iPod Shuffle refurbs as much as new models
February 20th, 2008
Apple dropped the price of its mini-sexy iPod Shuffle yesterday to $49, and announced a 2 GB version that’s coming soon
Which is cool. It’s a competition thing: other manufacturers are releasing similar products for much less (some in the conference swag industry give these things away, like thumb drives). So it only makes sense that Apple would practically give away a USB drive that plays music.
What doesn’t make sense is why Apple’s refurbished models are still at the same price:
What gives? The point of refurbished models is the lower price, especially when someone else has already had their grubby hands on it.
Refurbished models are iPods that someone has already owned but turned back in. Apple then cleans them up, wipes the memory, repackages them, and sells them to you and me.
I bought a refurbed iPod Shuffle for my sister for Christmas, one of the brighter, more vibrant models that came out before this last batch. That little magenta gem was a great gift, and very affordable, and my sister never knew about its former life.
But now if you buy a refurbished Shuffle, you get no deal.
Hopefully, in the days to come, Apple will drop the price and make these little beauties ever more affordable. Let’s hope.