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In-store or Website?

N

nickarate

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 19, 2008
176
0
I will be buying the base 2.4 MBP, are there any advantages to buying it online as opposed to going into the store? Thanks!
 
Buying In-store:
Instant Gratification
Supports your local store and helps convince Apple to keep it there

Buying Online:
Customizability and Base Systems available
There might be deals/options available online that aren't there in store.
There might be other deals that make it worth buying online...IE Discover sometimes has a special 5% cashback at the apple store online if you click through their link

There are probably other reasons to buy one way or another, but this is all I could think of off the top of my head.
 
I assumed as much... just wanted to make sure there wasn't anything great enough on the site to offset having to wait for it.

Thanks!
 
Does anyone know which versions of the 15" MBP besides the base model are offered at most Apple stores?
 
JSF said:
Is there a website other than apples you would recomend? So you don't have to pay taxes.
Click to expand...
Amazon.....maybe, but when it comes to computers I prefer to get mine from the source.

Dirtywater said:
Does anyone know which versions of the 15" MBP besides the base model are offered at most Apple stores?
Click to expand...

Usually the they have the same as the base models listed on Apple's site. So right now I would assume that the 15" MBP that they have right now are:
  • 2.4Ghz Core 2 Duo
  • 200Gb HDD
  • NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB
and the
  • 2.5Ghz Core 2 Dui
  • 250Gb Hdd
  • NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 512MB

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=browse&mco=7B723662&node=home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro
 
It's entirely up to you though. If you live close by an Apple Store, you can go in and see the models yourselves, check them out personally for the stock models. You're still going to pay sales tax though.

Or, if you want, you can order conveniently online, and wait for the unit to ship to you, but that's entirely up to you.

I prefer to shop online, because all of mine have been BTO orders though.
 
go for the local store, easier to exchange.
my first purchase was online apple.com, when i had a problem i have ship it and wait for the replacement which is a hassle.

if you get it in the store ,and you're in the 14 days return/exchange period.
you can actually walk from the store with your new replacement
 
desenso said:
In-store. Instant gratification on buying a new laptop is euphoric.
Click to expand...

Indeed it is. The joy of first handedly looking at one at the store and walking out with one in your hand, is pure gratification and joy, rather than ordering online and waiting, waiting, and waiting anxiously for the FedEx guy to deliver your piece to you.
 
markrivers said:
go for the local store, easier to exchange.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Given the high number of MBP defects and/or quality issues that many of us here have had to deal with---not to mention our occasional difficulty in getting Apple to acknowledge a problem before doing something about it---I think in-store is the only way to go, when that's an option.
 
xpovos said:
Absolutely. Given the high number of MBP defects and/or quality issues that many of us here have had to deal with---not to mention our occasional difficulty in getting Apple to acknowledge a problem before doing something about it---I think in-store is the only way to go, when that's an option.
Click to expand...

Duly noted and agreed. Or you can spend hours on the phone with AppleCare to get to the correct person and department, or even send an email to corporate to see what can be done, but the hassles involved are a complete waste of time. Walking into a local store to get it resolved (speaking to the manager) will be much faster in my honest opinion.
 
Hopefully some good news for me from graduate schools for the fall semester, the couple of hundred dollar discounts (being a student) could help. Going back to the books after 13 years working has been hard and difficult but I'm sure that it'll pay off in the end. :)
 
2 Questions:

1) Is there anyway to get an upgraded system from the in-store Apple Store? Or do they usually only carry the base models?

2) Do you need AppleCare to go in and get Tech Support at an Apple Store? I was planning on purchasing the 3 yr AppleCare extension but since I live so close by, I won't be calling their toll-free support much anyway.
 
I went to the store with every intention of the instant gratification of buying in the store. I want a few upgrades so I ended up buying online in the store. I had it shipped to my house and it only took a few days if I remember correctly.
 
macmall.com has mixed reviews.
there are horror stories and there are some happy camper stories as well.

if you must buy online, say you need BTO option.
i strongly recommend the apple.com

my first purchase was with them..
when i encountered some problems..
the refund process was easy..
then i drove myself to a local store and got a new one.
 
I agree with a few others, Apple Store unless you need a built-to-order product.

They tend to take better care of you should you have an issue hoping you'll buy more at the store and keep their paychecks coming.
 
asmallchild said:
1) Is there anyway to get an upgraded system from the in-store Apple Store? Or do they usually only carry the base models?
Click to expand...

There are occasionally reports of the stores carrying some "top-of-the-line" models, but that is scarce.

asmallchild said:
2 Questions:

2) Do you need AppleCare to go in and get Tech Support at an Apple Store? I was planning on purchasing the 3 yr AppleCare extension but since I live so close by, I won't be calling their toll-free support much anyway.
Click to expand...

No, you get 1 year standard support via Apple Care

Also someone mentioned the phone, usually if you do a custom order and order by phone they will give you some discount ($100)
 
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