Apple Palace, trust worthy?

[mrweems]

I'm new here. I love my MBP and i want an imac.

Is this comany legit or what? I have noticed some of the links on their site don't work. As well as i clicked the "checkout" thing to view their payment methods. Yeah didn't work, and Firefox told me to exit out of the window. Due to it not being safe.

 

[Aintawerd02]

It's rated by the BBB

Apple Palace is a certified and verified store with the Better Business Bureau. It's also rated a A- store so it must do pretty well. I think it's pretty safe to buy with them, just make sure you use Paypal 😀

 

[old-wiz]

Better business bureau ratings have to be taken with a grain of salt. NO LEGIT website lacks a telephone number! The website also has no page for return policies. If you want to lose your money that's your business. And don't count on PayPal to help you a great deal.

 

[Aintawerd02]

I don't see why they wouldnt be legit if they are through the BBB AND are accredited, especially with all the info they have provided.

Firefox told me to exit out of the window. Due to it not being safe.

My firefox didn't do that.

CanadaRAM is a superhero.

Apple Palace is ran by that computer store you pulled up on Google Maps. If you look at it the store's name is "Computer Graphics and Networking"

Well if you go to the official apple website for seller of apple products:

http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/index.html?q=90064

you see right down on the list, "Computer Graphics and Networking" is an Authorized seller by Apple. They MUST be legit.

They even have another website, they have a link to Apple Palace as well. Here it is. 😀

http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/index.html?q=90064

 

[Sun Baked]

Better business bureau ratings have to be taken with a grain of salt. NO LEGIT website lacks a telephone number! The website also has no page for return policies. If you want to lose your money that's your business. And don't count on PayPal to help you a great deal.

Must have missed those digits on the left of the graphic

If you go to

http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://applepalace.com

They are years old, and used to have a shared phone number with the Computer Graphics establishment listed earlier in the thread.

When I checked last year, for another poster who went to the store personally, seems they had just redone the website and posted a new phone number which made it hard to trace in 09/2008.

And the phone numbers I've seen

(310)441-4769 current Applepalace #
(310)441-4770 Fax
(310)441-4771 Old 2005 Applepalace # shared with Computer Graphics see archive.org 2005 contact info

etc. are similar enough to have been picked up as a block from the phone company.

 

[Aintawerd02]

Yeah i think they are a real business and all, but i think i might buy my mac from Mac Of All Trades because it's not too much of a price difference.

And Apple Palace doesnt have a large inventory, so no telling if I could get the mac i want. 😕

 

[jcoukos]

Positive feedback for Apple Palace

I found AP on the web while looking for a refurbed iMac 24" for $1000 vs $1,850 plus tax in the Apple store. They took my order, processed it efficiently, answered my questions and delivery was a snap.

iMac was set up with no problems, everything in the box as described.

Net net, they are a good small business providing a valuable service and employing people.

Isn't that the American way? Just because they aren't on the NASDAQ doesn't mean they are bad guys.

Thanks

John Coukos

 

[ItzelliaArt]

Check the place out before bashing it.

I actually did hesitate buying a mac from an online site other than Apple.
However, a friend of mine convinced me to do it since he had experience already.
I order a white Macbook 120 GB Harddrive Core Duo for just 800.

It took 2 weeks of delivery. Works great 😀

Of course, all of their Macs are refurbished, but they are still in good condition.

 

[zwilliams07]

Stumbled upon this thread in my own pursuit of information about the seller. So far things look legitimate, however I do find 'jcoukos' post and status rather suspicious. Such high praise, almost to a level of [self] parody. But notice how the account was created, used to post one message, and then never logged onto again.

Suspicious to say the least.

 

[Ab Ovo]

Hi -- Just joined, having the thread sent me by a friend knowing I wanted a white 24" Mac desktop. I had asked after Apple Palace. Thought the site too good to be true, then worried when I couldn't reach them by phone. Three times the answering machine took my message; never was the question-call returned.

The Web site of gainsaver.com offers white units also, but cannot do the memory I want.

I've tried other sites for used Macs, but these seem not to bother much with white units.

Anyone have suggestions for a used white Mac seller that can be depended upon? I'm of a mind, still, to try Apple Palace (the store front looks as I expected ... seeing it was a big help. Too, once Kaya messaged me to put my specs on their form and submit but did not send me a number "where I can talk with you". I stopped trying to talk with them via e-mail since.), for this thread about it seems fair ... and maybe they will come through.

Still, any ideas on other sellers?

Thanks.

