Anyone ever bought a refurb through HP?

Just got my V5201US yesterday and I will admit my surprise over it. I was expecting something that was slightly "used" looking, but what I got looked brand spanking new, not a scratch or spec of dirt anywhere. It was even packaged identically to a new one. From having ordered two V5000 CTOs over the past month, you'd think I had gotten a third.

The only indication that it may be older was the BIOS, as it had an earlier version than what the CTOs shipped with. Other than that, you'd never know.

On an odd note, the refurb had "Vista Capable" badging on it, while the CTOs did not. Strange, as my last custom V5000 showed up only a week or so before the refurb.

As for price comparison, the refurb cost the same as the last CTO, but is a little higher spec'd. Not too shabby.

No recovery discs are sent with a refurb, but I can use the one from the CTO most likely (since they are technically the same unit platform). Even though they have a different HP internal model number, the drivers are all the same.

Now all I have to do is wait for my ordered memory to show up..........

 

that's good news for a refurb notebook!

 

My refurb looked brand new also. That's because some refurbs actually are brand new...perhaps just returned because they buyer thought it was too heavy or something small like that. Refurbs also go through a second phase of testing, so they are usually more error free. Refurb is the way to go.

 

I was very skeptical about ordering this unit since all I ever had from HP was new, but I liked the model (having bought the two already), and wanted to pick up another so I can give them to family members and keep one for myself. Since HP just recently discontinued the series, I thought I'd be out of luck and forced to order a V6000 instead. I'm pretty pleased about how it worked out, and hopefully the unit will outlive it's 90 day warranty.

I guess I'll be keeping the refurb for myself, but I'm taking one of the CTO's recovery discs. I'll probably need it more than my relatives will..... lol

 

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90 day warranty?


I think Dell gives the same warranty period (or BETTER) on their refurbs.

 

IMHO refurb is definitely not the way to go with only a 90 day warr.

 

I bought a 2 year extended warranty with mine. My V2000 went bad right after the 90-day warranty went out (USB Ports died, Battery died). Glad I bought the warranty!

 

my refurb came with std. 1 year warranty, hm, weird

 

Yeah, that is weird. Maybe the "Red Tag" rebate I got was in place of the 1 year warranty. Oh well, I have not had any technical problems from any of my other HP units in the past, so this one should hold up fine.

 

Maybe it depends on the original source of the refurb. If it was simply from "excess inventory" (as HP states as a reason), it may carry a longer warranty.

If it was a customer return because of a technical defect that they had to fix, the warranty may be reduced. Just guessing.