Lenovo Flex 7 (Cert. Refurb): 14" 2.2K IPS Touch, i7-1355U, 16GB LPDDR4, 1TB SSD $505.99

WooHoo2You

Pro

Jan 11, 2024 4:01 PM

10.8K Comments

Joined Mar 2018

WooHoo2You

Pro

Jan 11, 2024 4:01 PM

10.8K Comments

I've ordered a Lenovo refurb from these guys and Lenovo's ebay store directly. Both laptop's looked new but the Lenovo was packaged as if it was new retail and this was more of a repack. Generic Lenovo box, no printed manual; just the laptop and OEM charger. Functionally not a big deal but I like having 100% retail packaging / contents as it does increase resale value when selling later.

On the other side BuyRefurbishedUS's laptop seemed to ship with a clean install of Windows vs the Lenovo suite being installed with Lenovo's 2-in-1 (very minimal) bloatware. Also didn't have a big ol' sticker on the bottom that said "refurbished."

So each contender gets a point Wink

Last edited by WooHoo2You January 11, 2024 at 08:04 AM.

1

clamee

Jan 12, 2024 1:50 AM

46 Comments

Joined Jun 2006

clameeJan 12, 2024 1:50 AM

46 Comments

A few dollars cheaper at Walmart?

Spikemaul07

Jan 12, 2024 8:51 AM

182 Comments

Joined May 2018

Spikemaul07Jan 12, 2024 8:51 AM

182 Comments

Quote from clamee

:

A few dollars cheaper at Walmart?

Link..?

David36

Jan 12, 2024 10:05 AM

1.5K Comments

Joined Jun 2007

David36Jan 12, 2024 10:05 AM

1.5K Comments

Great price for the condition.

Refurbs are best laptops I had !!!!!!

ih8retail

Jan 12, 2024 11:53 PM

27 Comments

Joined Jul 2009

ih8retailJan 12, 2024 11:53 PM

27 Comments

I just bought one of these from Bestbuy (at $549). Excellent condition. Looks new. The BB website says it comes with a 1-year Manufacturer's (Lenovo) Warranty on Parts and Labor.

When I register the item on the Lenovo website, it says that this S/N is out of warranty. I have been trying to get BB and Lenovo to fix that but neither one is being helpful (and blaming the other) for the problem. Any other BB customers having trouble getting their Lenovo Warranty on refurbs activated? Anybody have any suggestions for dealing with this? THANK YOU.

ftccodeal

Jan 13, 2024 12:56 AM

122 Comments

Joined Jun 2019

ftccodealJan 13, 2024 12:56 AM

122 Comments

Quote from WooHoo2You

:

I've ordered a Lenovo refurb from these guys and Lenovo's ebay store directly. Both laptop's looked new but the Lenovo was packaged as if it was new retail and this was more of a repack. Generic Lenovo box, no printed manual; just the laptop and OEM charger. Functionally not a big deal but I like having 100% retail packaging / contents as it does increase resale value when selling later.

On the other side BuyRefurbishedUS's laptop seemed to ship with a clean install of Windows vs the Lenovo suite being installed with Lenovo's 2-in-1 (very minimal) bloatware. Also didn't have a big ol' sticker on the bottom that said "refurbished."

So each contender gets a point Wink

Resale value and windows laptops don't go together. The moment you boot it, the value drops 30%. Value keeps dropping as you and reboot. Retail packaging has no meaning for wintel laptops. Only Apple hardware and packaging command some respectable resale. I am not an Apple fanboy. I use a refurbished thinkpad myself. I am just stating the plain truth.

1

3

WooHoo2You

Pro

Jan 13, 2024 3:13 AM

10.8K Comments

Joined Mar 2018

WooHoo2You

Pro

Jan 13, 2024 3:13 AM

10.8K Comments

Quote from ftccodeal

:

Resale value and windows laptops don't go together. The moment you boot it, the value drops 30%. Value keeps dropping as you and reboot. Retail packaging has no meaning for wintel laptops.

I do pretty well for myself. Normally I can use a money pit Windows laptop for 6 months, upgrade then break even. Guess I'm just magic like that Wink

Oh and a good rating on eBay plus getting great deals on the laptop to begin with also help. For example, this machine will probably fetch $450 a year for now if the laptop is kept in great condition and retail packaging is intact.

Pro-tip: reboots aren't like miles on a car. Don't rough up the laptop, restore to factory settings, AND describe the item well on eBay. Do all of that and you'll get max returns.

Quote :

Only Apple hardware and packaging command some respectable resale. I am not an Apple fanboy. I use a refurbished thinkpad myself. I am just stating the plain truth.

I think your 'truth' might be limited to personal experiences....not universal ones.

Last edited by WooHoo2You January 12, 2024 at 07:55 PM.

