Kindle DX Graphite - Refurb vs. New?

[ahmadnz]

Hi everyone,

Can someone give me advice on how to make a decision on the purchase of a Kindle DX - new or refurbished?

What are the pros and cons of buying a Refurb apart from price?

I am outside the US so the warranty would be of little use to me.

[bZkindle]

I'm curious about this so I can't really answer your question.
but why is the warranty of little use? I'm outside the US as well and I still get a warranty and I've used it on more than one occasion.

[snipenekkid]

warranty.

unless Amazon specifically offers the same warranty then you are better off buying new as the difference is likely only about $50 or so. Of course one can buy a Square Trade 3-yr warranty with accidental damage to go with the refurb so it's a crap-shoot.

I have yet to find an item in the Amazon Warehouse which really when you break it down is any great savings. You might be better off hunting on eBay and grabbing the same Square Trade warranty, usually for less than the cost through Amazon, over on eBay. I had a chance at a gen 2 DX over on eBay for $225 but passed deciding I wanted the Pearl screen in the DXG. Still with the 3-yr Square Trade accident coverage warranty it would have been about $300 which is $30 cheaper than new from Amazon but with a much better warranty.

BTW, the Square Trade warranties typically also cover international buyers but make sure to confirm before taking the leap.

[ahmadnz]

Refurb is $320, new is $389.

That's a 17.7% difference, or $69.

That could buy me a decent cover for the Kindle DX.

Warranty is of little use to me because the cost of shipping it back to the US would be prohibitive - that, and officially the DX doesn't ship to my home country (New Zealand).

Anyway doesn't a refurb carry the same 1 year warranty?

I'm more than happy to buy Apple refurb products (they are apparently rechecked with a fine-toothed comb). If the same quality control applies for Kindle refurbs I would definintely buy a refurb for the savings but would be good to hear what you think.

Also, just so I don't get caught out - does the new Kindle DX Graphite come out in a "US-ONLY" wireless version? Or does every Kindle DX Graphite have "global" wireless?

[bhartman36]

I can't speak about Amazon's policies specifically, but I tend to stay away from refurbished electronics. I'm just suspicious of what problems it had the first time around, and if those problems were really reliably dealt with. And I would think that since you're not in the U.S., it would be worth it for you not to have to deal with the hassle of having to return it if something goes bad, etc.

[ahmadnz]

I am led to believe most "refurbs" are just "open box returns" or that they had some issue which they easily resolve and then check over before shipping out?

Then again maybe you are right...

[love_guru]

Originally Posted by ahmadnz

I am led to believe most "refurbs" are just "open box returns" or that they had some issue which they easily resolve and then check over before shipping out?

Then again maybe you are right...

Then again, you probably need to hear from someone who ACTUALLY has one, that is, a refurbished Kindle DXG.

I bought it around Thanksgiving day last year. Everything is really peachy, it even came in an original Kindle DXG box. Seals are all intact, no scratches, no dings whatsoever. The only thing missing is the AC adapter, which is really no biggie because you can still plug in the USB cable to a computer and it will charge the Kindle.

Overall, it was a really great buy for me. YMMV, but i reckon you'll form a better decision by hearing from someone who actually has one instead of only from speculators.

[PharaohsVizier]

I HAD a refurbished Kindle 2, so it's not exactly the same comparison here, but there was pretty much no sign of use at all, it came with all the same gear the retail one has and so on. Keep in mind that the Kindle isn't exactly the most complicated device in the market, it fact, it is quite simple in design. You aren't likely to run into as many problems as say a refurbished cellphone or gaming console. After you order it, just do a quick run through to make sure all the button press right, the device doesn't look like it was in a trash compactor, etc, and I would think it's fine.

That being said, if you have no warranty at all, are you sure you want to risk it?

[ahmadnz]

Decided to go for a refurb. $69 isn't to be sneezed at, especially relative to $320.

So I went to Amazon to order one but they weren't there!!!

After F5'ing for pretty much 12 hours, one came up - magic! Stumbled my way through the checkout process thinking that I might miss out taking too long but clicked the ORDER button and within 30 minutes it's updated to "Shipping soon"!

Awesome

Having said this, based on past experience sometimes Amazon can let you order something they don't have enough stock of - does "Shipping soon" mean I have been allocated one or could I still miss out??

[chamekke]

Where did you find the information on refurbished Kindles? I looked but couldn't find anything. Not that I'm in the market at the moment, but it would be good to know in case my husband suddenly demands a Kindle of his own!

(I'm in Canada BTW.)

[ahmadnz]

What information are you meaning?

I'm not sure if Refurb ship to Canada. I know that they don't generally ship outside of the US but Canada may be ok.

I am getting someone to forward it to me.

[pboss]

I don't think they ship refurb Kindles to Canada.

[hal2814]

I've bought refurbished Kindle 2's on two separate occasions. Both had to be returned over something. The first was a split directional button. The second Kindle had a line down the screen. While the warranty process was painless and I now have two working Kindle's, I'd personally not buy refurbished if I had no recourse through Amazon's warranty.

[ProfCrash]

The refurbs come with a one year warrenty just like the new devices. Most folks cannot tell them apart.

[ahmadnz]

Dammit order cancelled as no stock???

Not happy!!!