refurbished ipods ...

I bought a black refurbished ipod--no scratches, no damage...it looks brand new and functions like it's new. It comes with the same software as well as the usb, earphones, and case.

My ibook was refurbished too...same thing--no different than the new models you would get from Apple.

I recommend the refurb-ed route to all of my friends.

iPods end up in the refurbished lot for a number of reasons, some of which include being returned to Apple for various reasons. Refurbished products are overhauled to work like new; any malfunctioning parts are replaced. They are given new cases and new serial numbers so they appear to be brand new. The iPods come with the full one year of hardware coverage, and 6 months of free shipping and handling if the iPod needs to be sent back for any reason. You are also eligible to purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan, which extends your hardware coverage and free shipping and handling to 2 full years from the iPod's purchase date, which is something I highly recommend.

I have two iPods, both of which were purchased refurbished. I've had no problems with either one... the photo iPod was purchased in March 2006 so it's coming up on one year old, and I've had virtually no problems with it. The video iPod was purchased in August of 2006, so it's newer, but it has no problems. Neither iPod showed any signs of use or damage when I removed them from the packaging.

I have absolute confidence in Apple's refurbished products... in fact, my next computer will most likely be a MacBook, which I'll probably purchase refurbished for no other reason than to save money.

Hope you found this helpful.

CG

Avoid "refurbished" iPods at all cost!!! I ordered a 2GB Nano for my wife for Valentine's Day. (She preferred the original Nano over the current candy-colored vers.) After opening the gift with much excitement, she connected it to her Mac and..... nothing. Defective. I had to spend an HOUR on the phone with Customer Service for them to inform me that I had a defective iPod..."D.O.A." was the term they used. I was instructed to return it, and await my replacement. After a few weeks, I wondered what was going on and called them. Sorry, they said, no more 2GB Nano available; They had refunded my purchase without informing me.

Fairly annoyed at this, I begrudgingly ordered a 1GB Nano (My wife was disappointed at the downgrade.), whcih just arrived today. No power and no connection to her Mac. ANOTHER defective Nano. She no longer wants an iPod.

AVOID REFURBISHED PRODUCTS!!!! Buy new. Then watch the battery fail in another year or two like the 3G iPods.

My family has 6 refurbished iPods, everyone is OK. For me they are brand new.

Thanks for the sarcasm, Patrick. Actually, they didn't work on BOTH of our systems. (My wife's iMac, my G4 tower. Panther on hers, Tiger on mine. Newest version of iTunes on both.) The 2nd Nano didn't even work. (No power upon arrival, center button stuck.)

Apple Support was very apologetic, and even sent out a NEW 2nd Generation model to make up for all the trouble. That one works just fine.

iPod Nano 1G Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Hi!

I think with a refurb product, there is actually LESS chance of a problem. Since it may have had a problem, it is checked by Apple, and any problem is fixed.

I bet with new stuff they only check a portion of the new products, so some bad ones get through.

My wife bought me a new 80gb Video iPod. It lasted about a month, and then dead-got another new one. So far it's lasted about 2 weeks and still OK. My wife bought a 3 year plan from Best Buy, so I exchanged the first one there.

cliff
YIP

PS-I am planning on buying 2 used/refurb ipod nanos for my kids.

i need to buy a new 20GB ipod photo because mine is completely buggered. but the guy at the apple store broke it not me!!
anyhoo if i buy a refurbished model, what are the chances it will be covered in scratches?
thanks a lot
sophie

If you can prove the guy at the Apple Store broke your iPod why aren't you having that Store replace it?

No, your refurbished 30GB iPod will not be all scratched up.

if i buy a refurbished model, what are the chances it will be covered in scratches?
The same chance a new one will be covered in scratches.
And if it is covered in scratches, you can get it replaced.