Refurbished Video Cards

whattaguy · Jun 17, 2004

They have tons of refurbs...10 pages worth! I just picked up an ATI Sapphire 9800Pro 128 Ultimate for $186. Regular Pros are cheaper! But of course, they're refurbished.

alent1234 · Jun 17, 2004

any idea what refurb means? is it a customer return?

rizorith · Jun 17, 2004

Originally posted by: alent1234
any idea what refurb means? is it a customer return?

I think so. I got one of their Refurbished chaintech Geforce 4 4200 cards about 4 months ago. The price wasn't anything great at the time but I couldn't find a better deal. Anyways the card came was fine for about a month. Then the fan went and BOTH heat sinks literally unstuck. Then graphics artifacts started. I ended up contacting chaintech and thought I was probably screwed but they actually RMA'd it.

I've heard pretty bad things about their refurbs in general and in my case I have no idea how they could have missed so many problems unless they didn't do anything. Oh it came with a retail box but was obviously well worn and used.

aldamon · Jun 17, 2004

I ordered a refurbed Shuttle AN35N motherboard from Newegg two weeks ago and it was brand spanking new. YMMV with refurbs, but at these prices, I don't see how you can lose. At worst, you return it for refund via Priority for $5.00.

954john · Jun 17, 2004

Refurbished can mean anything from customer returned and nothing was wrong so the company re-shrink wrapped......

or

It could also mean that the company has old models laying around and they now want to clear inventory.

I worked retail for many a years and almost all companies follow the same procedures.

Hope this helps,
954john

filmore crashcart · Jun 17, 2004

I tried a refurb 9700 pro once... lasted 2 months before video corruption set in. You take a gamble on buying them. I won't do it again.

Adam8281 · Jun 17, 2004

Since refurbs come OEM, are you generally missing any parts (cables, etc.) that you need to buy elsewhere?

pxc · Jun 17, 2004

whattaguy · Jun 17, 2004

they are "checked" by the original manufacturer though, aren't they?

NumbersGuy · Jun 17, 2004

Originally posted by: whattaguy1
they are "checked" by the original manufacturer though, aren't they?

From what I have read and seen, at NewEgg (probably others) refurb = restock
i.e., put item back on shelf just as they were returned, not even checked.

They are not recertified RMA returns from the factory.

My only question is what happens to all the cables, manuals & stuff when stuff is returned?
Do people get to keep it?

Karaktu · Jun 17, 2004

Originally posted by: NumbersGuy

Originally posted by: whattaguy1
they are "checked" by the original manufacturer though, aren't they?

Click to expand...

From what I have read and seen, at NewEgg (probably others) refurb = restock
i.e., put item back on shelf just as they were returned, not even checked.

They are not recertified RMA returns from the factory.

My only question is what happens to all the cables, manuals & stuff when stuff is returned?
Do people get to keep it?

People are supposed to return everything, but it obviously doesn't always happen. In fact, I've come to the conclusion that some people strip motherboard accessories and then return the motherboard, taking the 15% restocking fee hit because it's probably less expensive than trying to buy the accessories direct from the manufacturer.

Newegg's refurbished stuff is sometimes just that, factory refurbished...other times it's a customer return, and other times it's a brand new replacement item from the factory that includes everything. Before they instituted the limit of 2 per order, you could order 10 of the same item and get a combination of all three possibilities. It's usually pretty easy to tell what you've received: refurbished, restocked or replaced.

Joe

yougotdeals · Jun 17, 2004

Nice list. Thanks PXC and OP

Might be a good time for me to upgrade.

whattaguy · Jun 17, 2004

Newegg.com does not test any product, including Refurbish items. Refurbish components are therefore only tested by the original manufacturer. Due to the varying quality of manufacturer testing, YOU ARE TAKING A RISK BUYING REFURBISH PRODUCTS. Refurbish items are OPEN BOX products that contain components that have previously been owned by other clients and returned to Newegg.com

I understand that these are tested by the original manufacturer, and then returned to newegg. That's how I understood that. Am I wrong?

FunkierThanU · Jun 17, 2004

I order what was supposed to be a refurb Sapphire 9800 Pro and ended up with an OEM ATI 9800 Pro that died after about a month. Fortunately, ATI's RMA policy rocks and they sent me a replacement that has been working fine ever since.

