Buying a MacBook from Best Buy

[nikki8907]

I'm seriously comtemplating switching to Mac and purchasing a MacBook. I'd like to buy one as soon as possible, and I can't seem to get past Best Buy's 2 years interest free deal they have going on this week. I have no doubt that I'll pay it off in 2 years(most likely by next January), and I know people who have had no trouble with Best Buy's credit card.

What most concerns me with buying from Best Buy is this: if something happens with the MacBook, would I be able to take it to the Apple Store or would I have take it to Best Buy? Or does it matter either way?

The reason why I want one ASAP is because classes are about about to start and the smaller screen(my Sony's a 15-inch) will make it easier to bring back and forth to school. Also, my mom is in need of a new computer so she'll get my current one and take over the payments (I get mine rent-to-own for way more than the MacBook costs).

I'm basically asking if there are any specific advantages or disadvantages to buying from Best Buy. Thank you!

 

[StarControl]

Ok, long time lurker, just had to make an account and actually reply to this.

Don't buy your mac from Best Buy. First if you want to buy now - just buy from apple store and use educational discount ( nobody checks ) and get yourself a sweet ipod to boot.

Best Buy not always sells the latest refreshes, so you may dish out full price and get a previous revision laptop ( ain't it great ). Second there's never a discount at Best Buy + you end up paying sales tax which adds a lot to a price ( amazon is a nice alternative ).

There's 0 reason to buy an apple from best buy unless you have a crapload of gift cards and nothing else to spend them on.

Good luck!

P.S. if you buy a mac from apple or any authorized reseller you can always take your mac to the apple store for repairs.

 

[isauce]

If you should buy it from Best Buy, you can still bring your Macbook to a Apple store for repairs, if it should come to that. However, buying it from the Apple store with the student discount saves you $100 dollars, and you get a iPod Touch which you can sell if you decide not to keep it. However, if you are short on cash, and need financing, you can go through Best Buy, but again do your homework and find out if it is the current generation model and not the last refresh. Good luck!

 

[aristobrat]

I'm basically asking if there are any specific advantages or disadvantages to buying from Best Buy. Thank you!

Do the math. If 5 months of no interest is a better deal for you than $100 off the MacBook + a free $299 iPod Touch, go for Best Buy.

Like isauce said, Apple will support their equipment no matter where you bought it from.

Having said that, don't let Best Buy talk you into some extended warranty that's only valid at their stores. Apple's tech support is usually excellent and quick, which is something I haven't heard said often for Best Buys (when getting an Apple serviced there).

 

[CanadaRAM]

The 'no interest' deals usually have an up front 'administrative charge' of up to $50 - so your 'no interest' account may actually cost you 5% or more interest when you work in the value of the charge, plus tax on the charge.

The worst I saw was a $29.95 fee for 6 months interest free on a $300 item -- this works out to well over 20% per year.

In addition -- if you buy from a reseller rather than Apple, and you want to exercise a return for refund or return for exchange (like if the machine is defective) you are stuck with doing the return through the reseller with whatever policies they have on returns. Apple will NOT exchange machines other than those bought through Apple. If you take a BestBuy or MacMall machine to Apple you'll enter the warranty queue like everyone else, even if its within 14 days.

 

[nikki8907]

Thanks for the replies. I've heard that you can still get the educational discount from Best Buy, but I still think I'll wait to see if I can afford to buy it straight out. My scholarship refund is coming in in a week and I have some savings but I need to buy a car first. If not, then I'll save more. I don't really need it right now, and my current laptop is fine.

So, Apple Store's the way to go, I think. I have been to the Best Buy I was thinking of buying it from and the Apple display didn't look very well taken care of, if that means anything. Plus, I genuinely would rather buy something outright than to have to worry about payments.

Thank you for the advice!

 

[isauce]

Thanks for the replies. I've heard that you can still get the educational discount from Best Buy, but I still think I'll wait to see if I can afford to buy it straight out. My scholarship refund is coming in in a week and I have some savings but I need to buy a car first. If not, then I'll save more. I don't really need it right now, and my current laptop is fine.