 

[bishopcq]

DO NOT i repeat DO NOT PURCHASE YOUR MAC THROUGH APPLE PALACE!!!

they have THE worst customer service! as i was ordering, i tried to explain to the rep ("Kaya", who claimed to be the owner) that the address on my direct deposit card i recieved from my employer is through an old address, but the rep insisted that the mailing address must be the same as the address on my year old pay card. as i was trying to go through other payment options the rep continued to yell over me stating "Well you dont HAVE to purchase through us, what dont you understand about this?". it was THE worst ive ever been talked to by a business "professional." my suggestion is to save up the extra 200 or so dollars and get yourself a brand spankin new mac (which is what i did) and save yourself the trouble of dealing with one of these ass holes and risking getting a sub par, inferior mac which probably is about 2 or 3 years old (and the $100 extended warranty covers only a fraction of what could go wrong with the mac. and if its a software problem then forget about it!). trust me, its not worth the risk or the treatment.

 

[Kappasig5]

Found this site too late

I bought a 2.0 macbook pro from them a few weeks back and was having some issues with a kernel panic. I brought it back and waited only a few minutes before some guy named jack said he'd take a look at it. After a colorful scene between some guy behind the counter and some lady having a screaming match, jack handed the computer back to me and said it was the ram. I was surprised by the quick repair and went on my marry way. I bumped into that lady outside the store and apparently she had a Hinge problem with her screen and they tried to fix it with a HAMMER. I should've taken that as a sign. Two days later during a PreCal exam, the kernal panic came back!!!. I was pretty P.Od but luckily i studied the night before and didnt need my files, if i hadn't, i wouldve set the laptop on fire and hoped for the fire alarm to come on so i could retake the test.

Long story short, ive been in and out of that place 3 times before i decided to return the piece of sh$t, pay the restocking fee and pick up a laptop off of amazon. After i did the math, i paid 800 for the laptop, got 650 back after restocking fee, and bought another 2.0 for 700. I was out 200$ 3 weeks of headaches and the self loathing feeling as to not have found this site sooner.

In my opinion, 50/50 chance you'll get a perfectly working computer at a great price.

 

[CoolMorgan]

It's All Gooood!

I went crazy looking for a 24" imac. Found apple palace. Gave me a KILLER deal and I'm still using my comp. This happened a year ago. I had a dad go to the actual store and they kicked the tax AND another 200 bucks when he paid CASH.

So YES, go for it. They also gave me a brand new keyboard and mouse.

Why not.

I am a trusted source.

 

[al2o3cr]

I went crazy looking for a 24" imac. Found apple palace. Gave me a KILLER deal and I'm still using my comp. This happened a year ago. I had a dad go to the actual store and they kicked the tax AND another 200 bucks when he paid CASH.

So they're also scamming the state out of sales tax. Good to know.

So YES, go for it. They also gave me a brand new keyboard and mouse.

Why not.

I am a trusted source.

...says the account that just registered to make this post. Yep, not a shill AT ALL...

 

[alphaod]

I went crazy looking for a 24" imac. Found apple palace. Gave me a KILLER deal and I'm still using my comp. This happened a year ago. I had a dad go to the actual store and they kicked the tax AND another 200 bucks when he paid CASH.

So YES, go for it. They also gave me a brand new keyboard and mouse.

Why not.

I am a trusted source.

Next time it helps when you don't tell people you're a trusted source… or maybe you should post out the blue. I don't know which is more sound. 🙄

 

[racketeer71]

I'd suggest a MOD took at look at this topic.

From my perspective, it's quite obvious that all the "newbies" praising Apple Palace are bogus accounts (look at the join date + post date + number of posts).

A casual google user might wind up at this page, and not notice the previous discussion and just see a handful of praising posts.

 

[gnasher729]

I found AP on the web while looking for a refurbed iMac 24" for $1000 vs $1,850 plus tax in the Apple store. They took my order, processed it efficiently, answered my questions and delivery was a snap.

iMac was set up with no problems, everything in the box as described.

Net net, they are a good small business providing a valuable service and employing people.

Isn't that the American way? Just because they aren't on the NASDAQ doesn't mean they are bad guys.

Thanks

John Coukos

That was John Coukos one and only post on MacRumors.

I actually did hesitate buying a mac from an online site other than Apple.
However, a friend of mine convinced me to do it since he had experience already.
I order a white Macbook 120 GB Harddrive Core Duo for just 800.

It took 2 weeks of delivery. Works great 😀

Of course, all of their Macs are refurbished, but they are still in good condition.

That was "ItzelliaArt"s one and only post on MacRumors.

