Refurbished Computers?

Bodley

Looking to replace my PC (I know Apple is the end-all but I'm PC) that is crapping out after 7 years. Thinking about a refurbished unit (cheaper). Has anyone had any experience with Dell's refurb's?

MarkR

My father in law bought a Dell refurb several years ago. It was not worth the little he paid for it. Admittedly, it was a lower end model, but it had ... issues. I was unimpressed. Maybe they've gotten better since then?

Dan7312

I've gotten a number of Dell refurbs (and new for that matter) and they have worked out for me. Some of my clients have too. They are a good deal if you can find one that is configured just the way you want, and that will include the OS that is already installed on it. Usually it takes at least a few days of going to the site pretty often to find the one you want.

BTW the refurbs come with the same guarentee as the new but I always buy and recommend the extra cost next day on-site repair guarentee for Dell's, I just consider it part of the price. Most of the time I end up using it and they really do come the next day.

Bodley wrote: »

Looking to replace my PC (I know Apple is the end-all but I'm PC) that is crapping out after 7 years. Thinking about a refurbished unit (cheaper). Has anyone had any experience with Dell's refurb's?

Bodley

Looking at the XPS 9100's. Just can't stomach the price new.

Art Scott

Bodley wrote: »

Looking to replace my PC (I know Apple is the end-all but I'm PC) that is crapping out after 7 years. Thinking about a refurbished unit (cheaper). Has anyone had any experience with Dell's refurb's?

Been running on a Dell Refurb Studio 17 for well over a year and as my years warranty ran out I was able to purchase 3 more years for less than $300......I only had to send it in once and they paid shipping both ways sent me a new box to ship back in...etc .....etc .... I can't complain ......if I had to do over again.....I would get a smaller laptop so I could easily find carry cases and such.....but when I travel the 17" screen is extremely nice to post pix with.......and since I got a cooler it never even gets warm and it runs almost 24 hours aday..................

Hell I even buy refurb cams at times......I have never been afraid of a refurb as they usually carry the exact same warranty as new items.

Pupator

I've bought about 2 dozen Dell refubs in the last couple of years. I've never had any problems with any of them. I don't work for Dell. I won't gain financially no matter what you buy.

Andee

Oh my! My first laptop computer of any kind was a Dell. Not the most expensive but not the cheapest. I had 3 years of horror with a new one. Spent hours once a month or more for almost 3 years and 2 paid service extensions to keep it running and to keep from paying for 50.00 for help each time. They want your to re-install for many issues when you call. (Most were really nice but I did not know what I know now about all this and if I knew now what I did then......Let me tell you this. Only if you were given it for free or know someone who will fix it for free ever get a refub from Dell or anyone. I spent enough money to have bought 2 brand new ones. I did not know doing that many re-installs was hard on the computer's hard drive. I finally after 3 years and hundreds of hours. yes once or twice a month for those 3 years once for 8 hours on the phone.....I did a reinstall as all my programs would freeze. I had the Dell tech repair guy at my house to repair so often he told me to ask for a new one that he had someone else tell him that worked. I said on one this old he said yes. So being past that last straw and in tears I asked for a new one.... they asked for a supervisor and they got me OK'd for one. I had so many files on all that I called about it was not funny. Well it was a refub and a newer model not brand new as told but I had hopes. A newer model with a new system. I had Window XP this was Windows 7 Home premium as W XP was out. OK more of a mess still on my extended service contract the second one the refurb had to have repairs hard drive issuse other repairs bad this bad that he was their twice in one week for the refub. OK the Dell guy comes again....see a pattern here.....I was sent to a level two guy he finally got me a brand new one......All well and good one would thing right????? NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO .I had to send it back he looked at it worked on somethings re did some of the software. He thought he had it fixed and sent it back.....Started to freeze up that day and when I called him for more help he never got back to me. Lets just say new referb or other you can get something that it a mess. Dell is a great company if you get a good one, they have installed everything right and your old software will work with the newer version of Windows or what ever you go with. But My first experience was a mess and the refurb was not a picnic either the next brand new one not good either. Hard drives like my first can be bad out of the gate. To this day and 3 lap tops later My Light Room 3 still disapears after being on there only a few days and no one can tell me why. Maybe cause I did the free thirty days thing then bought a disc but I removed it all and started fresh and they same thing.

I am not the smartest one when it comes to computers but I know I would never BUY a refurb not with all the issues I had with brand new ones. I am not bashing Dell as I know they are known for being a great place. The people on the phone were great I just did not like spending once a month or 3 times once a month and hours on the phone with them. Then if you got one that was not as skilled at certain issues I would make an excuse and get off the phone with the few of those I had those figured out fast I did not have time for that.