So, Apple Store's the way to go, I think. I have been to the Best Buy I was thinking of buying it from and the Apple display didn't look very well taken care of, if that means anything. Plus, I genuinely would rather buy something outright than to have to worry about payments.

Thank you for the advice!

Education discount does not apply through Best buy, I know first hand because I helped my sister buy her first Mac at Best buy and I inquired about it. (Worst decision, should have told her to go to an apple store, however no Apple store in Vancouver at the time.)

Remember to buy your Mac with a credit card that offers extended one year warranty on top of your original one year. Thats IF you decide not to go with applecare. Best of luck.

 

[blurredline]

I believe the interest on the BB card is 28% and the admin. fee is only $99...I'm sure you can do the math, but over 2 years, that's a good amount of savings. And it looks like the OP would rather go the financing route(as I'm sure most students would) I hate to say it, but I've had nothing but good experiences with BB, I'd recommend buying from them, you can always go to a nearby Apple Store for warranty/genius help. Doesn't BB usually have a promo on for back to school with Apple products now?...

 

[rkouri]

Why to Buy a Mac from Best Buy

Best Buy will offer you the two years no interest financing and if you are responsible then this is a great thing to take advantage of. Secondly, you can still bring your mac to the apple store for the first year of your warranty for Apple Care and Best of all You can purchase Apple Care or Best Buy's Warranty.

Apple Care VS BBY Warranty:

Apple Care:
-Most work can be performed in store without sending the product out, that's really the only one.
-Maybe cheaper up front
- Customer Service call centers close at 6pm PT

Best Buy:

- The ADH Plan covers Accidental Damage, if your screen cracks or you spill something on it, you're covered.
- It Covers the Battery, You are entitled to one free battery (129.00 Value alone)
- Call centers are open 24/7 for technical support.
- There are more Best Buys than apple stores, when you need your computer serviced.
- few repairs can be completed in store, most has to be sent out.

Why Buy from BBY
- To combat the ipod touch offer, best buy is offering Mobile Me and Iwork Free instantly for all college students with a Valid College ID.
- 2 Years no Interest Financing with an approved BBY Card.
- Reward Zone, you earn 5 dollars in gift certificates for every 250.00 you spend, translates to 20.00 for every 1000.00.

Some Best Buy's Apple Displays are beautiful and are maintained by a representative from Apple, who in fact stays in the store and sells Macs. Other stores do not have an Apple Representative, even though that isn't really an excuse.

I really hope this helps though!

 

[rkouri]

Re: Return policy and upfront costs....

The 'no interest' deals usually have an up front 'administrative charge' of up to $50 - so your 'no interest' account may actually cost you 5% or more interest when you work in the value of the charge, plus tax on the charge.

The worst I saw was a $29.95 fee for 6 months interest free on a $300 item -- this works out to well over 20% per year.

In addition -- if you buy from a reseller rather than Apple, and you want to exercise a return for refund or return for exchange (like if the machine is defective) you are stuck with doing the return through the reseller with whatever policies they have on returns. Apple will NOT exchange machines other than those bought through Apple. If you take a BestBuy or MacMall machine to Apple you'll enter the warranty queue like everyone else, even if its within 14 days.

I don't want to create hostility here at all, but Best Buy has no upfront cost in their financing and their return policy is identical to the apple store when it comes to hardware, in that it's 14 days with a 15 percent restocking fee.

While the Apple Store is great, I just don't want Best Buy to be misrepresented. Apple choses their resellers carefully!

 

[Mjmar]

I got my MacBook from Best Buy 2 weeks ago. I showed them my sister's school ID and they gave me 10% off; therefore, the discount was more than what Apple offers. I also got the 2 years no interest, which was great. I didn't need an iPod since I already have one. If you need the 2 years no interest go with Best Buy, and you'll be happy. If not, go to the Apple Store and you'll get a free iPod.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

I always buy apple products from apple stores, especially something like a laptop. But, I did purchase an AE, bluetooth MM, wireless apple keyboard from another store... Simply b/c there isn't an apple store in my city.

 

[CanadaRAM]

I don't want to create hostility here at all, but Best Buy has no upfront cost in their financing and their return policy is identical to the apple store when it comes to hardware, in that it's 14 days with a 15 percent restocking fee.