3

Humm

Jan 13, 2024 5:50 PM

807 Comments

Joined Oct 2009

HummJan 13, 2024 5:50 PM

807 Comments

Quote from Spikemaul07

:

Link..?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lenovo...om=/search

$499.99

Humm

Jan 13, 2024 5:54 PM

807 Comments

Joined Oct 2009

HummJan 13, 2024 5:54 PM

807 Comments

ih8retail:"I just bought one of these from Bestbuy (at $549). Excellent condition. Looks new. "

Thanks for mentioning BB as I prefer buying from a local store in case of return. BB website doesn't mention condition of this refurbished laptop. Was that the case for you as well and you got lucky to get an excellent condition?

WooHoo2You

Pro

Jan 13, 2024 6:49 PM

10.8K Comments

Joined Mar 2018

WooHoo2You

Pro

Jan 13, 2024 6:49 PM

10.8K Comments

Quote from Humm

:

ih8retail:"I just bought one of these from Bestbuy (at $549). Excellent condition. Looks new. "

Thanks for mentioning BB as I prefer buying from a local store in case of return. BB website doesn't mention condition of this refurbished laptop. Was that the case for you as well and you got lucky to get an excellent condition?

Not saying anything positive or negative about Best Buy but each item's condition is rated by the random BB the item is located at. An "excellent" in Raleigh NC could be a "good" in Dayton OH or a "fair" (aka poor) in Austin TX. I do not have a lot of experience with buying open boxes from BB however I think most time the condition is exaggerated in favor of the customer (based on comments I have seen online). Meaning, BB seems to err on overstating the flaws / wear so most people are pleasantly surprised with the condition.

Now, I did buy an open box laptop online, shipped to my house, never opened the box because I found a better deal elsewhere. My local BB did give me a hassle claiming open box items were "non returnable" even if I could process the return online...from my phone...and return to the store. Which I threatened to do while standing at the returns desk. They of course saw the light when presented with such flawless logic Wink

Last edited by WooHoo2You January 15, 2024 at 05:46 PM.

1

ih8retail

Jan 14, 2024 2:05 PM

27 Comments

Joined Jul 2009

ih8retailJan 14, 2024 2:05 PM

27 Comments

Quote from Humm

:

ih8retail:"I just bought one of these from Bestbuy (at $549). Excellent condition. Looks new. "

Thanks for mentioning BB as I prefer buying from a local store in case of return. BB website doesn't mention condition of this refurbished laptop. Was that the case for you as well and you got lucky to get an excellent condition?

I prefer accessible brick and mortar, too. The BB website did not mention condition but I called Customer Care and asked a lot of Qs before buying. They said that most of their Lenovo refurbs are refurbed by Lenovo (not some schmoe fixing computers in his basement). Mine came in a plain box (not a Lenovo box) with the USB-C charger but nothing else: no paperwork, etc.. After spending a lot of time over 1.5 days setting it up (Win / Lenovo updates, software installs, etc.) and checking it out, everything was fine, even excellent. I was going to keep it, but ...

When I tried to register it on my Lenovo account (I have other Lenovo stuff), it said that it was Out of Warranty. I have been trying to get either BB or Lenovo to update / activate the warranty without success. BB said I can buy a BB Protection Plan for $140 (or more). There is no "upgrade [extend] your warranty" option on the Lenovo site because it is out of warranty. It does seem to display ("Warranty, View Details" for this S/N) that the original warranty was activated in Nov '24 and was active for less than one month and then it went Out of Warranty in Nov '24. I installed the Lenovo Vantage app which indicates that there is at least 10 months remaining on the battery warranty (which tested very well as being almost new.) That seems to be consistent with a quick buy-and-return.

Anyway, no Warranty as promised by BB is a deal killer so I am going to return it and get one of these eBay certified and 3rd party insured "pristine condition" refurbs instead. I hope it's as good as the BB refurb.

Humm

Jan 14, 2024 8:32 PM

807 Comments

Joined Oct 2009

HummJan 14, 2024 8:32 PM

807 Comments

Quote from ih8retail

:

I prefer accessible brick and mortar, too. The BB website did not mention condition but I called Customer Care and asked a lot of Qs before buying. They said that most of their Lenovo refurbs are refurbed by Lenovo (not some schmoe fixing computers in his basement). Mine came in a plain box (not a Lenovo box) with the USB-C charger but nothing else: no paperwork, etc.. After spending a lot of time over 1.5 days setting it up (Win / Lenovo updates, software installs, etc.) and checking it out, everything was fine, even excellent. I was going to keep it, but ...

When I tried to register it on my Lenovo account (I have other Lenovo stuff), it said that it was Out of Warranty. I have been trying to get either BB or Lenovo to update / activate the warranty without success. BB said I can buy a BB Protection Plan for $140 (or more). There is no "upgrade [extend] your warranty" option on the Lenovo site because it is out of warranty. It does seem to display ("Warranty, View Details" for this S/N) that the original warranty was activated in Nov '24 and was active for less than one month and then it went Out of Warranty in Nov '24. I installed the Lenovo Vantage app which indicates that there is at least 10 months remaining on the battery warranty (which tested very well as being almost new.) That seems to be consistent with a quick buy-and-return.

