Depends on the brand and/or where you're getting it from I guess. I bought my xps 435mt that I use as a web/media/everything server that I purchased from dells refurb store for a fraction of what it would have cost me new. However when I received the box, it had severe water damage (only the box). I'm not sure if they had the box like that at dell or if rained heavily on its way to me and the truck leaked or what, but when i got the box I could literally see the computer inside of it (box had melted in one corner). I opened it up and let it dry out for two days before I turned it on and everything worked ok, but it was kind of nerve wracking spending that much money on something and having it show up like that.