Refurbished computers at SonyStyle.com

The notebook computer I want is really cheap as a refurbished model. But...

(1) Sony is out of stock! Will more appear in the future, or does this mean I should give up this idea?

(2) Is it safe to buy a refurbished Vaio?

 

1) I suggest you call up Sony, and ask them about this. Direct quote from SonyStyle.com: "Clearance and refurbished inventory is limited and availability changes daily."

2) I don't have any experience with refurbished Vaios, but I'm sure Sony offers some type of warranty.

 

Yeah definately ring them. I did when I saw a refurb model for €1500 less than it originally was. I asked them about the refurb model. They said it was almost brand new. They were models that had been returned from an owner that had decided they didn't want it. Box wasn't even opened supposedly. They give you a full warranty and all support etc is as if it were brand new. I had doubts, but the Customer Services guy (who were brilliant btw) threw in an extra 2 years warranty for nothing. So no I'm covered for 3 years and I didn't have to pay anything extra. I kinda toook that as an example of how much they stand by the refurb systems. I've had no problems with mine & love it.

 

Whatever you do DON'T buy refurb. models,wait or go for another brand/dealer.

 

What's wrong with refurbs?

FWIW, I was looking at a refurb SZ recently and it went out of stock. A couple days leter they had a much nicer model available at a similar price. I would suggest that you keep checking back. In my limited experience they don't last very long but they do have new refurbs pop up on a regular basis.

 

I suspect that at least half of refurbished computers were returned for no reason besides buyer's remorse.

What else might happen to them to make them such bad deals?

 

Here is my 2 cents.

I believe there are only 90 day warranty on Refub model. You could be saving some money up front, but there are strong chance that you end up spending more than what you have saved. I would rather go with ones which is on sale at the local or online stores with one full year warranty and free extended warranty by your credit card company.

 

If there really is only a 90 day warranty, that would be a big deal.

 

90 day warranty is definately a big deal! In europe (or Ireland at least), the standard is a 1 yr warranty for refurb models. When I bought my old refurb model for my wife, I was having doubts eventhough the standard warranty is 1yr. Only when they added the extra 2 yr in for nothing was I convinced. I would never have bought it if only came with 90days.

 

Original point was moot. All the TXN15/17 computers are sold out. Sony rep said that I shouldn't expect any more to be available because those models were old models thus there won't be many more returns of them.

But there are some killer deals on SZ series computers if anyone is interested.

But I decided I really wanted a TX, so I ordered a TXN15P/B from an online retailer. (I didn't want a the newer TX with Vista because I heard Vista sucks--additionally a specific app I need to run only supports XP at the moment.)

 

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INT...BSTOCK&Dept=computers&CategoryName=ASeriesNPB

Is that what you wanted?