UK Student: Advantageous to purchase MBP online?

[Nun]

I remember reading somewhere on this forum (can't for the life of me find it again though) that buying student discount MBP online gives you the advantage of a three year extended warrenty whereas buying in store limits you to simply 6 months?

Is there any truth in this or any other advantages (other than being able to customise your laptop) to buying online if you are a UK student?

 

[Bibblejw]

Simple answer: No.

The 3 year warranty you mention is the AppleCare, and is available in-store aswell as online. If bought by a student with a Mac, it costs £30-60 (depending on the machine), rather than £150.

All discounts available online are available in-store. I typically go with online because there isn't really a store close to me and the shipping is quick enough not to worry about it.

 

[iStudentUK]

I posted a guide here- https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1103022/

Basically, there is a 3 year warranty as standard online (plus full Applecare for ~£45).

In store a 3 year warranty is NOT standard, the £45 Applecare must be purchased.

Don't even believe Apple staff telling you there is a 3 year warranty as standard in store unless you can get it in writing (even then be careful!). There is so much false information going around, hence why I created the thread. Please read it all!

Simple answer: No.

The 3 year warranty you mention is the AppleCare, and is available in-store aswell as online. If bought by a student with a Mac, it costs £30-60 (depending on the machine), rather than £150.

All discounts available online are available in-store. I typically go with online because there isn't really a store close to me and the shipping is quick enough not to worry about it.

I'm sorry to say this is mostly incorrect. No offence, there is a lot of mis-info about this, UK student discount is complicated!

 

[YanniDepp]

You are better buying online through the Education Store, or over the phone. The offers available in store can be different. For example, you may not get the warranty as standard, but you might get a better discount on iWork.

Exact student prices can vary from institution to institution, but iLife tends to be £23 when bought online, or £31 when bought in-store. I have friends in Apple Retail so I need to be careful what I write (for their sake), but I was told that to get the better price I had to go online.

Be prepared to send them proof of student ID via email. I work in education, so I had to send a photocopy of a payslip.

 

[Nun]

I posted a guide here- https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1103022/

Basically, there is a 3 year warranty as standard online (plus full Applecare for ~£45).

In store a 3 year warranty is NOT standard, the £45 Applecare must be purchased.

Don't even believe Apple staff telling you there is a 3 year warranty as standard in store unless you can get it in writing (even then be careful!). There is so much false information going around, hence why I created the thread. Please read it all!




I'm sorry to say this is mostly incorrect. No offence, there is a lot of mis-info about this, UK student discount is complicated!

Thanks for the info

Basically, buying online is the way to go.

edit: I'm sure it's mentioned somewhere in your other post but it seems so odd to me that Apple give a different warrenty in-store.

 

[wesrk]

I remember reading somewhere on this forum (can't for the life of me find it again though) that buying student discount MBP online gives you the advantage of a three year extended warrenty whereas buying in store limits you to simply 6 months?

Is there any truth in this or any other advantages (other than being able to customise your laptop) to buying online if you are a UK student?

Please read what iStudentUK posted, follow the link and read the thread. He posted a very complete guide and really, other advice on your question from someone that is not as well versed as iStudentUK is, risks giving you false information, not because they want to, but because they don't know as much as what's on the guide.

 

[bigjobby]

Simple answer: No.

The 3 year warranty you mention is the AppleCare, and is available in-store aswell as online. If bought by a student with a Mac, it costs £30-60 (depending on the machine), rather than £150.

All discounts available online are available in-store. I typically go with online because there isn't really a store close to me and the shipping is quick enough not to worry about it.

No its not.
AppleCare is 3 years warranty + 3 years phone support.
Student 3 year warranty is 3 year warranty + 1 year phone support.
EMEA CC-HE contract uplift @£48 upgrades the student warranty to full AppleCare.

 

[iStudentUK]

He posted a very complete guide and really, other advice on your question from someone that is not as well versed as iStudentUK is, risks giving you false information, not because they want to, but because they don't know as much as what's on the guide.

Ah thanks, I'm blushing!

edit: I'm sure it's mentioned somewhere in your other post but it seems so odd to me that Apple give a different warrenty in-store.

It explains it in the thread I made. Apple has to offer the 3 year warranty online/phone to HE students (my guess is they don't like it) due to the contract they signed. They don't have to in store and so they don't!

