After reading this thread, I just realized something... Refurbs aren't necessarily bad, if anything they can be good, to an extent.
Dell Refurb=bad
because dell doesn't really make ******, they buy ****** and assemble it, it's refurb for dell because some one could return a computer for spilling ****** on it and pretending they didn't want it, dell resells it again refurb.
Maxtor/ATI/Antec etc.. (Manufacturer) Refurb=probably good
Why?
Because, either a clueless fscktard broke the item in a small way (broken capacitor), frys is returning the item because it arrived damaged, some guy is returning the item because it has a defect and THEN the manufacturer has to individually check to see what the problem is, fix it, look for other problems, verify if it's good THEN refurb it.
Basically it'd be better as a refurb from a manufacturer because it's much more likely to have had been individually inspected and cared for, thefore extremely unlikely to have any issues.
But if it's a refurb from say dell, well then, they could literally send you a 'return label' that doesn't go to dell but to another customer! :laugh: Seriously though, if there are any issues, dell will probably let it go and send it out again.