptops & netbooks page .
6. Gazelle
There are many, who claim that Gazelle is an overall the best place to buy refurbished Macbook. We still give this position to the Apple Refurbished Store, however, Gazelle is definitely worth running by you.
The prices available at Gazelle are on average 40% lower compared to those at Apple Refurbished. They run all Macs through extensive testing before listing them. Furthermore, they offer certified refurbished Macbooks as well. They also offer full warranty and 30-day return policy.
Gazelle also fluctuates a lot – sometimes they have several models available, other there are no refurbished Macbooks offered.
To view currently available refurbished Macbook deals at Gazelle, visit Buy A Macbook At Gazelle
.
7. Mac Of All Trades
Mac Of All Trades is another solid option, where you can get Macbooks, Macbook Air, and Macbook Pro. All refurbished Macbooks offered by Mac Of All Trades are certified. Mac Of All Trades has been in business for over 20 years and has a good reputation, which gives a buyer additional safety.
Mac Of All Trades offer a 90-day warranty to all refurbished Macbooks and also gives customers an option of purchasing an additional 1-year or ever 2-year extension warranty.
Thanks to their positive reputation, certificate, and extended warranty options, they might be a very solid alternative to Apple Refurbished Store.
To view currently available refurbished Macbook deals at Mac Of All Trades, visit All Trades refurbished Apple products page.
8. OWC
OWC is another solid and reputable place where you can look for a great refurbished Macbook deals. They have been in operation since 1988 and have a very positive reputation.
OWC offers some inviting benefits to those who decide to purchase a refurbished Macbook through them, including a 14-day money-back guarantee, free shipping, warranty, and US-based support. In addition, for certain models they give you the option of configuring the device before buying it to best suit your needs.
To view currently available refurbished Macbook deals at OWC, visit OWC refurbished macbook page .
9 PowerMax
PowerMax is Apple’s premium partner and as such provides a 120-day warranty for used Macs. Their site is worth checking out to see if you are lucky enough to encounter some discounted deals.
Lately they have focused all their refurbished Macbook deals to be sold via Amazon.
To view currently available refurbished Macbook deals at PoweMax, visit PoweMax Used Macs page.
10. RefurbMe
RefurbMe is another rather reputable alternative, where you can find amazing deals on refurbished Macbooks. Many products have discounts of over 75% and you can often save even $900 or more.
There are many different retailers offering refurbished Macbooks online, thus you must always read their offer carefully. This also means that warranties depend on each individual deal. However, they do follow a minimum 30-day warranty policy.
To view currently available refurbished Macbook deals at RefurbMe, visit RefurbMe Refurbished MacBooks page.
Need To Check Before You Buy
Even if you choose the best place to buy a refurbished MacBook, you must still pay attention to certain details that will help you spot any irregularities and either abort the purchase or return the product within the given timeframe.
A List of Things You Should Pay Attention to When Buying a Refurbished Macbook:
- Make sure the laptop has been thoroughly cleaned and inspected
- Make sure it includes some sort of warranty (typically 1-year)
- Ask if any complimentary technical support is included
- Make sure the Macbook comes with all accessories, cables and operating systems
- Make sure it is packaged in a new-like box
- Check that you have a regular 14-day return policy option
- Check if they offer any type of customer-friendly financing options
These are some of the main points you should try to look for when finding the best place to buy refurbished Macbook. Below we are going to cover signs of a good deal and signs of a bad deal, which will help you find a quality and affordable Macbook.
Signs of a Good Deal
- Warranties and return policies: refurbished laptops should always come with some sort of warranty. This greatly depends on a seller’s policy. Since we have determined that Apple Refurbished Shop is the best place to buy refurbished Macbooks, we may note again that they offer a standard 1-year warranty with all of their refurbished laptops. We weren’t able to find any other place that would include the same length of warranty in the price, however, there are many sellers that offer a 30 – 90-day warranty. Return policy is also something that should be included. As a consumer you should aim for 14-day return policy.
- Testing: properly refurbished laptops should be tested and as a customer you should aim to buy a refurbished Macbook only from those sellers that perform the tests.
- Hands-on examination: This is something you won’t be able to perform if buying online (this is where return policy can come in very handy. However, if you are buying from a local reseller make sure to use all your senses to examine and test the laptop. If it seems shady, walk away.
- Original materials: Original box, instruction, and accessories are something that quality refurbished Macbooks should come with. Always keep in mind that refurbished means NEW-LIKE.
Signs of a Bad Deal
- No warranties or guarantees: Even if you get an incredibly affordable, we would advise you to walk away if it doesn’t include a warranty.
- No pictures: All reputable vendors will include several photos of their refurbished Macbook portfolio. If there are no photos, it can be a bad sign.
- A model that’s too old for you and Apple: this highly depends on your needs and expectation, but as a rule of thumb try not to go for devices older than years (7 years old Macbooks will still be a solid option for browsing, writing, emailing, and other basic tasks). If you need your laptop for more serious/advanced tasks make sure that a Macbook comes with an SSD disk.
- Refurbished goods that aren’t refurbished: there are reseller claiming to be selling refurbished devices, when in fact they are offering just cleaned used devices. If you suspect this might be the case, walk away. To avoid these kind of sellers, stick to the reputable retailers and try to limit yourself to certified refurbished Macbooks.
What If I Have A Problem With A Refurbished Mac?
- If problems occur within the return policy, then you can return the laptop and request your money back or replacement device.
- If you have a problem with a refurbished Macbook within the warranty period, simply call the retailer and get turn it in for repair.
- After problems occur out of the warranty period, then check if the seller you bought your Macbook from offers any support. If not, you can take it to any professional who repairs Macbooks to have a look at it.
Buying A Second-hand Mac
Second-hand or also known as ‘used’ laptops are something very different than refurbished ones. We have covered this in the ‘What’s the Difference Between Refurbished, Used, and Resold’ section above.
Keep in mind that refurbished laptops are supposed to be new-like, while used or second-hand Macbooks can be in any condition imaginable. That said, the price of a second-hand Macbook should be much lower than the price of a refurbished Mac.
If you are not able to afford a refurbished Macbook and are considering to buy a used one, we advise you against it. There have been too many people who have bought used Macbooks, which then broke down within a couple of first weeks or months.
The only way we would ever consider to buy a second-hand Macbook is if a person who you personally know well and trust is selling a used laptop. And even in such case, you have no liability if the Mac breaks down very soon after the purchase.
Final Words
If you are buying a refurbished Macbook for the first time, being slightly nervous is completely normal. With the help of the information provided above, you can build a rather decent level of confidence that should make the process much easier for you.
We honestly believe that things are the easiest and safest when buying a refurbished Macbook through Apple Refurbished store. Mostly thanks to their 1-year warranty policy, which is also the main reason we’ve declared it as the best place to buy refurbished Macbook.
However, since you can get way more affordable deals with some of the other retailers, you may decide on other alternatives. If so, stick to the list that we’ve provided herein and follow our guidelines, and you will have a good new-like Macbook in no time.
In addition, you may consider Macbook Pro Financing No Credit Check option, which will help you get your hands on a new or refurbished Macbook even if you can’t afford to make a purchase in a single settlement.
Additional Resource