While the Apple Store is great, I just don't want Best Buy to be misrepresented. Apple choses their resellers carefully!

There aren't any 0 interest offers on the website right now so I can't link. I know that up front fees were charged in the past by BestBuy/Futureshop (same owners) in Canada.

However, a couple of things. Apple's restocking fee is 10%.

But I am talking about when you have a defective machine (say, a bunch of dead pixels) and you want the machine exchanged for another rather than fixed under warranty. You will have to deal with BestBuy's policies on that, Apple will not directly exchange machines bought from a reseller.

And the feedback at least in Canada is that BestBuy/FutureShop are very slow to handle warranty issues. 1 2

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

Best Buy will offer you the two years no interest financing and if you are responsible then this is a great thing to take advantage of. Secondly, you can still bring your mac to the apple store for the first year of your warranty for Apple Care and Best of all You can purchase Apple Care or Best Buy's Warranty.

Apple Care VS BBY Warranty:

Apple Care:
-Most work can be performed in store without sending the product out, that's really the only one.
-Maybe cheaper up front
- Customer Service call centers close at 6pm PT

Best Buy:

- The ADH Plan covers Accidental Damage, if your screen cracks or you spill something on it, you're covered.
- It Covers the Battery, You are entitled to one free battery (129.00 Value alone)
- Call centers are open 24/7 for technical support.
- There are more Best Buys than apple stores, when you need your computer serviced.
- few repairs can be completed in store, most has to be sent out.

Why Buy from BBY
- To combat the ipod touch offer, best buy is offering Mobile Me and Iwork Free instantly for all college students with a Valid College ID.
- 2 Years no Interest Financing with an approved BBY Card.
- Reward Zone, you earn 5 dollars in gift certificates for every 250.00 you spend, translates to 20.00 for every 1000.00.

Some Best Buy's Apple Displays are beautiful and are maintained by a representative from Apple, who in fact stays in the store and sells Macs. Other stores do not have an Apple Representative, even though that isn't really an excuse.

I really hope this helps though!

BBY card worth as much as my ****. NOTHING. so if you add up the MobileMe and iWork thats a grand total of $180 USD, compared to a free printer ($100) plus the ipod touch ($299). learn elementary math plz. Oh, even with the reward zone ****, its still 200 vs. 400. do the math.

mobileme and iwork isnt suitable for most ppl. ipods are way popular and a printer is very useful. some ppl use gmail instead of mobileme, some ppl use office or whatever. and batteries are 100 not 130. and that's apple price. no way am i buying a shoddy best buy battery for more than an apple battery. And Best Buys shoddy customer support is way worse than apple's award-winning support. I hate best buy, my local best buy just sells ipods, no mac computers or anything.

 

[aristobrat]

He never said that the MobileMe + iWork BBY offer was financially the same value as the free iPod + printer, so I'm not sure why you're being snarky with your "elementary math" and "do the math".

You also didn't factor in the savings of the interest saved via the BBY 2-year no-interest deal. ($1100 paid over 2 years on a credit card with a 15% APR = $257.00 in interest)

mobileme and iwork isnt suitable for most ppl.

Could you please explain why a Microsoft Office compatible word processor, spreadsheet, presentation manager, and 20GB of sharable online storage space that integrates directly with iPhoto, iWeb and Finder wouldn't be suitable for a college student?

some ppl use gmail instead of mobileme, some ppl use office or whatever.

Oh, I see. You're assuming that the only use of MobileMe is email and that everyone already owns a Mac version of Microsoft Office.

and batteries are 100 not 130. and that's apple price.

What country are you in? In the US, Apple's price for batteries are $129.

I'm not a huge fan of BBY personally, but I thought he did a good job of posting the pros and cons of Apple vs BBY and didn't warrant any of the tone of your reply.

 

[SDLSteve]

Amazon has 24 months financing as well and you can get a rebate also. Plus no tax....Plus you may be able to get a gold box deal (search slickdeals.net)to see how to do it. I got my MP 2.8 for $2465 this past may doing it that way (although I didn't finance it).