At the discounter Aldi there are always refurbished Apple products on offer for little money. Recently, however, the company has been removing the brand name from its brochures.
In the online shop of Aldi Süd there is a “Renewd Watch Series 3” for 169 euros from April 28, 2020. At first it sounds like a clone of the Apple Watch for significantly less money. It’s only when you take a second look that you notice the small print: “Renewed Apple Watch”. What’s it all about?
Aldi sells Apple Watch as “Renewd”
The fact that Aldi offers refurbished goods is nothing new. The discounter works with the Dutch company Renewd, which refurbishes used products with new hardware. In addition to the Apple Watch, there is also a iPhone 8 always on offer that has been completely renewed by Renewd.
Aldi took the product designation directly from the supplier. Because iPhone and Apple Watch can actually be found on their site as “Renewd iPhone” and “Renewd Watch”. The fact that these are refurbished Apple products can only be inferred from the description.
This may not be a problem with an iPhone, as this name is practically synonymous with the Apple company. But with the Apple Watch, where the omission of the brand means that any reference is lost, it seems a bit strange. After all, “Renewd Watch” could also be a Samsung Galaxy Watch or a “Watch” from any other manufacturer.
When asked by TECHBOOK, Aldi Süd confirmed that it was a “repaired Apple Watch”. The articles should “go through the strictest controls and contain 100 percent original parts”. In addition, Renewd offers a 2-year warranty on the Apple Watch, which even exceeds Apple’s manufacturer’s warranty itself.
The price of 169 euros seems quite cheap for an Apple Watch. However, it is the oldest model that Apple still offers and also comes without LTE and is only 38 mm in size. In addition, although the product at Aldi has been overhauled, it is still used and can therefore show traces of previous ownership. The new model is already available from 199 euros.
At the beginning of the year, Aldi already had the same offer online.
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Aldi deliberately chooses a new name
It is particularly striking that Aldi only recently started to omit the brand name. In the past, Apple products could still be found in brochures with the designation “refurbished”. For example in the case of the iPhone 8, which still has an entry on the Aldi Süd website as “Apple Refurbished iPhone 8”. But in December 2021, Aldi Nord had a “Renewd Watch Series 3” on offer for the first time.
The switch to the new product drawing may be due to the fact that Aldi has changed suppliers for refurbished Apple products. In response to a TECHBOOK request, Aldi Süd confirms that it sells the items in cooperation with Renewd. The discounter offers the Apple Watch “deliberately under the Renewd label to draw attention to the special offer of the provider”. The mobile phone provider Aldi Talk, which is operated by Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd in cooperation with Medion, shows that there is another way. on whose side the Apple Watch from Renewd can be found as “Apple Watch Series 3 Renewd 38 mm”.