(Sorry for the type-O's and for my rant I do not like to sound off like this. I like to be nice and keep gripes off the forum...big one like this anyway. I am just tired of computer issues. yep....still having those and if it were not for a program that cleans out clutter repairs things I would be it deep trouble more than I am and still spending hours with the Dell folks.) I would love to have a great computer one day with no issues until it was old.....but no money so that will have to wait. Oh and please no one take this personal against Dell. I was never going to mention their name in a forum with my experience. But when someone wants to by a refurb and from them....I had to put this out there.

Hope you get something great with whatever you go for. But keep in mind anything can and will happen to someone sometime. Do you want it to be you. Sorry for the doom and gloom. I really hope you go for a non refub. When they refurb them they can not always get all the issues fixed and then you just bought someone else issues even if you have help with it do you really want to right off? And if you do what I was told that in order to get a free replacement brand new computer after getting a bad brand new computer you have to ask in the first 30 days. so if you have issues do not play to long trying to get it fixed. Not sure how the refurb goes but I asked someone after the fact on that one. If you do go for the refurb I hope it is wonderful I would never wish this on anyone ever!

angevin1

Never bought a refurb, but I would, as Art said, bought several Camera refurbs. On the Computer end, if wasn't building them for myself, then I would def. consider a refurb!! I figure it's like this: the unit has been looked at twice, so QC ought to be a tad better overall! Most folks buy new computers to keep level with the tech and to have that tech do more work faster. I would be aware of only-going for cheap, you may get what you wish for!

ziggy53

I helped my son purchase a "used" Dell workstation class, 2 year old laptop. It was purchased from a west-coast reseller (probably an off-lease machine). The display failed a few months later. My son was out of the country, with the US Marines, and he shipped the unit to me.

I contacted Dell (after checking the unit myself first) and they sent someone, literally in a snowstorm, who came to my house and they replaced the screen and backlight and the power supply to the backlight, free of charge. The storm delayed them for a day but they called to make sure I knew why they would be late.

I am a delighted customer as a result.

Bodley

Andee wrote: »

Oh my! My first laptop computer .......

Ouch!! I have had several Dell's (new) without issues. Hope your next machine is better.

Andee

Bodley wrote: »

Ouch!! I have had several Dell's (new) without issues. Hope your next machine is better.

Thanks. I hope you find one in your price range and if you go with Dell I hope you get a great one. I would go with the extra service plan on it when the first one comes close to running out. I did not have to buy it right off so was not out the funds all at once. That is one thing Dell let's you buy the extra service a little later so the ouch factor is spread out. But I hope the next time I have to buy one that I do get a great one. I seem to have not so good issues with electronics even right out of the box. I am really careful, but seem to get that one item that needs to be worked on or goes bad. My last camera I had to send it in for repairs. And do not even get me started on how many VCRS & DVD players I have gone through and had to return within the time I could return them. I am beginning to think I have some sort of magnetic plate on me some where that zaps them. I am always hoping I too will get the grea item that will last years and only need to replace to upgrade. I am still waiting on that.

And As for Dell. Again their tech folks are really nice I have heard about other brands of tech support that was not great and if you have to spend hours on the line it is great to at least have nice folks and the Dell folks are nice!

Best to you! Let us know what ya get and how it goes! I am rooting for you!

divamum

Have never bought computer refurbs as such, but we regularly buy Dell Outlet stock - I think we've had 5 of 'em, and they've all performed admirably. I usually buy a solid extended warrantee to go with them (have only had to use it on the laptops). Saved a LOT of money.

ziggy53

I should add that I have now had my CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme 1030 for nearly a year and it works splendidly for both photography and video applications. While this exact model is no longer in production, I am impressed with the speed of the unit as well as their selection of components. Cost was very reasonable IMO.

http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=163249

I purchased through NewEgg and they were very fast to ship.

My only upgrades since purchase are external hard drives so that I now have 2.5 terabytes hanging off the main box, mostly for backup and off-line files.

Foques

this right there was the story of my life, when I did IT support. Matter of fact, my current full time employer has discontinued the relationship with dell due to this.
we are not with Lenovo/IBM, and things run much smoother.

Andee wrote: »