I have no problems ordering refurbs but I would stick with companies with good RMA policies such as ATI.

-funk

Nikamichi · Jun 17, 2004

Originally posted by: yougotdeals
Nice list. Thanks PXC and OP

Might be a good time for me to upgrade.

CrazyGamer · Jun 17, 2004

From various newegg refurb posts that I recall it seems there is always a mixture of people who have received all of the types of refurbs Karaktu stated. And as Newegg stated in the warning you are taking a risk as some of these items are open box and non-tested, returns from bad flashes, improper installs etc and some could just be incompabilities/driver issues etc and be in perfect condition.

mcurphy · Jun 17, 2004

Originally posted by: whattaguy1
Newegg.com does not test any product, including Refurbish items. Refurbish components are therefore only tested by the original manufacturer.Due to the varying quality of manufacturer testing, YOU ARE TAKING A RISK BUYING REFURBISH PRODUCTS. Refurbish items are OPEN BOX products that contain components that have previously been owned by other clients and returned to Newegg.com

I understand that these are tested by the original manufacturer, and then returned to newegg. That's how I understood that. Am I wrong?

I understand it as the Manufacturer tests the product to begin with when it is brand new, then it is shipped to Newegg and sold as new to a customer, the customer returns it to Newegg for whatever problem, and Newegg does not test it, but just sells it as Refurb.

In other words they basically let the customers of refurbs do the testing for their original returns. And if they are returned after being sold as a refurb, then newegg probably just sends back to manufacturer.

Does that make sense? That's how it reads to me.

whattaguy · Jun 17, 2004

Originally posted by: mcurphy

Originally posted by: whattaguy1
Newegg.com does not test any product, including Refurbish items. Refurbish components are therefore only tested by the original manufacturer.Due to the varying quality of manufacturer testing, YOU ARE TAKING A RISK BUYING REFURBISH PRODUCTS. Refurbish items are OPEN BOX products that contain components that have previously been owned by other clients and returned to Newegg.com

I understand that these are tested by the original manufacturer, and then returned to newegg. That's how I understood that. Am I wrong?

Click to expand...

I understand it as the Manufacturer tests the product to begin with when it is brand new, then it is shipped to Newegg and sold as new to a customer, the customer returns it to Newegg for whatever problem, and Newegg does not test it, but just sells it as Refurb.

In other words they basically let the customers of refurbs do the testing for their original returns. And if they are returned after being sold as a refurb, then newegg probably just sends back to manufacturer.

Does that make sense? That's how it reads to me.

That makes sense. I was hoping that I was right! Oh well, I can either cancel my order right now or take a chance. So far, there has been more negative sides to newegg refurbs. Thanks.

whattaguy · Jun 17, 2004

Oops! Too late. I'll just wait and see how it works out. I'll keep you all up to date as to how it works out.

NumbersGuy · Jun 17, 2004

I've purchased 3 refurbs from NewEgg,
2 mobos like new in the box with everything
and a video card barebones, that I'm using now.

There have been some horror stories, but worst case they'll swap it for you.

Coraanu · Jun 17, 2004

Those 9600's look like a pretty good deal. I wish I never clicked on this thread, so I could save $100. =]

dethman · Jun 17, 2004

refurbs from newegg range from brand spankin' new stuff with all the accessories to obviously broken and damaged goods. they do NOT test their stuff.

i bought some refurb geil ram and it worked perfectly for me, so i got lucky.

ymmv.

Auric · Jun 17, 2004

I got a refurb recently and instead of bare included the retail box, cables and CD.

imported_chrisbtx · Jun 17, 2004

Originally posted by: FunkierThanU
I order what was supposed to be a refurb Sapphire 9800 Pro and ended up with an OEM ATI 9800 Pro that died after about a month. Fortunately, ATI's RMA policy rocks and they sent me a replacement that has been working fine ever since.

I have no problems ordering refurbs but I would stick with companies with good RMA policies such as ATI.

-funk

I completely agree with this part. If you're looking to save money, refurbs are a good way to go so long as you get them from a manufacturer that has good RMA policies. That way, if it dies, you end up with a new card instead of just being screwed. Happened before to me. I really like that.

exisle · Jun 17, 2004

Originally posted by: alent1234
any idea what refurb means? is it a customer return?

It means it doesn't overclock good

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