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What would you pay for clearance cMBP?

R

rmp71701

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 7, 2012
59
0
What would you consider a good deal for a clearance cMBP (MD322LL/A), the model released in late 2011? (I don't know how old the actual machine is for sale)

Local Best Buy is offering this for $1099, but I don't know yet what they mean by "clearance" - I don't know if it is an old floor model, a return, etc. I'm considering it if its a good enough deal & I can knock a little more off (I got them to take $80 off an open box iPad 4). How much could I reasonably ask them to take off, assuming the computer is in like-new condition?

Specs:
2.4GHz Intel i7 (I assume Sandy Bridge)
4 GB Ram
6 MB Cache
750GB SATA HD
Intel HD Graphics 3000, AMD Radeon HD
OS X Lion installed
Other standard features

Never had an Apple Macbook. Currently have an iPhone 5 & iPad 4. Needing to retire my old Dell Inspiron, and wanting to go Mac route now. I'm not highly tech savvy, and won't be using it for anything fancy. Not a gamer, not planning on running a ton of stuff simultaneously. I can always upgrade internals later if need be anyway. I'll be using it for Word Processing a lot, plus some spreadsheets, website maintenance, light photo editing, etc. I'm considering an older model because I just don't need latest, greatest, plus budget is tight. I probably won't be replacing it in the next 2-3 years, but more like 4-5.

Any advice is appreciated. Many thanks...
 
M

MacKid

macrumors 6502
Jan 1, 2003
405
84
Best Buy wants to charge you $1099, while Apple is offering a refurbished version of the same computer for $1589. That's almost 50% more.

Short of it being completely busted (open it in the store, turn it on and play with it for a couple minutes), I'd jump on it.
 
R

rmp71701

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 7, 2012
59
0
Just called about it. Computer was in the process of being sold right then. BTW, it was new, sealed in box. Heartbreak.
 
M

MacKid

macrumors 6502
Jan 1, 2003
405
84
Damn, that's terrible. :( I'd cry bitter, techie tears for at least a few minutes if it were me.

Though, upon a few more minutes' cynical reflection, I wouldn't put it past Best Buy to post such impossibly good deals to generate site traffic and be "fresh out" when a customer calls about the too-good-to-be-true offer.
 
R

rmp71701

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 7, 2012
59
0
LOL - techie tears.

As cynical as I am too about stuff like that, I think this was legit, judging by my conversation with the Geek Squad rep. It was the only model they had, and I think they had just bottomed the price out since it had been in inventory too long. I happened to see it 15 minutes too late (Face in palm).

I can wait til Summer for sure. Hoping with Haskell release, etc., we we will see places really dropping their prices on 2012 MBP inventory by September. I may pay a little more but I still may find a decent deal, on a newer machine.
 
joepunk

joepunk

macrumors 68030
Aug 5, 2004
2,553
13
a profane existence
That is a darn shame. I'm guessing it was glossy screen (I prefer high-rez-matt myself).

Still though I would have to think long and hard (a few minutes) before trying to jump on that deal.
 
R

rmp71701

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 7, 2012
59
0
As if it couldn't get any worse, I'll tell the follow up story:

So the next day, I happened to be looking at the online open box inventory for the same store. Saw that they had the same computer (same SKU) that was listed the day before - except now it was open box, and marked down to $950.

I immediately called & talked to same Geek Squad tech that had helped me the day before. Turns out the dude that bought it for 1099 brought it home, opened it, & had buyers remorse. Brought it back later that night right before closing & returned it. Open box now, marked down to $950.

I asked her to hold it for me. After waiting on hold a few minutes, she got back on the phone and said: "you're not going to believe this. Someone else has it on hold and is on their way over to pick it up right now." I protested somewhat, citing the fact that I had expressed interest in it the night before but had no idea it was back in stock. But in the end I just missed another opportunity. Again.

I wondered if there was something fishy going on, like while I was on hold, someone on the Geek Squad overheard this great deal, called up their brother and said "dude, i've got a steal for you. Some other guy is calling about it but I can put this on hold for you right now if you can get over here & pick it up."

I mean, if I worked at Best Buy I'd have bought the thing myself with an added employee discount even if I didn't need it, since you are pretty much guaranteed a profit if you turn around & resell it on craigslist.

Meh, c'est la vie.
 
R

Redrum509

macrumors regular
Feb 20, 2012
141
0
rmp71701 said:
As if it couldn't get any worse, I'll tell the follow up story:

So the next day, I happened to be looking at the online open box inventory for the same store. Saw that they had the same computer (same SKU) that was listed the day before - except now it was open box, and marked down to $950.

I immediately called & talked to same Geek Squad tech that had helped me the day before. Turns out the dude that bought it for 1099 brought it home, opened it, & had buyers remorse. Brought it back later that night right before closing & returned it. Open box now, marked down to $950.

I asked her to hold it for me. After waiting on hold a few minutes, she got back on the phone and said: "you're not going to believe this. Someone else has it on hold and is on their way over to pick it up right now." I protested somewhat, citing the fact that I had expressed interest in it the night before but had no idea it was back in stock. But in the end I just missed another opportunity. Again.

