By Elizabeth Dubos
Disclaimer: This blog post is not sponsored. These are my thoughts and opinions.
Have you ever wanted a MacBook Pro, or iMac, but it wasn’t in your budget? Well, don’t fret because Apple’s Certified Refurbished products might be an option for you. If you head over to Apple’s website, there’s a section called, “Certified Refurbished,” where you can explore refurbished Macs, iPads, iPhones, Apple Watches, accessories, and more. According to their website:
Every Apple Certified Refurbished product completes a rigorous refurbishment process that includes full testing that meets the same functional standards as new Apple products. Your refurbished device is truly “like new,” with special savings of up to 15%. Every device will come with all accessories, cables and operating systems. All Apple Certified Refurbished products are packaged in a brand-new white box and will be sent to you with free shipping and returns.
You’re probably getting worried if this is too good to be true, but Apple Certified Refurbished products are definitely worth it. My backstory with Apple’s refurbished products started in 2015, after my first semester in design school. The graphic design industry is dominated by Apple products, so I figured it would be beneficial to have the right tools to succeed. Plus, I liked how Apple offered deals for students. However, upon inspection, those “deals” were the bare minimum, and I still couldn’t afford what I needed. I was feeling defeated, so I started asking around in my Facebook eLearning groups about how they obtained their laptops, computers, and tablets. One of the members recommended that I check out Apple’s Certified Refurbished products because they had enjoyed using Apple’s refurbished products and customer service for years. I thoroughly researched the website, but I couldn’t find what I was looking for within my budget. I contacted Apple Support and asked how often they updated their inventory; they answered with every few days. So, every few days I would check back and see if I could find what I was looking for. After two weeks of waiting, I finally came across what I was looking for and immediately purchased it because I didn’t want to lose out on the great deal. I purchased the extended warranty as well, because I was scared about the product being a lemon. Now, I won’t get into the exact financial numbers, but I can tell you that I saved a substantial amount of money. Also, they included free two-day shipping, so that was pretty exciting! My (new) refurbished computer arrived soon after and immediately started up with no problems.
Fast forward six years, and I’ve never had one major issue with my Apple Certified Refurbished computer. I’ve had minor issues, like Bluetooth problems, but Apple’s Customer Service was extremely kind and helpful. This computer has not been “lightly used” either, as I used it for all of my graphic design-based educational needs. Also, for long periods of time while I was in school, I would work on this computer seven days a week for approximately 12 hours to complete my coursework–it was worth it because I got A’s! I don’t think I would have done as well if I didn’t have this computer, and I am extremely grateful that it helped me achieve my college goals. If I ever need an upgrade, I know I’ll end up with another Apple Certified Refurbished computer.
Edited by Jackie Morgan