Buy at Apple or Amazon?

[John.B]

I did pick up the free printer and they accidentally threw in an external USB 250GB HDD by accident so it all evens out.

Out of curiousity, my parents have the corporate discount and I have a student one. Do they by any chance stack?

Are you asking if you can stack discounts on the external HDD that was "accidentally" thrown in?

Do you realize people can lose their jobs over "accidents" like this? Or that, depending on the circumstances, something like that could possibly be construed as as theft on your part?

You can obviously do what you will, but if your screen name is accurate my advice would be to learn to listen to the little voice that tells you something isn't right as opposed to rationalizing it away.

 

[chungmaster]

return policy

Thought this belonged to this thread, but flame me if it's not. Does anyone know the return policy for iPods at Amazon? I tried searching the site but it was pretty vague. Like if I buy an ipod touch, and a week later it is 100 bucks cheaper, could I return it and get the 100 bucks off or something?

 

[asmallchild]

Are you asking if you can stack discounts on the external HDD that was "accidentally" thrown in?

Do you realize people can lose their jobs over "accidents" like this? Or that, depending on the circumstances, something like that could possibly be construed as as theft on your part?

You can obviously do what you will, but if your screen name is accurate my advice would be to learn to listen to the little voice that tells you something isn't right as opposed to rationalizing it away.

I'm keeping it.

 

[czachorski]

Are you asking if you can stack discounts on the external HDD that was "accidentally" thrown in?

Do you realize people can lose their jobs over "accidents" like this? Or that, depending on the circumstances, something like that could possibly be construed as as theft on your part?

You can obviously do what you will, but if your screen name is accurate my advice would be to learn to listen to the little voice that tells you something isn't right as opposed to rationalizing it away.

Debatable whether that would be stealing, but there is no doubt that buying from Amazon and not paying the sales tax is illegal. I notice you mentioned nothing of that. In a world where wiggling out of sales tax is common place, and vendors like Apple ship refurbs with little "extras" like bigger HDs or more RAM all the time, is it any wonder that people aren't quite sure what to do when something extra shows up in the box?

 

[dtrain]

Thought that I would update everyone...I did return the one purchased at the Apple store and ordered through Amazon. It has been shipped and should arrive at my door in the next day or two.

In an odd twist of fate maybe, while driving to the Apple store on Friday to return the laptop the car in front of me on the highway hit a piece of road debris that flew up in the air. Swerving wasn't enough and it hit my front bumper and busted a hole right in the plastic bumper, with an estimate of $600+ to fix.

So while I saved money on the laptop by ordering through Amazon, the process cost me an additional $400 (assuming I get it fixed).

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I am very much looking forward to receiving my MB and my first exposure to the Mac world.

 

[arkitect]

In an odd twist of fate maybe, while driving to the Apple store on Friday to return the laptop the car in front of me on the highway hit a piece of road debris that flew up in the air. Swerving wasn't enough and it hit my front bumper and busted a hole right in the plastic bumper, with an estimate of $600+ to fix.

So while I saved money on the laptop by ordering through Amazon, the process cost me an additional $400 (assuming I get it fixed).
.

Fate, eh?
Don't you know that Jobs works in mysterious ways?
Certainly enough people here on MacRumors think him god…

 

[heatmiser]

I'm keeping it.

Haha. Nicely done. I've got a trusty 250gb external that's been going for a year and a half now.

 

[psychgrrl]

I have a similar dilemma. I'm about to get my first Mac, which I'm totally excited about, and I've decided on the white Macbook 2.4 gH/ 2 GB ram/ 160 GB hard drive. I'm a student, so I can get the ed discount at the Apple store, but I also live in New York, with 8.5% tax. So ultimately it's slightly cheaper to get the Macbook through Amazon, although not as big of a margin as for those people who don't have education discounts, and I don't get the free printer/scanner/copier that the Mac store is giving away right now. Is there any major benefit to getting it at the Apple store, besides instant gratification? Is it somehow more secure? I believe I can still go to the Apple store and use my Ed discount for the Apple Care package, yes? Is the printer/scanner/copier that you get for free at the Apple store any good?

Another option is MacMall, but I've read so many horror stories that I don't think I want to go there.

 

[closeupman]

I I'm a student, so I can get the ed discount at the Apple store, but I also live in New York, with 8.5% tax. So ultimately it's slightly cheaper to get the Macbook through Amazon, although not as big of a margin as for those people who don't have education discounts, and I don't get the free printer/scanner/copier that the Mac store is giving away right now

If you have a discover card and go to Apple's website through shopdiscover you can get 5% off, which should offset the tax somewhat. This is subject to change at anytime, so if ya want to do that make sure to do it soon.

 

[John.B]

...vendors like Apple ship refurbs with little "extras" like bigger HDs or more RAM all the time, is it any wonder that people aren't quite sure what to do when something extra shows up in the box?

If the vendor upgrades you on-the-fly, that's one thing. Especially with returned upgraded parts like hard drives and memory that can't be resold as new.

But if you left the store with a "freebie" that doesn't show up as a line item on an invoice (with $0.00 in the extended amount column) then something is seriously wrong. You don't have to be the one who lifted it, either. Receiving stolen property is also a crime.

 

[Styopa]

I think the rebate at Amazon is over - seems like you needed to purchase MBPro on/before 31/3 . . can anyone confirm

 

[skye12]

No, the rebates just roll from one to another with different dates. Each
one has a buy period specified and then a submission deadline.

Its easiest to just complete the rebate online with information on your
Amazon packing slip. Wait and make sure the computer is ok before doing the
rebate. (in case you must return it.)

 

[czachorski]

If the vendor upgrades you on-the-fly, that's one thing. Especially with returned upgraded parts like hard drives and memory that can't be resold as new.

But if you left the store with a "freebie" that doesn't show up as a line item on an invoice (with $0.00 in the extended amount column) then something is seriously wrong. You don't have to be the one who lifted it, either. Receiving stolen property is also a crime.

Oh - I totally agree with you. Especially if you bought it at brick and mortar. If you bought it via the web and it was shipped to you that way, I could at least understand some confusion. If you are going to let this bother you, I am still surprised that you have not mentioned the skirting on the sales tax.

Now don't get me wrong - I don't mean to preach about skipping the sales tax - I would do the same thing and not pay it. I just find it funny to see people getting lectured about stealing in a thread whose topic includes skirting sales tax.