Dumb question time please. I've often read about refurbished products being offered at a discount, sometimes not long after the type was first introduced into the market. I know the general meaning of the word in English, but exactly what does it indicate as a trade item ?
I guess a used computer would be classed as 'refurbished' if it was cleaned up, had some defective or obsolete components replaced and then put up for sale again. But a refurbished motherboard ? Esp a model that was introduced only a couple of months back ?
Are such items those that were damaged in shipping or had some manufacturing defects and were repaired ? Are they reliable ?
Amiman wrote:>I know the general meaning of the word in English,>but exactly what does it indicate as a trade item ?>
I guess a used computer would be classed as 'refurbished'>if it was cleaned up, had some defective or obsolete>components replaced and then put up for sale again. But a >refurbished
motherboard ? Esp a model that was introduced>only a couple of months back ?>
Are such items those that were damaged in shipping or had>some manufacturing defects and were repaired ? Are they>reliable ?
At best the products are brand new, unopened overstock returns from distributors, or they've been very thoroughly repaired, with not only the obvious defects corrected but also working components replaced simply because they're known to have high failure rates, and the circuit boards tested with automated equipment that pokes them all over with needles to measure almost every circuit parameter. Such refurbished products should last almost as long as brand new ones. Unfortunately 'refurbished' usually means the product was repaired just enough to get it to work again, and maybe the cabinet was cleaned up to look pretty. Refurbishment sweat shops always do the latter, but so do some large manufacturers, like Panasonic, which shiped 2 monitors in a row that were in sorry shape - gouged cabinet front, cracked base, wires dangling loose inside, large metal shield left out, bad solder joints, picture way too dark. Apparently they refurbish their office machines just as badly - very disreputable company.
Motherboards are commonly refurbished by replacing electrolytic capacitors (known high-failure components), damaged MOSFETs (often damaged by those capacitors) and any chips zapped by surges or static electricity.
On Wed, 5 Jan 2005 01:13:47 +0530, "Amiman" <mm@fakeadd.com> wrote:
| Dumb question time please. I've often read about refurbished | products being offered at a discount, sometimes not long after | the type was first introduced into the market. I know the general | meaning of the word in English, but exactly what does it indicate | as a trade item ? | | I guess a used computer would be classed as 'refurbished' if it | was cleaned up, had some defective or obsolete components | replaced and then put up for sale again. But a refurbished | motherboard ? Esp a model that was introduced only a couple | of months back ? | | Are such items those that were damaged in shipping or had | some manufacturing defects and were repaired ? Are they | reliable ?
Some stuff that gets sold as "refurbished" actually hasn't had much of anything done to it. A surprising number of electronic returns occur not because there's something wrong with the item, but because somebody was too stupid to know how to use it properly. Those items sometimes get a more thorough checking out than they did before they were shipped originally. I've got some excellent buys of refurbished things like video cards that have held up very well.
Larc
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On Wed, 5 Jan 2005 01:13:47 +0530, "Amiman" <mm@fakeadd.com> wrote:
Dumb question time please. I've often read about refurbished>products being offered at a discount, sometimes not long after>the type was first introduced into the market. I know the general>meaning of the word in English, but exactly what does it indicate>as a trade item ?>
I guess a used computer would be classed as 'refurbished' if it>was cleaned up, had some defective or obsolete components>replaced and then put up for sale again. But a refurbished>motherboard ? Esp a model that was introduced only a couple>of months back ?>
Are such items those that were damaged in shipping or had>some manufacturing defects and were repaired ? Are they>reliable ?>
Resellers are grossly misusing the term "refurbished". To each seller it can mean something different. At the very least it means "not new/unopened/" Beyond that you'll have to consult the reseller, it certainly does not always mean sent to manufacturer and repaired and/or tested and returned for sale, as some buyers would anticipate.
John@Smith.com 5 January 2005 06:03:39 [ permanent link ]
On Tue, 04 Jan 2005 23:06:54 GMT, Larc <larc-news@jupiterlink.net> wrote:
Some stuff that gets sold as "refurbished" actually hasn't had much of>anything done to it. A surprising number of electronic returns occur>not because there's something wrong with the item, but because>somebody was too stupid to know how to use it properly. Those items>sometimes get a more thorough checking out than they did before they>were shipped originally. I've got some excellent buys of refurbished>things like video cards that have held up very well.>
Larc
Especially stuff like motherboards and components etc. When I went to check about returning my vid card when I thought I had problems with it, I went to their site and they had a thing about how 70-80% of the cards RMAd to them check out OK so they urged people to go through the check list.
For me it was weird. The 6800s take two power connections. I tried one and it wouldnt show any video onscreen and made a screeching noise like an alarm. I then figured bad connection Ill try several more. Nope none worked. Then I went through the hassle of taking my system apart and substituting other parts. Finally after reading that blurb on their site I decided to try it again and for some bizarre reason it worked after that. Maybe its the humidity factor as I mentioned but Ive had such weird problems the last few years with all the equipment Ive bought but it all worked perfectly after I got it working.
