Dell Outlet Refurbished Laptops

[anonymous-user]

Has anybody any experience of buying a refurbished laptop through the Dell outlet? I remember buying some PCs years ago through the outlet for work and when they arrived they looked like new to me, I think they even arrived in the original packaging.

Having watched some recent unboxing videos on YouTube, the laptop did not arrive in the original packaging, It looked like it was a bigger box than the original, and the laptop was suspended on a piece of cardboard wrapped in cling film and had a refurbished sticker on the bottom.

Is this the case with all refurbished Dell outlet laptops?

[randlemarcus]

Surely the answer is - it depends The Outlet channel needs to shift everything from "buyer changed mind before dispatch, but after manufacture", in which case, you'll get the new packaging etc, to "buyer rejected after dropping in a puddle", and you'll get replacement packaging, and replacement casings/keyboards as appropriate.

[e-honda]

I buy a lot of dell outlet laptops.
They all have come in a standard box which basically has a foam lining top and bottom with polystyrene / foam block surrounding the laptop with the power supply in a cardboard flap at the end.
Some of them could have passed as looking new, most have had some small signs of wear.
Worst one I've had arrived yesterday which I would have sent back but I cannot get a replacement in time.

[krisdelta]

I've purchased an i7 recently through the Dell Outlet - far superior condition to other second hand laptop purchases I've made previously (although still baffled why it took 3 weeks to get it in my case) - anyhow, I can't see a mark on it and it's been flawless.

[tr7v8]

randlemarcus said:

Surely the answer is - it depends The Outlet channel needs to shift everything from "buyer changed mind before dispatch, but after manufacture", in which case, you'll get the new packaging etc, to "buyer rejected after dropping in a puddle", and you'll get replacement packaging, and replacement casings/keyboards as appropriate.

I work for Dell & this is spot on correct. I have never heard of anything being damaged & then repaired & sent out. The vast majority are misbuilds & customer returns.
I don't work on the client end but I understood we don't use polystyrene anymore in packaging. Recyclable & green packaging is one of Michael Dell's big targets.

[FunkyGibbon]

I've bought 2 i7 Dell refurbished laptops from europc.co.uk - both were immaculate with the bonus of next day delivery.

Not a mark on either of them.

[maccas99]

I always buy from Dell Outlet, never had any issues. Currently running 3 in the family which range from 1 - 7 years old. They always arrive promptly and look brand new. Highly recommended.

[manracer]

Ive purchased 2 x dell inspirion i7s in the last few months for family, no issues at all.

Id go as far as to say I wish i'd done the same when i paid full price for mine a year ago.

[RizzoTheRat]

I bought one a few years back. Packaging was fine but the screen cracked within about a week of me having it. They got a bit confused as the service tag showed as it having a warranty with Dixons, presumably from the original owner, but once I'd sent them a copy of my invoice from thier outlet store they fixed it quickly.

My wife them bought one as well and had no problems with it.

[halo34]

I still have an xps from yonks ago that soldiers on with a SSD in it.

Didnt have any issues, but I think the deals are less attractive these days than they used to be.

Just watch for weird spec oddities

[Jinx]

All my machines except one have been from dell outlet (since 2009). All have been immaculate - some even with the plastic protectors still on. Avoid the Alienware 17 r4 though (overheats due to poorly designed cooling) - and is the only machine that has died on me (only lasted 4 years whilst my Alienware 17X r4 from 2013 is still going strong).
The exception is the Lenovo Yoga I picked up for the OH - nice little machine, very light yet still pretty capable (AMD 4500U is twice as powerful as the afore mentioned 17XR4 with its i7 3630QM and 660M gpu).

[super7]

I've bought from Dell outlet as well...... good saving on a brand new laptop and all of mine cams as new! Never been dissapointed.

Subsequently, have bought about 5 Apple MacBooks through the Apply outlet. Good saving and as new!!

[anonymous-user]

The reason I asked is because I have actually ordered one for my daughter for her birthday as I assumed they were just miss builds or cancelled orders and came as new in the original packaging.

I ordered in haste because the price was so good and now I am concerned it will appear in generic repackaging and not look new. My daughter is incredibly fussy so any hint that it might not be brand new in original packaging then she will not be happy.

I guess I will have to wait and see what it looks like when it turns up and decide if I just return it or keep it myself to replace my 9 year old laptop.

[maccas99]

Joey Deacon said:

The reason I asked is because I have actually ordered one for my daughter for her birthday as I assumed they were just miss builds or cancelled orders and came as new in the original packaging.

I ordered in haste because the price was so good and now I am concerned it will appear in generic repackaging and not look new. My daughter is incredibly fussy so any hint that it might not be brand new in original packaging then she will not be happy.

I guess I will have to wait and see what it looks like when it turns up and decide if I just return it or keep it myself to replace my 9 year old laptop.

She'll be fine with it, they look brand new and sealed. I see no issues with what you've done here.

[parabolica]

I've used them a few times without issue and usually managed to get a bargain; but the last time I used them (3 years ago maybe) the first laptop that arrived had a failing motherboard. In Dell's credit, they sent a tech out to try and fix it straight away, but the issue repeated itself within 24 hours. They offered a swap for an identical laptop which duly arrived but it had a broken screen. I returned that one and got my money back and went else where.

On the balance of things i would still recommend the outlet; to Dell's credit they did try to fix things quickly and refunded my money without any hassle when the second one failed. I think I just got unlucky.

[e-honda]

This is how they always come packaged to me.
Slightly underwhelming but far from awful.
There is a couple of little pamphlet in there with a generic setup guide.
I've mostly ordered latitudes.

[FunkyGibbon]

e-honda said:

This is how they always come packaged to me.
Slightly underwhelming but far from awful.
There is a couple of little pamphlet in there with a generic setup guide.
I've mostly ordered latitudes.

Yep. They come boxed as a business machine rather than consumer machine with the fancy boxes.

Simple straightforward packaging, simple setup (turn on add WiFi details click a few buttons and wait...)

[Taita]

maccas99 said:

Joey Deacon said:

The reason I asked is because I have actually ordered one for my daughter for her birthday as I assumed they were just miss builds or cancelled orders and came as new in the original packaging.

I ordered in haste because the price was so good and now I am concerned it will appear in generic repackaging and not look new. My daughter is incredibly fussy so any hint that it might not be brand new in original packaging then she will not be happy.

I guess I will have to wait and see what it looks like when it turns up and decide if I just return it or keep it myself to replace my 9 year old laptop.

She'll be fine with it, they look brand new and sealed. I see no issues with what you've done here.

She will be fine and grateful surely?

'Princess' and fussy characteristics will only go so far in life

[anonymous-user]

e-honda said:

This is how they always come packaged to me.
Slightly underwhelming but far from awful.
There is a couple of little pamphlet in there with a generic setup guide.
I've mostly ordered latitudes.

That actually looks better than I thought, any stickers or pieces of paper inside with "Refurbished" on them?

[h0b0]

back in 2012 I had to buy 4 of the same monitor. I ended up buying 2 new and 2 refurb. The refurds came looking brand new with HDMI cables. The new ones did not have the cables.