microcenter

[mathemabeat]

I too have been a dedicated shopper of MicroCenter for over 10 years. I have bought thousands and thousands of dollars worth of items from them. Macs, PC hardware, Monitors, printers and other misc. items. I have ALWAYS had a great experience shopping there. Occasionally their sales staff is tied up and I have to wait a bit to talk to someone. But I would much rather that than talk to some teenager who doesn't have a clue WTF is going on.

Their extremely generous return policy is also awesome. Their openbox items are always marked as such and also detail if anything is missing from the package. I suppose the open box item tag could fall off the package or some lazy ass forgets to mark it. But thats certainly the exception and not the rule.

 

[deeddawg]

The terms of repair on computers varies with sellers; Amazon and MacMall and others reserve the right to repair anything that is defective before they replace it. I've had horror stories from friends who bought and received defective computers from reputable retailers and had a hard time getting them fixed.

So in other words you were speculating about Microcenter based on friends experiences at other retailers.

While certainly a good point to bring up that people should validate before purchase, it would be more clear if stated as such rather than give an example which suggests an actual experience you've had.

 

[emaja]

Careful! I suspect they might re shrink-wrap returns and sell them as new.

Mac are not shrink-wrapped from Apple. There is a sticker over the top to let you know it is sealed and then there is the inner wrap with the Apple EULA sealing it.

 

[DmbShn41]

Just because you have trust issues, it is no reason for the rest of us not to shop at Microcenter.

I see nothing wrong with advertising previous generation DISCOUNTED Macs as "new" when they are new in a sealed box. It's not a bait and switch, it's an offer for discounted merchandise.

And yes, I always went back to the racks with the returned merchandise. I could find some real bargains there. It was ALWAYS clearly marked as returned. If a cable was missing, it was noted on the tag. If the product didn't work, you could return it with a receipt, same as any store.

As in any store, Apple Stores included, there are clerks, sales people, and experts. Microcenter is no different.

There was a guy in the Cincinnati store named J.D. who was the most knowledgeable Mac person I ever met. He would discuss hacks, upgrades, workarounds - everything. His forte was introducing PC people to Macs and helping them make the switch. He made sure that the Switcher knew that if he had a problem, he could come in to him for help.

I have probably spent more than $30,000 there over the years, and NEVER had a problem. I wish they had a store where I live now.

You must be talking about a different JD in a different Microcenter in a different Cincinnati...Cause in Cincy, Ohio, at the Microcenter off of 275, a salesman named JD sold me a 'great' Late 2009 Macbook. The offer was a new Macbook, marked down to $799, but I asked if they had any open box and he said yes. This open box was marked down $80 from the $799, and it was a steal. He told me how the previous purchaser bought it less than three weeks prior. I checked it all out, and everything seemed fine. I get home, start it up, and it was never restored, still had old files on it. When I went to register with Apple, I found out that there was only 8 months left on warranty, instead of the advertised 11 months, 1 week. And the kicker was, it had no WiFi. Just didn't work. Was non existent, as if it wasn't even installed onto the board. After numerous calls to MicroCenter, I went back and talked with JD. He mentioned that the model I purchased didn't come with WiFi. And that if I wanted a Macbook with WiFi (Late 2009 model!!!), I would have to purchase a new one, non open box, for $999. So in order to fix it, I went to the Apple Store in Kenwood Mall. Within 7 minutes, Apple had a BRAND NEW, unopened, 12 month warranty, WiFi included Macbook sitting on the counter, and all I had to do was give them the old MacBook, the receipt and the box. Nothing else.

In short, MicroCenter is a good place to get hard to find discount items and equipment. However, stay away from JD, this douchebag doesn't know his a**hole from his elbow.

 

[mathemabeat]

You must be talking about a different JD in a different Microcenter in a different Cincinnati...Cause in Cincy, Ohio, at the Microcenter off of 275, a salesman named JD sold me a 'great' Late 2009 Macbook. The offer was a new Macbook, marked down to $799, but I asked if they had any open box and he said yes. This open box was marked down $80 from the $799, and it was a steal. He told me how the previous purchaser bought it less than three weeks prior. I checked it all out, and everything seemed fine. I get home, start it up, and it was never restored, still had old files on it. When I went to register with Apple, I found out that there was only 8 months left on warranty, instead of the advertised 11 months, 1 week. And the kicker was, it had no WiFi. Just didn't work. Was non existent, as if it wasn't even installed onto the board. After numerous calls to MicroCenter, I went back and talked with JD. He mentioned that the model I purchased didn't come with WiFi. And that if I wanted a Macbook with WiFi (Late 2009 model!!!), I would have to purchase a new one, non open box, for $999. So in order to fix it, I went to the Apple Store in Kenwood Mall. Within 7 minutes, Apple had a BRAND NEW, unopened, 12 month warranty, WiFi included Macbook sitting on the counter, and all I had to do was give them the old MacBook, the receipt and the box. Nothing else.

In short, MicroCenter is a good place to get hard to find discount items and equipment. However, stay away from JD, this douchebag doesn't know his a**hole from his elbow.

Every Apple laptop for years and years has included WiFi hardware as standard equipment. You can't purchase one without it. Sounds like the open box machine you bought had a defective WiFi radio in it. Or perhaps it was opened and removed. Either way, it shipped from Apple with WiFi as standard hardware as thats the only way its offered.