There’s another way to get refurbished Apple stuff, and it’s…eBay? Oddly enough, the online auction retail site has a dedicated page for Apple certified Macs, iPods, and iPads, each coming with their own one year warranty just like they do in the onlineApple Store.
All the devices on sale through this eBay page are refurbished to seem like new, and even given new batteries in the case of iOS devices. The original operating system is also installed, and the unit gets a full round of testing, just like it does on the Apple Store.
The refurbished items are delivered with all the manuals and cables that came with the product originally, though iPodNN speculates that the actual refurbishment may come through a third party, as the eBay page notes that only final inspection is provided by Apple itself.
The eBay Apple store is not part of their online auction system, but instead is its own separate section. There are currently iPads, iPod touches, MacBook Air and Pro models to choose from, including a white iPad 3 64G iPad for $549, a $150 savings over retail. There are also MacBook Pros for $200 off the retail price for a 13-inch model, $300 off a 15-inch model, and $400 off the super powerful i7 17-inch model. Even MacBook Airs get in on the action, with some models discounted up to $240 their typical price.
Seems like a good day when you have more than one option to purchase refurbished Apple products, especially ones that seem to have been given the official certified label by Apple itself. It’s all another testament to the continued success of the Apple brand.
