How are Dell certified refurbished machines?

Are,Dell certified refurbished machines reliable? Would you consider their refurbs as good as new? I have dealt with Apple refurb and they are like new with the same warrenty as new and are,very reliable. I am conserned that a refurb machine from dell wont be as good as new or will have a greater tendency to break down. Please give me your experience. Thanks.

 

I have owned several Dell factory Refurbs including this M3800, I have had no issues technically

My refurb 3800 did not include the usb - lan adaptor but those can be picked up for cheap anyways.

Warranties are typically the same , and can be extended / upgraded if desired.

 

I recently purchased a Dell Certified Refurbished M3800 off ebay and for the most part have been happy with it.

A few things though:

1. The keyboard had a minor defect - the enter key required a very forceful depression to activate much of the time. Dell replaced the keyboard as per my warranty and it's been perfect since. I will note the technician who came to do it didn't reapply the light blocking tape very well which allowed some light to bleed through. He also apparently applied a titan grip when he screwed everything back in - I ended up stripping one of the screws trying to fix the issue myself. I did manage to get to it and fix the problem though.

2. There is a small, hardly noticable dent on the very back of the lid

3. Coil whine (but even new machines have this issue)

4. The screen occasionally gets a blue stuck pixel. As of writing it isn't there, but who knows if it'll come back. In addition, I have 4-5 very small specks of dust underneath the screen's glass. The dust thing is very common though and I tend to overlook it unless it's a large piece.

I am also extremely picky and the bane of any tech company.

WOULD I DO IT AGAIN?

I dunno. I guess the headaches may have been worth the ~$500 I saved, so maybe.

 

Figured I'd chime in too. I have had really good experience with refurbs from the dell outlet. The S&D (Scratch and dent) models are very hit or miss. Same 1 year warranty as new and free returns if you get a dud.

 

One of my laptops (the 2nd m6500 in my signature) was purchased as a refurb from the Dell outlet store. The price was very nice and as a certified refurb it was described a not having any large dents or scratches. When we received it, the back of the display lid (ie, the top aluminum housing if closed), had a fairly large dent and the screen had a strange hazy ghost image exactly where the dent was. Dell shipped to me a new Display Assembly lid and when it arrived they dispatched a repair person the next business day. No charge of course. The laptop was otherwise like new.

in other words, if you are unhappy with the product then contact them and they will work with you. Is quite easy and painless. Obviously, they didn't "certify" my original shipment very well when it was first delivered, but that can happen and they are quick to rectify.

Is it reliable? Yes, as reliable as a new one. And if it does break (later one of my keyboard keys broke while under warranty and they shipped me a free and new replacemnt keyboard) they will take care of you per your warranty agreement.

 

I have had good luck with the Dell outlet - especially the business side with many of their systems having the same 3 year next business day onsite warranty. Sometimes there will be an issue but Dell is always good about fixing it and if you say you want to return the system Dell will often offer you a credit to keep it as well. Scratch and Dents are usually good but sometimes you will get one that looks like it has gone through a cycle in someones clothes dryer....