Does Amazon send refurbished units as new?

MikeOxlittle · 05-04-2012, 05:27 PM

Just ordered a Kindle 4 and it arrived today.

On the Amazon tracking webpage the item shows as being sent from Phoenix AZ.

When I checked the USPS site with the tracking number it originated from Federal Way WA.

Today I got the unit and the address label originated from the Returns Center in Las Vegas NV.

Item looks new and works fine but sort of irks me that I'm paying for and expecting a new unit but the return center label leads me to believe it's just a refurb.

The 1 year warranty is peace of mind if anything happens but still a little misleading business practice if Amazon is shipping refurbs as new units.

Harry_Y · 05-04-2012, 05:31 PM

Did you buy it as New?

MikeOxlittle · 05-04-2012, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry_Y

Did you buy it as New?

Yes, don't even see the option on the Kindle page to order as a refurb.

AnemicOak · 05-04-2012, 05:43 PM

Any refurb I've ever seen from Amazon says Refurbished on the box.

Harry_Y · 05-04-2012, 06:24 PM

I would think it was new then

Talldog · 05-04-2012, 07:28 PM

I wouldn't think Amazon would do something like that, but you should call CS and ask. Doesn't prove anything, but it would be interesting to hear what they say.

Harry_Y · 05-04-2012, 08:42 PM

for what it's worth I have never had any problems with any items straight from Amazon

HansTWN · 05-04-2012, 08:45 PM

If someone returns an item unopened (could be a gift), that should still count as a new item?

Jessica Lares · 05-04-2012, 09:00 PM

They have different distribution centers. It could be that they ran out of stock at all the other places and had to route the order to another one.

SteveEisenberg · 05-04-2012, 09:36 PM

It could go the other way. The two or three Kindle Keyboard refurbs I have seen looked new. If I was getting another Kindle, this is the one I would choose:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...on=refurbished

nesler · 05-05-2012, 01:32 AM

Refurbished items come in plain cardboard boxes. Similar shape as the new ones (funky shape with a tear away strip), but no color graphics or artwork on them.

NightGoat · 05-05-2012, 02:42 AM

Side Note Question:

I just ordered a replacement for an out of warranty Kindle Keyboard which has a broken screen. The CC person registered the replacement for me, now the "Manage your Kindle" page indicates that Update 3.3 is available.

Is this a good indication I am getting a new, never opened Kindle Keyboard rather than a refurb? I didn't think to ask, besides the connection was so bad we could barely muddle through getting the replacement ordered.

ixtab · 05-05-2012, 10:39 AM

I admit I don't really understand the fuzz about "new" vs. "refurbished".

Regarding the O.P.: I don't think that Amazon would take the risk to send out refurbished ones as "new" -- that would be outright deception, and in your case, you have the right to expect a brand new one, because that's what you paid for. As someone else has mentioned here, a pretty plausible explanation is that someone returned the item unopened for whichever reason. Note that it's from a "return center" (or so), not a "repair center".

@NightGoat: Does it really matter? You got a working replacement for an out of warranty item, which is more than most other companies would give you.

Regarding the updates: I don't think it's a good indicator of anything. Updates may be released a second after your brand-new device was manufactured. Refurbs may be reflashed with a cutting-edge firmware, or with an old one. Only the folks actually performing the refurbs know.

puglover333 · 05-05-2012, 11:53 AM

The refurbished ones come in a box exactly the same as a new one - except there is a "R" in the tree in the picture of the man reading under the tree.

Lazer · 05-05-2012, 12:06 PM

"Today I got the unit and the address label originated from the Returns Center in Las Vegas NV."

I think what is going on here is that the return address allows you to not accept the shipment and it gets shipped to their Returns Center –not the shipping address. I've seen that address on other items from Amazon and those orders were certainly not refurbs.

Think about it for a bit. Amazon retails thousands of products. All of them that get returned go to their Return Center and from there they would go (in bulk) to various facilities for whatever their protocol is for a return on that specific product. (Thus returned Kindles would go in the Kindle bin for shipment to the refurb center.) In other words, they wouldn't be shipping individual orders from the Return Center, just receiving.

Does this make any sense? I think your Kindle is new. Enjoy it.

L

05-04-2012, 05:27 PM	#1
MikeOxlittle Say my name very fast ... Posts: 131 Karma: 1387009 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: The High Seas Device: Kindle	Does Amazon send refurbished units as new? Just ordered a Kindle 4 and it arrived today. On the Amazon tracking webpage the item shows as being sent from Phoenix AZ. When I checked the USPS site with the tracking number it originated from Federal Way WA. Today I got the unit and the address label originated from the Returns Center in Las Vegas NV. Item looks new and works fine but sort of irks me that I'm paying for and expecting a new unit but the return center label leads me to believe it's just a refurb. The 1 year warranty is peace of mind if anything happens but still a little misleading business practice if Amazon is shipping refurbs as new units.

