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MacMall or Amazon?

P

PoizonIvy

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 26, 2011
12
0
I have always been a Windows user who peered curiously into the window (pun intended) of the Mac world and wondered what it would be like on the other side and I think after all this time I am ready to pull the trigger on my very first Mac purchase. I've decided to go with the 13.3, 128GB MacBook Air but now am trying to decide the best place to buy one. I am going to go with an online purchase as there will not be any taxes for me, but am unsure whether to choose MacMall or Amazon at this point. (have also heard great things about portableone.com)

MacMall is having a sale for AppleInsiders that would save me around $37 which is great but they have a "no Apple products" return policy that makes me leery. And I am not sure how much I would have to pay for expedited shipping. Whereas with Amazon I am a prime member and I could have it in one day for a $3.99 shipping fee for overnight. Plus I know Amazon does returns of anything pretty much with a restocking fee.

Any opinions that should sway me one way or another?

I was also wondering which place would give me the best option of ending up with the Samsung SSD as I have been told numerous times it's better.

Any help you can give this newbie would be greatly appreciated. :)
 
Faced the same dilemma last week. I was ready to call MacMall and use the discount as well as use the $10 off for a phone order, but they told me I couldn't use both. I said screw it, and paid the $3.99 on Amazon and had a base MBA (with samsung/samsung) at noon the next day.
 
if you have a best buy they have the best deals. same no questions asked return policy as apple- they have deals. also 18 month no interest on purchases
over 400 or so.
 
Nychot said:
if you have a best buy they have the best deals. same no questions asked return policy as apple- they have deals. also 18 month no interest on purchases
over 400 or so.
Click to expand...

But the Topic Creator was asking about MacMall or Amazon, not Best Buy.

Anyway I'd go with Amazon. Always good experience with Amazon and have great customer service. Can't go wrong here.
 
Hmm.

Sales tax is the question.

With Amazon there's no tax to most states, with macmall it's the opposite.
 
NikFinn said:
Faced the same dilemma last week. I was ready to call MacMall and use the discount as well as use the $10 off for a phone order, but they told me I couldn't use both. I said screw it, and paid the $3.99 on Amazon and had a base MBA (with samsung/samsung) at noon the next day.
Click to expand...

Thank you. Sounds like what I may end up doing.

Nychot said:
if you have a best buy they have the best deals. same no questions asked return policy as apple- they have deals. also 18 month no interest on purchases
over 400 or so.
Click to expand...

I have a Best Buy as well but the tax isn't appealing to me and this will be a cash purchase.

CardboardGiant said:
But the Topic Creator was asking about MacMall or Amazon, not Best Buy.

Anyway I'd go with Amazon. Always good experience with Amazon and have great customer service. Can't go wrong here.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much, all opinions are welcome and appreciated.

komoornik said:
Hmm.

Sales tax is the question.

With Amazon there's no tax to most states, with macmall it's the opposite.
Click to expand...

MacMall didn't quote me any tax when I previewed the cart to attempt to check shipping fees. Hmm, maybe it depends on the state?



What about my other question? Any ideas on where the better place to chance getting the Samsung SSD is?
 
I've used both. My suggestion is Amazon. There's rarely a problem, but if there is, Amazon is every bit as good as Apple at doing the right thing. I cannot say enough good things about Amazons speed of resolution to the customers satisfaction. Overall I do a tremendous amount of business with them. I am totally satisfied.
 
Sounds like Amazon is the choice to go with. Y'all have been great, thank you.


Bob Coxner said:
I'd go with Amazon but Best Buy is currently running a special on open box items. Mostly 20% off, plus there's a $100 off coupon floating around. All of them should have full warranty remaining. Some people are getting your 2011 13/4/128 MBA for as little as $997 (plus tax).

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3460202
Click to expand...

Thank you very much. I checked that link out and none of the stores close to me have any MB Airs available but it was worth a shot. :)
 
I had zero issues ordering my 2010 MBA from MacMall, service was decent and fast, item arrived just as if I ordered from Apple. I'd go with whichever presents the better price.
 
I've ordered plenty of stuff from Amazon & MacMall

But why not just order from Apple's web site?

They ship FedEx.

:):eek::apple:;):rolleyes:
 
Amazon hands down. Customer service has jumped through hoops for me and their return/exchange process is a breeze.
 
If you have a microcenter near by, they are a good option. They clear out old models at a good price.

Glenn
 
I agree, bhphotovideo.com is really good. I got my MBA off there last week. Really fast shipping, the best price online, and you can get a few different software program packages for free (I got parallels 7, which was a 60 dollar value, for free when i ordered from there.)
 
Years ago, I bought a PowerBook from MacMall (I was a steady customer at that point) and had them add RAM.

When I got the machine, the outside was covered in something akin to mayonnaise. I'm unsure what it was; I remember it took me something like 30 minutes to clean the top and bottom.

The more I thought about it, the madder I got. Finally, I called MacMall, explained the situation, and asked to return the laptop for one they hadn't touched ... one someone hadn't slathered with grease or other unmentionable substances.

Their response: No way. I offered to send photos. "You can," I was told, "but it won't make a difference. We won't take it back."

On their website, they sell open-box items ... so obviously, they take some back - no doubt from high-volume purchasers who order one or two machines surplus to requirements. But they wouldn't take back my slimy PowerBook.

I haven't shopped there again. Amazon, on the other hand, is a viable alternative.
 
tbear1 said:
If you have a microcenter near by, they are a good option. They clear out old models at a good price.

Glenn
Click to expand...

I don't have one that I know of, but thank you.


Timein said:
Try B&H photo - best price and no tax
Click to expand...

TheDill said:
I agree, bhphotovideo.com is really good. I got my MBA off there last week. Really fast shipping, the best price online, and you can get a few different software program packages for free (I got parallels 7, which was a 60 dollar value, for free when i ordered from there.)
Click to expand...

B&H hmm? I looked and their price is almost identical to Amazon's and the free Parallels would definitely be a bonus. I'd have to settle for UPS ground shipping for free but for the bonus software it might be worth it.

jmoore5196 said:
Years ago, I bought a PowerBook from MacMall (I was a steady customer at that point) and had them add RAM.

When I got the machine, the outside was covered in something akin to mayonnaise. I'm unsure what it was; I remember it took me something like 30 minutes to clean the top and bottom.

The more I thought about it, the madder I got. Finally, I called MacMall, explained the situation, and asked to return the laptop for one they hadn't touched ... one someone hadn't slathered with grease or other unmentionable substances.

Their response: No way. I offered to send photos. "You can," I was told, "but it won't make a difference. We won't take it back."

On their website, they sell open-box items ... so obviously, they take some back - no doubt from high-volume purchasers who order one or two machines surplus to requirements. But they wouldn't take back my slimy PowerBook.

I haven't shopped there again. Amazon, on the other hand, is a viable alternative.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the information on MacMall. Doesn't sound like the kind of place I would want to do business with.
 
I bought a 13" MBA from Amazon. It shipped before the estimated date and arrived earlier than estimated also. I have ordered other high dollar items from Amazon and have had no problems. Customer service is excellent when I have a question or needed to return an item.

I'd go with Amazon simply for the fact you can return no questions asked.
 
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