Plus remember warranties are not the be-all-and-end-all. There is very good consumer protection in the UK anyway, certainly worth reading up on.

 

[Nun]

Also, whats the returns policy for items bought online? If I simply don't like the laptop (I've never used OSX before) can I return it to a shop within 14 days for a re-fund?

Apologies for de-railing the thread but you've been extremely helpful thus far.

 

[iStudentUK]

Also, whats the returns policy for items bought online? If I simply don't like the laptop (I've never used OSX before) can I return it to a shop within 14 days for a re-fund?

Apologies for de-railing the thread but you've been extremely helpful thus far.

First of all many Apple staff will process returns within 7/14 days because they are nice and want your good faith!

From the T&Cs for HE students here- http://store.apple.com/Catalog/uk/Images/salespolicies_individualHE.html#topic-7

7.1 Right to withdraw from the contract.
If you are not satisfied with any Product or the terms of any entitlement to Services you have purchased from us, you may return the Product to us or cancel the entitlement to Services and obtain a refund of the price of the returned Product or Service entitlement if you contact us within 14 Calendar Days of delivery of the Product or entering into the contract for the purchase of Services.

7.3 Conditions to exercise the right to withdraw from the contract. You can exercise your right to return the Product to us or cancel the entitlement to Services and obtain a refund of the price of the returned Product or Service entitlement provided:
(i) You inform us of your decision to cancel the contract within 14 Calendar Days of delivery of the Product or the date you purchased the Services; and
(ii) The Product(s) are returned in their original condition and the security seals on the Product(s) are intact; and
(iii) The Product(s) are returned in accordance with the procedure described in paragraph 7.4 below.
Please note that while the Product(s) remain in your possession you are under a duty to ensure that the Product(s) are kept safe and secure.

(emphasis added)

Remember these rights are in addition to your statutory rights. Most relevant here would be Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 which apply for 7 days starting the day after delivery.

From Office of Fair Trading- http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/general/oft698.pdf

3.23 Where the DSRs give consumers the right to cancel an order, this right is unconditional and begins from the moment the contract is concluded. Unlike when buying from a shop, the first time that a consumer will typically have an opportunity to examine goods purchased by distance means is when they receive them. The DSRs give consumers who buy by distance means more rights than consumers who shop in person. When a distance consumer cancels a contract to which the cancellation provisions apply they are entitled to a refund of any money they have paid in relation to the contract even if the goods are not defective in any way. Please also see paragraph 3.46 for further information.

3.58 Can I insist that consumers who cancel an order within the cancellation period return the goods as new or in their original packaging?

No. Consumers are under a duty to take reasonable care of the goods while in their possession as discussed in paragraph 3.44. The DSRs allow consumers to examine goods they have ordered as they would in a shop. If that requires opening the packaging and trying out the goods then they have not breached their duty to take reasonable
care of the goods. In these circumstances you cannot insist that consumers return the goods as new or in their original packaging. You may ask consumers to return goods with the original packaging, but you cannot insist on this. In the case of goods such as earrings that have hygiene seals, you may require consumers to exercise reasonable care by not removing the seals when examining them.

The regulations themselves http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/2334/made/data.pdf

This is not legal advice! I do not know how turning on a computer would be interpreted. This information is to help you look further!

 

[Nun]

Again, I can't thank you enough iStudent. You have been a great help.

 

[iStudentUK]

Again, I can't thank you enough iStudent. You have been a great help.

You're welcome.

Remember, my comment about returning is more legally-contracty based. You could talk to Apple, or look for people's experiences on this site etc. Please don't just rely on my comment (I'd hate for you to get stuck with a MBP you don't want!) as I'm not as knowledgeable on that compared to student discount.

Having said that, I'm very jealous if you are getting a new MBP, I can't imagine you not wanting it. They are amazing, and I wish I could afford to replace my white non-unibody MB!

 

[Nun]

Having said that, I'm very jealous if you are getting a new MBP, I can't imagine you not wanting it. They are amazing, and I wish I could afford to replace my white non-unibody MB!

Thanks, just bought it, now to play the waiting game .

I could only really afford the 13" model being a student but It'll still be much more powerful than the machine I'm currently using.