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05-04-2012, 05:31 PM	#2
Harry_Y Addict Posts: 305 Karma: 704492 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NY Device: Kindle 3, Kindle DX, Galaxy Tab 2	Did you buy it as New?

05-04-2012, 05:43 PM	#4
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Any refurb I've ever seen from Amazon says Refurbished on the box.

05-04-2012, 06:24 PM	#5
Harry_Y Addict Posts: 305 Karma: 704492 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NY Device: Kindle 3, Kindle DX, Galaxy Tab 2	I would think it was new then

05-04-2012, 07:28 PM	#6
Talldog Addict Posts: 293 Karma: 1431716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Connecticut Device: Kindle Paperwhite, KDX Graphite, Surface Pro	I wouldn't think Amazon would do something like that, but you should call CS and ask. Doesn't prove anything, but it would be interesting to hear what they say.

05-04-2012, 08:42 PM	#7
Harry_Y Addict Posts: 305 Karma: 704492 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NY Device: Kindle 3, Kindle DX, Galaxy Tab 2	for what it's worth I have never had any problems with any items straight from Amazon

05-04-2012, 08:45 PM	#8
HansTWN Wizard Posts: 4,538 Karma: 264065402 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Taiwan Device: HP Touchpad, Sony Duo 13, Lumia 920, Kobo Aura HD	If someone returns an item unopened (could be a gift), that should still count as a new item?

05-04-2012, 09:00 PM	#9
Jessica Lares Wizard Posts: 2,240 Karma: 5759170 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA Device: iPad Mini, iPod Touch (5th gen)	They have different distribution centers. It could be that they ran out of stock at all the other places and had to route the order to another one.

05-04-2012, 09:36 PM	#10
SteveEisenberg Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,032 Karma: 39379388 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: near Philadelphia USA Device: Kindle Kids Edition, Fire HD 10 (11th generation)	It could go the other way. The two or three Kindle Keyboard refurbs I have seen looked new. If I was getting another Kindle, this is the one I would choose: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...on=refurbished

05-05-2012, 01:32 AM	#11
nesler Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 548458 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: California Device: Too many to list	Refurbished items come in plain cardboard boxes. Similar shape as the new ones (funky shape with a tear away strip), but no color graphics or artwork on them.

05-05-2012, 02:42 AM	#12
NightGoat Connoisseur Posts: 92 Karma: 39190 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Grand Rapids, MI USA Device: Kindle Oasis, DXG, and Kobo Aura One	Side Note Question: I just ordered a replacement for an out of warranty Kindle Keyboard which has a broken screen. The CC person registered the replacement for me, now the "Manage your Kindle" page indicates that Update 3.3 is available. Is this a good indication I am getting a new, never opened Kindle Keyboard rather than a refurb? I didn't think to ask, besides the connection was so bad we could barely muddle through getting the replacement ordered.

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05-05-2012, 10:39 AM	#13
ixtab (offline) Posts: 2,907 Karma: 6736092 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: K3, K4, K5, KPW, KPW2	I admit I don't really understand the fuzz about "new" vs. "refurbished". Regarding the O.P.: I don't think that Amazon would take the risk to send out refurbished ones as "new" -- that would be outright deception, and in your case, you have the right to expect a brand new one, because that's what you paid for. As someone else has mentioned here, a pretty plausible explanation is that someone returned the item unopened for whichever reason. Note that it's from a "return center" (or so), not a "repair center". @NightGoat: Does it really matter? You got a working replacement for an out of warranty item, which is more than most other companies would give you. Regarding the updates: I don't think it's a good indicator of anything. Updates may be released a second after your brand-new device was manufactured. Refurbs may be reflashed with a cutting-edge firmware, or with an old one. Only the folks actually performing the refurbs know.

05-05-2012, 11:53 AM	#14
puglover333 Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 262 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: K3 KDXG	The refurbished ones come in a box exactly the same as a new one - except there is a "R" in the tree in the picture of the man reading under the tree.

05-05-2012, 12:06 PM	#15
Lazer Groupie Posts: 174 Karma: 1498858 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3	"Today I got the unit and the address label originated from the Returns Center in Las Vegas NV." I think what is going on here is that the return address allows you to not accept the shipment and it gets shipped to their Returns Center –not the shipping address. I've seen that address on other items from Amazon and those orders were certainly not refurbs. Think about it for a bit. Amazon retails thousands of products. All of them that get returned go to their Return Center and from there they would go (in bulk) to various facilities for whatever their protocol is for a return on that specific product. (Thus returned Kindles would go in the Kindle bin for shipment to the refurb center.) In other words, they wouldn't be shipping individual orders from the Return Center, just receiving. Does this make any sense? I think your Kindle is new. Enjoy it. L