Anyway, no Warranty as promised by BB is a deal killer so I am going to return it and get one of these eBay certified and 3rd party insured "pristine condition" refurbs instead. I hope it's as good as the BB refurb.

Thanks so much for your informative reply. Too bad you had to spend so much time on it now you have to return it. I guess there weren't a way of checking warranty until you wasted time to setup and update softwares?

ih8retail

Jan 15, 2024 8:25 AM

27 Comments

Joined Jul 2009

ih8retailJan 15, 2024 8:25 AM

27 Comments

Quote from Humm

:

Thanks so much for your informative reply. Too bad you had to spend so much time on it now you have to return it. I guess there weren't a way of checking warranty until you wasted time to setup and update softwares?

The S/N is on an official stick-on label on the bottom of the case. I guess I COULD HAVE checked the warranty status using my old/current computer before turning on the new refurb but I didn't think it would be Out of Warranty! So, (a) you can check before unwrapping and turning on the refurb (b) if you don't have another computer, you can get the refurb updated and working in a couple of hours and immediately go to Lenovo to check the S/N. (c) I was on a roll installing stuff so I just kept going.

I spent HOURS e-Chatting and on the phone with BB and Lenovo to no avail. I asked BB if they would give me one year of Protection (at no additional charge) in lieu of their misleading ad and they said No. The third party insurers (Asurion, Allstate, etc.) do not insure one-off refurbs purchased from BB like this. They DO have deals with the refurbishers to provide coverage to the purchaser. Two years of Allstate is included with the eBay offer in this Slickdeal.

Assuming equal refurbs, BB would be $550 + 1 year $140 protection = $690. eBay is $506, 2-year protection plan included. I ordered this deal from eBay. I'm waiting for shipping / tracking info.

Rowestah

Jan 16, 2024 7:09 PM

14 Comments

Joined Sep 2016

RowestahJan 16, 2024 7:09 PM

14 Comments

Solid enough for some video editing, general usage and light gaming? Just had my thinkpad x270 brick Frown

ih8retail

Jan 19, 2024 3:24 AM

27 Comments

Joined Jul 2009

ih8retailJan 19, 2024 3:24 AM

27 Comments

Quote from Humm

:

Thanks so much for your informative reply. Too bad you had to spend so much time on it now you have to return it. I guess there weren't a way of checking warranty until you wasted time to setup and update softwares?

My eBay order was delivered and here's an early update. First, I read the S/N through the plastic wrapper and, as before, it is no longer under Lenovo warranty. Opened, appearance-wise, this is another pristine unit. I didn't dust for fingerprints but I don't think I would find any. No scratches, dents, or other signs of even minor usage.

NOTE: If you read the L data sheet https://psref.lenovo.com/Detail/L...82Y20001US, it says, "Pen: Lenovo® Digital Pen." (Others might say, "Pen: [compatible model name] (not included)".) I had called BB and asked why I didn't get a pen with my refurb and they said it doesn't come with a pen and I referred to the spec sheet. The eBay refurb DID come with an apparently brand new L Digital Pen. (Haven't tested it yet.)

Installed L Vantage and it scans as "newer" than the BB refurb (which I will be returning). "Cycles" = 1 vs 16 for the BB unit. The battery is new as of Nov 23 and says it still has 10 mos of L warranty on it. Everything else scanned well except for one red warning (!) symbol for "Device Write Test." Clicking on that it said that I can ignore it for now. We'll see ...

During set up and intermittent usage, I noticed that the kb was very warm on the left side, mostly in QWER ASDF section (and on the bottom). I don't know what hardware is in that section. It begins to explain why the lid "lifts" the rear of case as you open it. At 90, it's slightly lifted; at 120, it's further lifted; I guess for better air circulation through the bottom vents.

The kb has 3 brightness settings, Off Low High, controlled by Fn-Spacebar. Works well; Low was good enough for me in a darkened room.

I'm a "no touchpad" person. This one works fine; it's very sensitive but all t-pads have many settings (speed; taps; etc) that I will ignore when I add a mouse.

The speakers sound fine (voice podcast; classical music). Max volume is average or below to my ear, but it's fine while near the unit. If you prefer your music loud, you'll probably want to add external speakers.

So far, I'm very pleased with this item. .... More installing and testing to do.

If anybody has suggestions for things to test or other Qs, I will try to follow up and give As here.

Lenovo Flex 7 (Cert. Refurb): 14" 2.2K IPS Touch, i7-1355U, 16GB LPDDR4, 1TB SSD $505.99

$506

$825

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