new or reconditioned

Hi, I don't know if I'm in the right place here but I need to know how I can find out if my laptop was sold to me new or reconditioned (it was meant to be new). Sorry if I'm being thick but I really have no idea. Thanks.

 

Depending how long you have been using the laptop a quick look inside will give you a clue, if it has dust and fluff inside the air intake it has been used.

 

Hi, thanks for that, but I've had the laptop for quite a while now. I'm a complete computer idiot, but I've had serious problems with this since I got it and someone suggested that it may have been reconditioned it's just that I have no idea how I'd find out.

 

Well i am sorry to bring bad news but if you have been using it for a while there will be great difficulty in proving it was a reconditioned but having said that most reconditioned PCs are very good.

If you give us some details of the problems you have had we may be able to shed a little light on it.

 

We will need some info to help you. Make and model of laptop, place you bought it from and the length of warranty that came with it. New name brand laptops usually have a 1 year warranty. Factory reconditioned models can have anywhere from 30 days up to the normal warranty for that model. An open box/returned unit is supposed to be marked as such when you buy it but a less reputable store/shop might not have.

Sam

 

Right. If you bought reconditioned, you should know it. But that might depend on what country you live in and the consumer protection laws of your country.

That said, unfortunately, "reconditioned" can mean many things from the original buyer returned it for different model, to a complete overhaul.

 

Can you think of the time frame you bought it, e.g. AUG 08 an then if we look at the product make or model we can attain a "time frame" of when that current model release date was relative to the time of purchase.

Considering factors like last years models clearances, etc. it would be reasonable to consider that a reconditioned (recon) one would have to be at least two years earlier than the purchase date (unless it was an RMA recon!).

With that thinking if you can ball park when you bought it and then provide the model number (on the base sticker), a reasonable "estimate" can be made as to whether it was new or recon'd.

 

where did you buy it from??? a reputable store will not lie to you. A whole in the wall store might. I'd recommend what Bold Eagle says.. check the production year/time
*EQL*