Oh my! My first laptop computer of any kind was a Dell. Not the most expensive but not the cheapest. I had 3 years of horror with a new one. Spent hours once a month or more for almost 3 years and 2 paid service extensions to keep it running and to keep from paying for 50.00 for help each time. They want your to re-install for many issues when you call. (Most were really nice but I did not know what I know now about all this and if I knew now what I did then......Let me tell you this. Only if you were given it for free or know someone who will fix it for free ever get a refub from Dell or anyone. I spent enough money to have bought 2 brand new ones. I did not know doing that many re-installs was hard on the computer's hard drive. I finally after 3 years and hundreds of hours. yes once or twice a month for those 3 years once for 8 hours on the phone.....I did a reinstall as all my programs would freeze. I had the Dell tech repair guy at my house to repair so often he told me to ask for a new one that he had someone else tell him that worked. I said on one this old he said yes. So being past that last straw and in tears I asked for a new one.... they asked for a supervisor and they got me OK'd for one. I had so many files on all that I called about it was not funny. Well it was a refub and a newer model not brand new as told but I had hopes. A newer model with a new system. I had Window XP this was Windows 7 Home premium as W XP was out. OK more of a mess still on my extended service contract the second one the refurb had to have repairs hard drive issuse other repairs bad this bad that he was their twice in one week for the refub. OK the Dell guy comes again....see a pattern here.....I was sent to a level two guy he finally got me a brand new one......All well and good one would thing right????? NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO .I had to send it back he looked at it worked on somethings re did some of the software. He thought he had it fixed and sent it back.....Started to freeze up that day and when I called him for more help he never got back to me. Lets just say new referb or other you can get something that it a mess. Dell is a great company if you get a good one, they have installed everything right and your old software will work with the newer version of Windows or what ever you go with. But My first experience was a mess and the refurb was not a picnic either the next brand new one not good either. Hard drives like my first can be bad out of the gate. To this day and 3 lap tops later My Light Room 3 still disapears after being on there only a few days and no one can tell me why. Maybe cause I did the free thirty days thing then bought a disc but I removed it all and started fresh and they same thing.

I am not the smartest one when it comes to computers but I know I would never BUY a refurb not with all the issues I had with brand new ones. I am not bashing Dell as I know they are known for being a great place. The people on the phone were great I just did not like spending once a month or 3 times once a month and hours on the phone with them. Then if you got one that was not as skilled at certain issues I would make an excuse and get off the phone with the few of those I had those figured out fast I did not have time for that.

(Sorry for the type-O's and for my rant I do not like to sound off like this. I like to be nice and keep gripes off the forum...big one like this anyway. I am just tired of computer issues. yep....still having those and if it were not for a program that cleans out clutter repairs things I would be it deep trouble more than I am and still spending hours with the Dell folks.) I would love to have a great computer one day with no issues until it was old.....but no money so that will have to wait. Oh and please no one take this personal against Dell. I was never going to mention their name in a forum with my experience. But when someone wants to by a refurb and from them....I had to put this out there.

Hope you get something great with whatever you go for. But keep in mind anything can and will happen to someone sometime. Do you want it to be you. Sorry for the doom and gloom. I really hope you go for a non refub. When they refurb them they can not always get all the issues fixed and then you just bought someone else issues even if you have help with it do you really want to right off? And if you do what I was told that in order to get a free replacement brand new computer after getting a bad brand new computer you have to ask in the first 30 days. so if you have issues do not play to long trying to get it fixed. Not sure how the refurb goes but I asked someone after the fact on that one. If you do go for the refurb I hope it is wonderful I would never wish this on anyone ever!

budman101

Any computer that is returned to the vendor cannot be sold as new. Dell, or any other vendor, supposedly tests out the individual units prior to reselling them. Years ago when laptop prices were twice what they are today, it was a good deal. Now I cannot see trying to save a few bucks on a refurb laptop. That being said, I'm wondering if you have considered the consequences of using a laptop as your primary production machine. By their very nature laptops have a much higher failure rate. There is always a higher chance of dropping your laptop, having something spilled on the keyboard, display probelms, not to mention outright theft. Except for storage you cannot easily upgrade a laptop. Although I do use a laptop for remote shoots all the files ( images, documents, spreadsheets) are ported to an external drive an uploaded to a desktop machine with redundant storage for the images. Another consideration is price vs. performance. My home workstation is a homebuilt AMD 6 core with 8GB memory, a 1GB ATI video card, 256GB SSD. Total cost, including dual monitors was about $1100 from NewEgg. For a laptop even near these specs, a Dell XPS would be $1800. Later on down the road I can incrementally upgrade my desktop but any laptop would stay as is.

Bodley

budman101 wrote: »

I'm wondering if you have considered the consequences of using a laptop as your primary production machine.

Not considering a laptop, I am looking at the Dell Studio XPS 9100 desktops. I have a laptop that is adequate but I prefer a desktop.

JoiJoi

building one up could be a way to go too, much cheaper than retail

Pupator

JoiJoi wrote: »

building one up could be a way to go too, much cheaper than retail

It's not cheaper than a Dell refurb. I promise. I've run the numbers several times and you simply cannot beat the prices.

Bodley

JoiJoi wrote: »

building one up could be a way to go too, much cheaper than retail

I've looked into that - I am comfortable changing parts not sure about a ground up build.

Bodley

Pupator wrote: »

It's not cheaper than a Dell refurb. I promise. I've run the numbers several times and you simply cannot beat the prices.

Have you looked at the Alienware refurbs? I was leaning toward the XPS 9100 but was considering the Aliens since they should be faster and I want lightroom and photoshop to run fast.

Pupator

Neah, I never looked at Alienware. I got an XPS Studio. It has a Core i7 processor and 12GB RAM. Lightroom 3 runs fine. My next upgrade will be an SSD for it. I have one in my laptop and the difference is amazing. It's a far more significant upgrade than more memory or a faster processor would be.