No, I don't think so. Refaced and redone doesn't mean cheap, it means updated. I do think Oak is considered "out of style", but not necessarily cheap. I have solid oak cabinets in my current kitchen that are 21 years old. Being solid wood no one can accuse them of being "cheap." You might want to consider refacing in another color if you feel oak looks cheap. I don't think white ever looks out of style, so you might want to consider redoing the cabinets in white if it is an option.

My MIL had her oak cabinets redone in a cherry and they do not look cheap. I know it was less than new cabinets, but it was still a bit of money to have them refaced - she does have a big kitchen and lots of cabinets though.

What about painting or staining them? I've seen a number of threads where posters have done a beautiful job staining a deeper color or painting them.

If the interior boxes are in great condition, and of good quality, then DIY refacing can be an (expensive) option. It's usually 50-125% of the cost of new cabinets and you're left with the same old layout and the same old boxes and drawers. If your drawers are thin and stapled, and the glides are coming apart, and the cabinets don't have good quality adjustible shelving, and there's only a half depth shelf in the lower cabinet, the exposed sides of the cabinet are vinyl and not wood, and no pull outs or other organizer helpers, then I would not consider the cabinets worth putting in the money to reface them. Either live with them as is until you can afford to do something else, or do a quick temp fix by DIY painting them while you save the money to do something else.

I have friends that have had their cabinets refaced and they don't look cheap. One might be able to tell by looking carefully with doors or drawers open. It definitely isn't apparent with the doors closed and in one case the contractor did a little modification of one cabinet. It may depend on the quality of the work in the refacing. You could ask to see examples of their work or references that you can call.

The cabinets I just had removed were refaced. Very high quality, very durable, and I'm sure it was expensive (in 1983).

I'd paint them. You can't tell if cheap cabinets are cheap if they're painted well. Not until you open them!

You don't describe their condition...are they worth spending any effort & money on? Are they still solid and functional?

If you're DIY, I would look into IKEA cabinets...many people here have them and are very pleased with them. Even Consumer Reports likes them for a good basic cabinet. From discussions here, they might even be less expensive than refacing what you have. If they are, then you have an opportunity to not only get new cabinets that you like, but also to update them with many of today's features (like full-extension drawers & soft-close drawers).

So, I recommend you look into costs for both refacing & IKEA cabinets and see what's really the most cost-effective way to go. If you're willing to paint, then look into that as well. However, from some threads I've scanned here, it appears to be a lot of work to paint cabinets correctly.

Good luck!

Can you post a picture?

Refacing is not the only option. There are so many
things you can do. What do you like? Do you like White?
Butter Cream? Chocolate? or another kind of wood?

I have seen some amazing kitchens that have been refaced
here on GW. And some restained their oak to a darker
chocolate look and even some who have painted their oak
cabinets a new look.

Refacing can be done nicely.