Refurbished PS2's a bad idea?

[The Manimal]

I had an opportunity to purchase a Toys R Us Jak/ATV Off Road + Remote + "expired" Coupon Book bundle from the online site for $209.99 (but I'd get a $10 gift certificate with purchase), but payday was yesterday, this thing was saved for a week in my 'Favorites' folder, and I was going to put money on my card so in a few days more I could buy it. DAMN IT. SOLD OUT. FUCK. This sucks...


now my options are...


Same bundle at sorta-local Toys R Us store for $239.99 plus tax (none of the other 5 or so more local stores have any of them anymore)

Same bunlde at sorta-local store (NOT Toys R Us, but they are selling a brand new Toys R Us bundle ) for $175 plus tax (the store has a 14-day guarantee on products, though I'm sure the warranty is no longer valid given what it is (someone bought/stole a Toys R Us bundle and traded it in for store credit )

Buy a used or refurbished PS2 by itself at EBGames or GameStop

Don't know what to do! I want the original PS2 but not the 50K models which is what is in those bundles...

[DaBargainHunta]

I wouldn't touch a refurbished PS2 with a ten-foot pole. Too many horror stories of disc read errors and the like. Sometimes it pays to spend a little extra for the peace of mind.

[The Manimal]

this is the bundle in mention.


$240 from Toys R Us IN-store

$175 from some pawn shop type place but still sealed and everything (with only a 14-day guarantee)


See, I can see the system as $150 + $40 (both games) + $15 remote = $205, so the online route like I wanted to (had it just not sold out TODAY) would have been perfect. But after taxes, I'd be paying $250 for it TRU and it makes me wonder if piece of mind is worth $100 on a PS2? That is the price of two used PS2s.. The $175 deal sounds even better but it's a packaged TRU bundle at a non-TRU store, so obviously this is past the original sale (which would be the warranty period). There's a 14-day guarantee provided BY THE STORE. 14 days seems like nothing, but it IS new. x_x

[doomedpeasant]

Well ive had many different psx and ps2s through my home and i havent had a problem with one, and some of them ive picked out of the trash, so personally buying any system is no problem exspecially when its new.

dont know if this helps any but i felt like putting my two cents in

[Nez]

My refurbished has been working fine for more then a year.

[Oobgarm]

Drop the $240 and be done with it. You were looking to spend $209, $31 extra dollars seems to be worth all of the trouble you're going through.

I'd avoid the refurb systems too. No warranty from Sony on them.

[The Manimal]

What about the $175 brand new 'bundle' with a 14 day warranty?

I've read that Sony will fix a PS2 for free the first time, even if out of warranty period. What do they ask for receipt-wise?

IF THIS WAS A CARTRIDGE-BASED SYSTEM I WOULD NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT BUYING USED

[Oobgarm]

What about the $175 brand new 'bundle' with a 14 day warranty?

You'd know about the DRE within the first few days....

I didn't fully read that the pawn shop's offering was a NEW system. I'd go for it then. To be quite honest, most PS2's aren't going to give you DRE's within the initial 90 days, anyway.

[omnedon]

Refurbished by SONY = Good

Refurbished by some schmoe, who knows? I know jjessop thinks I'm a schmoe. thing is, the PS2's I refurb have the same warranty as new ones, and I have hundreds of PS2's out there going on 2 years, with happy customers.

If I was you, I'd not worry at all about a SONY refurb. As good as new. A gamestop refurb, or EBgames refurb, who knows.

[The Manimal]

So DRE's on NEW systems show up when you first get one? Yes, that $175 bundle at the pawn shop is still in it's TRU plastic bundle package.

[Oobgarm]

Not necessarily. But i think that if the system were to develop DRE syndrome, it would NOT be within the 90-day warranty period. So you'd be safe with the new one at $175, even if the 90-day warranty is gone.

[lostsage]

I've had no trouble w/ refurbished. But for a bundle like that (God, I hate to suggest this)... is try walmart.com or check out sam's club .

[The Manimal]

I've had no trouble w/ refurbished. But for a bundle like that (God, I hate to suggest this)... is try walmart.com or check out sam's club .

I don't care much about the bundle, I just want a good working mid-period PS2 (35/39K model or so). Preferably new, but those models were replaced about a year ago with the 50K "+" ones...

[rxdoga]

Refurbished consoles are almost like new. Its those used disc based systems you need stay away from.

[klausien]

I would avoid refurbished systems like the plague. They are NO LONGER coming from Sony. They are simply overhauled used stock (if you even believe that) sent back to the HQs of Gamestop & EB that are then repackaged with some stuffing in a white box. If you've seen one opened, you'll notice that the system and accesories are shrinkwrapped together, EXACTLY the way they are when bought back and sold as used for in store for $20 less.

[rbudrick]

In a few years all that is going to be left is refurbs and used units. New units will be nonexistant and PS2s don't exactly have a low failure rate. One great thing about cartridge systems was the lack of moving parts (other than the cartridge connector where the pins can wer out over years).

-Rob

[SoulBlazer]

According to the manager at my local EB, where I got my refrubished XBox from, the units that are traded or sold to EB's across the country are shipped to a factory that EB has. The units are looked at there, tried out, and a decision is made if it's worthwhile to salvage them or not. If the company decides they can do it, the units will be repaired and then shipped back out to EB stores to sell as refurbished. All refurbished systems come with a one year warrenty from EB, no questions asked, if something happens -- which is far better then the original 90 day warrenty they came with.

I know this guy personaly and I don't doubt he's telling me the truth. I think you're fine buying a refurbished one, personaly, as you do have the warrenty for a YEAR. Most problems will show up by then.

[EricRyan34]

I wouldnt dare touch a refurbished PS2, ever!

[portnoyd]

To put it in perspective, my time at EB, every refurb PS2 came back, every used one did not. I swear, when they say refurbish, they mean 'take broken system out of old box, put system in new box marked refurbished'.

dave

[slip81]

Like anything it's all hit or miss now. there are plenty of stories where people have bought used or refurbished PS2's and they've worked fine, and there are also lot's of horror stories.

I for one will never buy another refurbished PS2, unless that's my only option. A few years ago when I first set out to get a PS2 I went through two refurbished systems before I got fed up with going back and forth to the game store and I just bought a brand new console, that I later sold to a friend because I wasn't using it much and it still works fine. Then this past summer when I wanted one again I went out and bought a new one.

You can get brand new ones now with the network adapter for $149 and Jak and ATV and a remote will both cost less than $20 used. Why would you want an expired coupon book?

If you are going to get a used or refurb, get it from EB. Not only do the systesms at least come in a box (Gamestop just pulls it off the shelf and sticks it in a bag) but the one year warranty at EB is cheaper.