This weekend I wanted to buy a MacBook from John Lewis. I like to buy Macs from JL because of the 2 year guarantee they offer as standard. It is over 3 weeks since Apple released new models with the improved GMA X3100 graphics chipset, so I thought JL may be stocking them by now. On Saturday I visited JL at the Trafford Centre where the display models were all the previous versions. After a discussion with the sales assistant he found out that they had the white 2.2GHz model in stock but not the 2GHz model that I wanted. On Sunday I visited the Cheadle branch of JL. The £699 2GHz model on display was the older model, but the product description card listed the GMA X3100 graphics, so I decided to buy. I had to go to Customer Collections to pick up the MacBook. I decided to open the box in my car and found out it was the old model. I took it back in and they gave me another which was also an older model, so I got a refund. The sales manager who came to sort out the problem explained that as Apple have not changed the stock code for the product, there is no way of knowing what is in the brown outer boxes until they are opened. He advised me that it could be 10 to 12 weeks before they have stock of the latest models.
I think that this is poor business practice by both Apple and JL. Customers not as clued up about the latest specs are paying full price for the old MacBook models. I understand that JL (and Apple) have to dispose of the older models, but I think it should be made clear that that is what you are buying, and maybe they should offer a discount as an incentive.
I think that this is poor business practice by both Apple and JL. Customers not as clued up about the latest specs are paying full price for the old MacBook models. I understand that JL (and Apple) have to dispose of the older models, but I think it should be made clear that that is what you are buying, and maybe they should offer a discount as an incentive.
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