The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    can you tell if a part is refurbed or not?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by vaw, Oct 19, 2009.

  1. vaw

    vaw Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    11
    Messages:
    783
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I seem to have read somewhere that refurbed thinkpads have a label or sticker that says "refurbished". Is that sticker temporary, which is supposed to be taken off upon receipt, or meant to stay with the machine? What about refurbed parts such as batteries? I bought a refurbed battery but there's not such indication on the battery itself.
     
    vaw, Oct 19, 2009
    #1
  2. intoflatlines

    intoflatlines Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    23
    Messages:
    187
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I think the model number ends with CTR?
     
    intoflatlines, Oct 19, 2009
    #2
  3. vaw

    vaw Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    11
    Messages:
    783
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I just searched by the FRU P/N and the ASM number. The former seems to indicate refurbed, the latter is the same as the original.
     
    vaw, Oct 19, 2009
    #3
  4. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

    Reputations:
    1,571
    Messages:
    8,107
    Likes Received:
    126
    Trophy Points:
    231
    The T30 i have got from a friend has a REF stickers that is stuck over the top of the original stickers... when i looked up the old stickers info it is not there, only the stickers stuck after refurb have the correct information.

    So basically IBM and Lenovo will remove the original system information and give this laptop another identity.
     
    lead_org, Oct 19, 2009
    #4
  5. erik

    erik modifier

    Reputations:
    3,647
    Messages:
    1,610
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    55
    the base of refurbished systems purchased via the US lenovo outlet store will have a sticker saying "REFURBISHED PRODUCT / This product was refurbished or reconditioned by Lenovo (US), Morrisville, NC, USA and may contain used parts."   this sticker may be removed by the end user.   the lack of this sticker does not affect warranty.

    not all refurb system MTM numbers will end in CTR, RF1, RF2, RF3, RC1, RC2, RC3, etc.   some make it through the system using their original MTM numbers yet are in the database as a refurbished unit.
     
    erik, Oct 20, 2009
    #5
  6. vaw

    vaw Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    11
    Messages:
    783
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The refurbed battery I just got has the manufacture date almost a year ago. I suppose that's the original manufacture date (before refurb)?

    I saw a big "USED" printed on a lable on the box in which the battery was shipped, but nothing whatsoever on the battery itself. Only the tiny FRU may be different from the original, though I'm not sure (when they refurb the battery, it seems unlikely they would reprint the tiny FRU code on it).
     
    vaw, Oct 20, 2009
    #6
  7. erik

    erik modifier

    Reputations:
    3,647
    Messages:
    1,610
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    55
    refurbished batteries will have a small, orange sticker that says "Serviceable Used Part".   if you don't see this sticker then it very well could be a new battery.   i personally haven't seen used/refurb parts without this sticker although i'm sure a few are out there.
     
    erik, Oct 20, 2009
    #7
  8. vaw

    vaw Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    11
    Messages:
    783
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    There's no sticker whatsoever on the battery.
    FRU P/N 42T4629 (search results say this is "REF IBM battery").
    ASM P/N 92P1164 (this looks like original)
    The only indication is the lable on the box that says "USED", though the battery looks new.
     
    vaw, Oct 20, 2009
    #8