Anyway now I get the fun of being an early adopter of the nforce4 boards after deciding to get rid of everything and getting all new stuff.
refurbished in the computer industry mainly means an item has been placed back on sale after some form of repair has been done thats minor enough to not need to be sent back to manufacturer.
A consumer has returned an item due to being defective in some form, and the retailer can save time or money by making the repair themself and placing it for sale again at a discount ( often the discount is not that much that ive ever seen)
I guess a used computer would be classed as 'refurbished' if it> was cleaned up, had some defective or obsolete components> replaced and then put up for sale again. But a refurbished> motherboard ? Esp a model that was introduced only a couple> of months back ?
For a motherboard, it could have been a bad solder on 1 component..The retailer solders it back on and runs a diagnostic program and if its fine.. places it out for sale.. If its still defective, then sends back to manufacturer.
With regards toa ge of when it was introduced to the market ....Within a short time, any bugs in the production chain will have likely been worked out soon..In fact, the first few months is when most refurbished items are likely to be seen..
Are they reliable ?
Retailers will still honor the full warranty. Be sure to ask before purchasing.. Some small establishments have been found to try to weasel out of it.
Do Not Spam Me 6 January 2005 00:42:19 [ permanent link ]
Amiman wrote:> I've often read about refurbished products being> offered at a discount> I know the general meaning of the word in English,> but exactly what does it indicate as a trade item ?>
I guess a used computer would be classed as 'refurbished' if it> was cleaned up, had some defective or obsolete components> replaced and then put up for sale again. But a refurbished> motherboard ?
"Refurbished" means whatever the seller wants it to mean, from restored to brand new condition to casually inspected and wiped off. Standards are so bad that I wouldn't buy a refurbished product unless it was backed by a 100% money-back guarantee (including shipping both ways), the manufacturer's warranty was the same as the brand-new version's, and the product was substantially cheaper than any similar new one (even a cheap brand). But I haven't found any true bargains among refurbished products, except for 21" and larger CRT monitors.
Dealers rarely inspect returned computer products thoroughly because that usually requires installation of Windows drivers, which takes a substantial amount of time. So it's common to find something like a defective TV-out or USB port, fan header, or sound port.
none of these dinks actually anwsered the question: ISO 2000 and ISO2002 have standard definitions of what "refurbished" is for most industrys..look on the web things like ESD procedures and handling methods as well as return cycles are covered and published. ALWAYS look for the ISO compliancy certification when buying a refurbed product. these will have warranties as well as good quality control. unfortunatly every idiot who can insert a card into a pci slot ona plug n play OS now thinks they are qualified to give support. i guess the moral is you get what you pay for...retail and in newsgroups ;)
On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 03:16:25 GMT, techumseh <nowayjose@blueyonder.net> wrote:
none of these dinks actually anwsered the question:>ISO 2000 and ISO2002 have standard definitions of what>"refurbished" is for most industrys..look on the web >things like ESD procedures and handling methods as well>as return cycles are covered and published.>ALWAYS look for the ISO compliancy certification when>buying a refurbed product. these will have warranties>as well as good quality control.> unfortunatly every idiot who can insert a card>into a pci slot ona plug n play OS now thinks they>are qualified to give support. i guess the moral is you get>what you pay for...retail and in newsgroups ;)
OP did not use the limiter, "what does _ISO_ "refurbished" mean?".
Rufurbished does not technically, legally, or (based upon the majority of parts available for sale) actually mean it's refurbished in some narrow interpretation of ISO standards. "Look on the web."
Just as an exercise, let's go to the most popular search engine, Google, and seek "refurbished computer parts". First hit: http://www.compgeeks.com/
Searching for "refurbished" on their 'site, one does not see mention of "ISO", nor of ANY qualification for that matter. Second Google hit, first item was a laptop. Even though it was clearly listed with the phrase "Factory Refurbished Definition" and a popup description, there was NO mention of ISO, no guarantee if anything in particular beyond the typical, implied fitness-of-merchandise, barring any limitations elsewhere.
Of course, if product is claimed to be refurbished in a particular manner it should be, but we've not been focused on one particular product marketed with that strict claim.
The problem with refurbished goods rigorously tested and handled in an optimal environment, is that "someone" has to foot the bill. Who will buy used equipment when it's barely any cheaper than new? Actually there is a very real potential it would be MORE expensive than new.
Your ideal of what "refurbished" ought to mean, does not make it so.
oh your right. you rule d00d. i dont know what im talking about or maybe you just cant read i dunno. twenty years in the industry could mean ive only been dreaming of ISO standards. again..i bow to your mastery of the subject
oh your right.> you rule d00d.> i dont know what im talking about or maybe you just cant read> i dunno. twenty years in the industry could mean ive only> been dreaming of ISO standards.> again..i bow to your mastery of the subject
Is this your standard reaction to failure to agree completely?
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I know people always opt for refurbished products because they can't afford brand new items. The main idea is to save but this habit is not always right. In my opinion, buying brand new and quality products will save your money and effort for long term. For additional info why quality products are best for all consumers, visit http://www.laserprintertonercartridge.co.uk
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