How to buy a good-as-new Apple product for hundreds less
Did you know that Apple offers a way for you to pay less than the suggested retail price for most Apple products?
What’s that, you say? You’ve never seen a MacBook Pro or iMac offered for less than list price? And you didn’t know Apple even sold products at a discount?
Well, it’s true. Aside from a handful of iPhones I ordered for delivery the first day they were available (don’t judge me), I haven’t paid retail for a Mac or iDevice in a decade or longer.
If you’re thinking my secret is the black (or even the gray) market, you’re wrong. If you think it’s some shady internet reseller, you’re wrong, too.
The secret is Apple’s own Refurbished and Clearance Store. To shop for a bargain on Apple gear, scroll to the bottom of a page on the Apple website and click the Refurbished and Clearance link.
That takes you to the Apple Certified Refurbished Products page with eight sections: Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, iPod, Apple TV, Accessories, and Clearance. Click the Shop Now button below any of them to begin shopping.
Here are several examples of the kinds of deals you will find:
Remember Darth, the iMac Pro I told you about last week? It lists for $4,999, but a refurbished unit goes for just $4,250 — saving you 15 percent.
How about a refurbished 15.4-inch MacBook Pro 2.9GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7 with Retina display (June 2017) for $2,249? Its SRP is $2,649, so again, you save 15 percent.
Most of the refurbished iPhone 7s and 7 Pluses are discounted 9 percent.
Which brings up something you should know: Inventory changes, sometimes hour to hour. So if the particular model and configuration you’re looking for isn’t available today, try again tomorrow or the next day.
For example, there were no refurbished iPhone 8, 8 Plus, or X models available when I checked last Friday. But there were plenty of refurbished iPads — current and earlier generations — discounted by up to 29 percent! Current generation Series 3 Apple Watches are available in most configurations for 14 to 16 percent off SRP, with prices starting below $300.
Finally, don’t forget to check out the Clearance section. The selection is often meager, but the discounts are better and you’ll occasionally find a real bargain.
If you’re worried about the quality of refurbished gear, it carries the same warranty as new products. And every one of the refurbished products we’ve purchased looked “good as new” when received.
One more thing: Because the inventory fluctuates, the configuration or model you’re looking for may not be available when you shop. Never fear: There’s a website for that. It’s called Refurb-Tracker.com.
Just tell it what you’re looking for and (optionally), the minimum or maximum price you’re looking for, and you’ll receive an email as soon as the refurbished product you desire becomes available.
bob@workingsmarter formacusers.com