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We've seen posted reports going both ways on the refurb vs new device issue, integra. Some feel that a refurb is better because it's been gone over by techs whether it was returned for problem reasons or just buyer's remorse or a trade up for something else.

I'd always get a new one first off, but that's just me.

Like the Old Man Down the Road says, "ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances." ;)
 
Keep in mind that the $200 new one is actually a $300 new one. You have to submit a rebate form and after 6 weeks you will get a debit card (not a check or refund on your account). I think that you can use the debit card to pay on your account in a store but the whole thing is too much work for my blood. I got a refurb Incredible to save money but also get the discounts immediately vs. their crazy rebate debit card plan.

I have not had one single problem with my refurb unit. I am not sure it's better than new but it's certainly as good as.
 
About a month. Someone at my work also has a refurb Droid. They have had it about 4 months I am not aware of them having any problems. They seem very happy with it. Hard to say it it's the norm but you have the same warranty as new and it looks new so what's to lose?
 
I always buy new. I want something that hasn't been handled by some other idiot who could have dropped it multiple times and loosened or broken something that isn't caught during the inspections. Plus, refurbs are way over-priced because they are usually close the the price of a brand new item.
 
imtoomuch said:
I always buy new. I want something that hasn't been handled by some other idiot who could have dropped it multiple times and loosened or broken something that isn't caught during the inspections. Plus, refurbs are way over-priced because they are usually close the the price of a brand new item.
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I hear plenty of people on these forums with issues with new ones so the risk is the same either new or used IMO. And they are not close to the price new. A mail in rebate is just that...a mail in rebate. A debit card is NOT discounted off of the phone. That is all sales talk to make the consumer feel the price of the phone is lower. A new Droid X is $300. The remaining $100 is a debit card and it not applied to the price of the phone. Thusly a refurb is 50% off of the new price with a contract.
 
i'm not sure how the verizon refurb program is... but when i worked for Sharp and refirbed TV's, believe me, the crap that they shipped out of there was unbeleiveeeeealbe. Just mattered that passed inspection at the moment.After that, it was someone elses problem, we all got paid by the amount that we "fixed" in a day.

But when i worked for VZ airfone division, we took real good care of the airline equiptment... i think it all depends on the people your working with and how they are paid. at VZ it didnt matter how many you fixed, because we got salery... so we'd take plenty of time.

Anyone have any idea about their refirb people? Or if it gets sent back to Motorola?
 
We bought two refurb's a month ago, no issues at all. Out of the box you can't tell the difference between refurb and brand new.
 
I never buy a phone at a verizon store, I will go to a store and check out each phone, then go online and purchase a NEW phone for 199, not 299 and wait for rebate. Online you get instant rebate and free over night delivery. Never buy refirb anything, your only asking for problems
 
ricksievers said:
I never buy a phone at a verizon store, I will go to a store and check out each phone, then go online and purchase a NEW phone for 199, not 299 and wait for rebate. Online you get instant rebate and free over night delivery. Never buy refirb anything, your only asking for problems
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Not true. Almost every single phone on the Verizon Website is a mail in rebate not instant. They haven't done instant rebates online for awhile now. Everything is mail in now. And it's not a check it's a debit card.

I have bought refurb computers, phones, ipods, etc and have never had problems. One of the few things I bought new (a Macbook Pro) has been exchanged about 5 times now. New or refurb it's the same gamble in my book.
 
I bought myself a refurbed Droidx abotu 2 months ago and the wife a new Droid 2. My refurb looked no different cosmeticly than my wifes new droid 2 out of the box.

Very happy with my decision.
 
Johnny Alien said:
Not true. Almost every single phone on the Verizon Website is a mail in rebate not instant. They haven't done instant rebates online for awhile now. Everything is mail in now. And it's not a check it's a debit card.

I have bought refurb computers, phones, ipods, etc and have never had problems. One of the few things I bought new (a Macbook Pro) has been exchanged about 5 times now. New or refurb it's the same gamble in my book.
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You are wrong, I always order on line and never had to wait for a rebate. Its always instant rebate online. I just got a droid 2 for my cousin online and there is no rebate to wait for.
 
ricksievers said:
You are wrong, I always order on line and never had to wait for a rebate. Its always instant rebate online. I just got a droid 2 for my cousin online and there is no rebate to wait for.
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They changed it recently, the majority of popular smart phones now require the mail in rebate. Check out this link and you will see: Set Your Location

Don't know why the link did that, but it links to Verizon's website.
 
ricksievers said:
You are wrong, I always order on line and never had to wait for a rebate. Its always instant rebate online. I just got a droid 2 for my cousin online and there is no rebate to wait for.
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Just go online and tell me which phone doesn't say "mail in rebate". I even talked to a phone rep about it. They stopped doing instant rebates.

Edited to add >> I do see that most Blackberrys and some of the cheapy phones still have instant rebates but none of the Droid phones have had them in awhile. You will pay $300 for the Droid X online.
 
That is why I go to Verizon to test out the phones. They are one of the few places that have all of the phones live in store. Most stores only have dummy phones on display. Then I go to Best Buy to purchase the phone. They usually do not have the buy on get one offers, but there are no mail in rebates there.

For example the wife and daughter want to upgrade their phones. The wife wants and Droid Incredible and we are going to get the daughter an LG ALLY (teen that needs one mainly for texting). If I went to Verizon the DINC is $149.99 with a BOGO Ally. This is without any rebate included. If I go to Best Buy, the DINC is $99.99 and the Ally is free. Save $50 instantly and no rebates to worry about.

Now I must say that I DO NOT get their "insurance" or have them even touch the phone. I purchase them and take them home and activate them and do the initial set up myself.
 
I had a new one, then sent it in under 30 days and received another new one. My physical buttons stopped working after my 30 days, so I was POd I was going to get a refurbished one. Honestly I compared it to my brother's new X, it was basically the same. But in my opinion, if you're getting a phone for the first time, I would probably just spring to pay the extra $50 for a new one. Also check out for other deals on the X, you may end up paying less than $200 for the X, new!
 
Had to warranty replace my Wife's X when the microphone died. The CLN replacement was as pristine as it could be. It works great.
 
waiting for my 3rd refurb since first 2 were broke when they arrived.
 
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