Getting Started - Setup & How-to

[geekoid]

I bought a new Roku Ultra, but it looks like someone has been in the box. Is there anyway to tell if it's been refurbished?

[Elijah_Baley]

Not that I have heard of but it is well to remember that in the electronics world "refurbished" often means that the original purchaser bought it without being aware of what it really does or did not have the intelligence to get it to work. Usually there was nothing wrong with a piece of electronics that was returned.

[ghb51]

Agree with Elijah_Baley, I buy almost all my electronics refurbed, if there's any damage it's usually just some small ding or scuff or something, just cosmetic, and usually there's no damage at all. As to your question, if it was pre-owned the box most likely wouldn't have shrink wrap or plastic/cellophane, whatever it's called on it, it would just be a bare box taped shut because sellers aren't going to go to the trouble of putting new plastic on the box. So if yours had plastic/cellophane on it you're probably good.

[geekoid]

No, my box had a second tape seal, and the device has a pretty shabby looking plastic wrapped.

[DBDukes]

"geekoid" wrote:
I bought a new Roku Ultra, but it looks like someone has been in the box. Is there anyway to tell if it's been refurbished?

Roku refurbished items have a B suffix on the model number. For example, a refurbished Roku Ultra would be 4660B or 4661B.

"geekoid" wrote:
No, my box had a second tape seal, and the device has a pretty shabby looking plastic wrapped.

That's not refurbished. That's repackaged. The store put it back in packaging. That's not the same as refurbished.

[Tajson]

"DBDukes" wrote:
That's not refurbished. That's repackaged. The store put it back in packaging. That's not the same as refurbished.

Actually, it is.
There are two types of refurbished labels. Manufacturer Refurbished unit where the manufacturer had the unit and will back the unit (after a possible review) with the manufacturer warranty just as a new unit. The other is Reseller Refurbished (and some will label them as Open Box) and usually they are covered by 30-90 days return policy for defects (and not the full manufacturer warranty).

[Tajson]

Now, I will not say that if Big Bubba tried to pry the connector into all possible openings and jiggle it like the toilet handle, that the box will be just as a new. But generally, yes.

[ronfelder]

"geekoid" wrote:
I bought a new Roku Ultra, but it looks like someone has been in the box. Is there anyway to tell if it's been refurbished?

It has to be labeled refurbished if it is.  

[jeffrok]

My guess is, this was a store purchase, the buyer returned the Roku for a refund, and the store poorly reboxed the Roku, instead of returning it to Roku for refurbishment, because management at that store is probably lazy.

[DBDukes]

"jeffrok" wrote:
My guess is, this was a store purchase, the buyer returned the Roku for a refund, and the store poorly reboxed the Roku, instead of returning it to Roku for refurbishment, because management at that store is probably lazy.

Exactly! Repackaged, not refurbished.