I went crazy looking for a 24" imac. Found apple palace. Gave me a KILLER deal and I'm still using my comp. This happened a year ago. I had a dad go to the actual store and they kicked the tax AND another 200 bucks when he paid CASH.

So YES, go for it. They also gave me a brand new keyboard and mouse.

Why not.

I am a trusted source.

That was CoolMorgan's one and only post on MacRumors.

I conclude that Apple Palace really must be an impressive store. Three customers who are so happy that they have to create an account on MacRumors just to tell us all about it. Very impressive.

 

[garycurtis]

This is my first day on this Forum. The Apple Palace is located about 1 mile from my house. About a mile South of UCLA in the Westwood area of Los Angeles.

I need to pick up some USB cables, so I'll drop by there tomorrow and ask a bunch of questions. Although my CIA spy license expired and the investigative skills are rusty, I might learn something.

I'll ask about return and refund policies. And warranty. There are a lot of Mac users in this town because of the heavy film and music presence. Though I've used Macs since 1987, I never heard of these guys. Everyone goes for repairs to Mac Enthusiasts (just around the corner) , so I'll ask them if they know anything.

Because there so many users in the area, prices on Craigslist are pretty encouraging.

Gary Curtis

 

[WildCowboy]

Just throwing out some thoughts here, but MacRumors forum threads figure prominently in Google search results (this thread is the #1 result for "Apple Palace"), so it is understandable that people may stumble across them and sign up to post, so a first-post newbie isn't necessarily a shill.

That said, there have been shills in this thread (and many others), and when we have evidence that we believe is strong enough to "convict", we do take action against the posters. So yes, we are watching, and while some shills may make it through, we're keeping on eye on these sorts of threads.

 

[garycurtis]

Give me some questions to throw at them. Aside from the obvious ones I suggested in my post.

Gary Curtis

 

[garycurtis]

I just now returned from a visit to the Apple Palace. The name didn't job my memory, but now that I've seen the storefront, the place has been there for a dozen years. They are new to me.

There is no red Apple logo sticker on the door or the windows. They have stacked empty boxes from MacPros covering most of the front of the store. A rather cheesey glass display case holds some laptops. Two people sit at desks, and way off in the back I could see about 4 others in what appears to be their repair or shipping dept.

I spoke with Randy, a rather nice fellow. He knew more than I do about Macs, which isn't saying much. Randy told me their website only lists contact information, but no products for sale. They offer a 90-day warranty on their used and refurbished products. I asked who does the repair, and he said they have certified technicians. I asked, "Certified by who?" By Apple, he said.

So that you can assess my evaluation, I should tell you something about the neighborhood. There are more than a dozen little storefronts all doing the same thing as Apple Palace. And some of them even have the red Apple logo.

Business doesn't look good, from the appearance of Apple Palace. There is a Best Buy less than one mile away. MacMall is 3 miles away. Fry's is about 8 miles away. In my dealings with some similar competitors in the neighborhood — mostly small stuff like cables, keyboards — I was satisfied but wary. The prices wavered, depending on how they sized you up visually.

I mentioned a few times that I don't know much. But here is something I do know, because I've been looking at Craigslist for 6 weeks at possibly getting a G-5 tower. Compared to the local market (as judged by Craigslist), these guys aren't competitive. Computer Palace sells a used G-5 for $550 that I could buy in an instant for $450, and possibly for $350 if I waited awhile.

And if I bought an item on Craigslist, I would of course be able to try the operation of the equipment. Because of my age and experience, I would look for a dealer with more credentials.

Gary

 

[garycurtis]

My brain is a little rusty, or I would have thought to mention this. Try www.a1acomputing.com also in Westwood. A big retailer of refurbished Macs. I have gotten 4 repair jobs and a few memory upgrades in laptops over the years. They are an official Apple dealer.

Most people I know who are trading up sell their stuff to them.

Always a line of customers at the door. I'm not sure about prices.

Gary

 

[h4lp m3]

Sadly, ApplePalace.com is offline. 🙁

Say what you want, but those guys were my favorite place to shop for cheap mac parts... They probably closed because of you buffoons screaming "SCAM! SCAM!" even though you never ordered anything from them,

I hope they come back. They were the best. 🙁

 

[CylonGlitch]

Sadly, ApplePalace.com is offline. 🙁

You do know that the people talking about ApplePalace.com is a thread from 2008; and that there hasn't been a post to this thread in a year.

 

[Me112865]

No! Not at all! They SCAM people! My daughter ordered something from there. Paied $130.00 Amazon gift card was promised that it would be delivered the next day... Needless to say we never received the product. However the card was used. I informed Amazon about this. They are doing a full investigation into ApplePalace!