Apple Online Store Offering Refurbished Current-Generation 21" iMac, Shipping in 1-3 Days

Apple has added refurbished models of the current-generation 21.5" iMac to its Online Store in the past several days, offering a faster-shipping alternative to customers looking to get a desktop Mac.

New iMac models on the Apple Online Store list a lead time of several weeks to get delivered, while the refurbished models claim to ship in 1-3 days, with $200 and $230 discounts on the low- and high-end 21" models respectively.

imac
Apple Retail Stores list mid-March as the earliest time to pick up new 21" iMacs ordered online, but Amazon.com claims to have both 21" models in stock [$1,299 and $1,494] and eligible for Amazon Prime shipping.

Ship times on the 21.5" iMac rose to 2-3 weeks back in January, and have not improved since then. Tim Cook mentioned on Apple's earnings call in January that the company would increase iMac supply this quarter, but may not get to supply/demand balance.

27" iMac models have yet to appear on the refurbished store, with the company reporting a 3-4 week lead time online and late March for in-store pickup. Amazon has the base 27" model in stock for $1,799.

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Top Rated Comments

NutsNGum Avatar
159 months ago
i.e. All returns from users that bought them and realised 5400rpm drives are, nowadays, total crap.
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The Samurai Avatar
159 months ago
i.e. All returns from users that bought them and realised 5400rpm drives are, nowadays, total crap.

Wrong.

Returns from users who thought the thinness would make an impact on their lives. :D
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HenryDJP Avatar
159 months ago
i.e. All returns from users that bought them and realised 5400rpm drives are, nowadays, total crap.

I just love ridiculous posts like this. Gotta love MR for thinking they are Apple's only customers. :rolleyes:. Did it ever occur to anyone here that the majority of Apple's customers, maybe, just maybe, are normal everyday people that aren't geeks, they don't give a rats butt about a 5400rpm drive or the GPU, or the SSD vs. the Fusion drive or the fact that screen is molded together? PUULLEESE! Get over yourselves. Maybe these people decided to upgrade to the 27". Oh yeah, that's a thought? :p. I'll bet more people that don't frequent here telling of all their returns/exchanges are getting work done on their iMacs. ;)
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
danr_97070 Avatar
159 months ago
No welded Macs for me...

Weld this!

Since they started welding things shut, I won't be buying another iMac.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jav6454 Avatar
159 months ago
Adopters are not impressed I see.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NutsNGum Avatar
159 months ago
Obviously the jump from 5400rpm to SSD is huge but is the jump from 5400 to 7200 that big? I've always used a 5400rpm drive but maybe I've been missing out.

Depends on the drive, but for Apple not to be offering Fusion Drive from the get-go is a complete d*bag move whatever way you look at it.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)