I wondered if there was something fishy going on, like while I was on hold, someone on the Geek Squad overheard this great deal, called up their brother and said "dude, i've got a steal for you. Some other guy is calling about it but I can put this on hold for you right now if you can get over here & pick it up."

I mean, if I worked at Best Buy I'd have bought the thing myself with an added employee discount even if I didn't need it, since you are pretty much guaranteed a profit if you turn around & resell it on craigslist.

Meh, c'est la vie.
Click to expand...
That is why you never call and ask for deals like this. You must go in the store and ask yourself.
 
IlikeMacsSoMuch

IlikeMacsSoMuch

macrumors 6502
Dec 30, 2009
346
2
Blainville, Province of Quebec
rmp71701 said:
As if it couldn't get any worse, I'll tell the follow up story:

So the next day, I happened to be looking at the online open box inventory for the same store. Saw that they had the same computer (same SKU) that was listed the day before - except now it was open box, and marked down to $950.

I immediately called & talked to same Geek Squad tech that had helped me the day before. Turns out the dude that bought it for 1099 brought it home, opened it, & had buyers remorse. Brought it back later that night right before closing & returned it. Open box now, marked down to $950.

I asked her to hold it for me. After waiting on hold a few minutes, she got back on the phone and said: "you're not going to believe this. Someone else has it on hold and is on their way over to pick it up right now." I protested somewhat, citing the fact that I had expressed interest in it the night before but had no idea it was back in stock. But in the end I just missed another opportunity. Again.

I wondered if there was something fishy going on, like while I was on hold, someone on the Geek Squad overheard this great deal, called up their brother and said "dude, i've got a steal for you. Some other guy is calling about it but I can put this on hold for you right now if you can get over here & pick it up."

I mean, if I worked at Best Buy I'd have bought the thing myself with an added employee discount even if I didn't need it, since you are pretty much guaranteed a profit if you turn around & resell it on craigslist.

Meh, c'est la vie.
Click to expand...

Maybe if you wait till tomorrow you'll get it for 750$!!!
 
R

rmp71701

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 7, 2012
59
0
Redrum509 said:
That is why you never call and ask for deals like this. You must go in the store and ask yourself.
Click to expand...

Trust me i would have - except I live 1.5 hours from the store. In the end the deal would have been worth the drive, but before potentially wasting 3 hours of my time & gas $$, I had to call to see if it was still in stock, as well as the reason for return/condition of item.

What is interesting to me is the discrepancies in how BB prices their clearance & open box inventory. The cMBP that I referenced here was clearly a huge bargain. But at the same exact store, they are trying to sell clearance 2012 rMBP for at least $100 more than what you can find online with tax & free shipping (which means you are really paying $200+ more at BB for said "clearance" rMBP when you add in taxes). This does not really seem like much of a clearance, price-wise. I know they are limited somewhat by what Apple will "allow" them to mark down. But when it comes to open box, apparently anything goes - haggling is allowed & price is ultimately the manager's call, depending on how many are in stock, how desperate they are to clean their shelves off, etc.
 
R

rmp71701

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 7, 2012
59
0
BTW, how does BB prevent the following scenario:

Let's say I go buy an unopened clearance rMBP for $1900. I immediately go to my car, open the packaging, and then go back in and return it, this time with a friend. After the return, they have to mark it open box, with the 10% discount, right? Can my friend (as a separate customer from me) then not immediately ask to purchase the same exact computer for open box discount? That's almost a $200 instant savings. I personally would not do that as it just seems a little too shady and chinchy, but I was just curious how BB keeps that loophole closed.
 
M

monkeybagel

macrumors 65816
Jul 24, 2011
1,141
61
United States
rmp71701 said:
BTW, how does BB prevent the following scenario:

Let's say I go buy an unopened clearance rMBP for $1900. I immediately go to my car, open the packaging, and then go back in and return it, this time with a friend. After the return, they have to mark it open box, with the 10% discount, right? Can my friend (as a separate customer from me) then not immediately ask to purchase the same exact computer for open box discount? That's almost a $200 instant savings. I personally would not do that as it just seems a little too shady and chinchy, but I was just curious how BB keeps that loophole closed.
Click to expand...

Nothing is to keep someone from doing that except honesty.

What goes around comes around, though...
 
T

troy14

macrumors 6502a
Mar 25, 2008
773
130
Las Vegas (Summerlin), NV
rmp71701 said:
BTW, how does BB prevent the following scenario:

Let's say I go buy an unopened clearance rMBP for $1900. I immediately go to my car, open the packaging, and then go back in and return it, this time with a friend. After the return, they have to mark it open box, with the 10% discount, right? Can my friend (as a separate customer from me) then not immediately ask to purchase the same exact computer for open box discount? That's almost a $200 instant savings. I personally would not do that as it just seems a little too shady and chinchy, but I was just curious how BB keeps that loophole closed.
Click to expand...

I would say nothing, except best buy tracks returns through a drivers license so you could only do it a limited amount of times before they say no more returns.
 
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