Apple.com seriously undercuts your friendly local store if they are the only seller. Maybe I just don't understand the business model.
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Where to get refurbished Apples suitable for AppleCare other than Apple.com directly?
- Thread starter fruitninja
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I'm fairly certain the only place you can get an official "refurbished" MBP that will come with a full 1 year (from YOUR purchase date) warranty through Apple AND qualify for AppleCare purchase is going to be through the Apple site.
What do you mean that they "undercut the local store if they're the only seller"? Usually we use the term "undercut" to reference selling at a lower price. If the local store CAN'T sell the same product, Apple can't possibly undercut them. Or are you referencing the local APPLE store and how they're unable to sell a MBP at the same price because Apple doesn't let them sell refurbished? If so, they're all the same company, it doesn't really matter that much.
What do you mean that they "undercut the local store if they're the only seller"? Usually we use the term "undercut" to reference selling at a lower price. If the local store CAN'T sell the same product, Apple can't possibly undercut them. Or are you referencing the local APPLE store and how they're unable to sell a MBP at the same price because Apple doesn't let them sell refurbished? If so, they're all the same company, it doesn't really matter that much.
It depends:
In the US all Apple stores are run by the company? I didn't know that.
In Europe there are a few flagships here and there and many more independents.
Yes, I mean I cannot buy in the friendly neighborhood store the same refurbished product I can but from the company's site.
In the US all Apple stores are run by the company? I didn't know that.
In Europe there are a few flagships here and there and many more independents.
Yes, I mean I cannot buy in the friendly neighborhood store the same refurbished product I can but from the company's site.
If the Mac is within its original 1 year limited warranty, you can purchase AppleCare at any time during the original warranty. Most refurbs or used Macs you buy will have already had the 1 year warranty activated so it is your issue to check your coverage.
So your complaint is that your local independant store doesnt have a wholesale arrangement with Apple to sell refurbished Apple products?
Apple only sells refurbished models through the online refurbished store. It does not sell refurbished products through its bricks-and-mortar stores.
Officially refurbished units (that come with a full one-year warranty from Apple) are only available through Apple's online store. Some retailers (Best Buy) will sell Open-Box units at a small discount, but they will not have a full year warranty (just from the time the machine was first registered.) You should still be able to purchase Apple Care for those models, though.
The difference between refurbished and open box items is that Apple can replace/repair units to bring them back to original factory condition, whereas other retailers can do little more than restore to factory condition. There is no "undercutting", because the refurbished models aren't also sold by a local Mac dealer.
Thanks, I understand. except I am not sure I can follow the 2nd part of this sentence.
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No complaints here, just an innocent question.
Bottom line: Apple.com gets my profit, not the friendly local store. Whether I call it undercutting and you not, in the end it doesn't matter.
Sorry, it came over as you had an agenda, obviously if your friendly local store doesn't have access to the Apple product you desire than undercutting doesn't come into it, if you are saying the local store's refurb/2nd hand stock is more expensive than Apple's then that is commercial reality I'm afraid.
After all Apple.com pricing is fairly set over a wide geography, its not as if they have special pricing just for your local store's zip code....
Stores like Best Buy or a local Apple Authorized Reseller do not have access to replacement components like Apple does, so they can restore the OS/drive contents to factory (first-boot) specs, but they cannot actually swap out components to refurbish the unit.
Basically, if you buy and return a Mac to an Apple Store, it gets sent back to Apple's Service Center and they do a full refurbishment on the unit, then sell it with a brand new serial number. If you buy one from Best Buy or another dealer and then return it, they do a factory restore to the SSD/HDD and resell it with everything else unchanged. This is assuming that the unit is not defective.
Most people don't have a Microcenter nearby - there's only 25 locations nationwide, and the closest one to me is a 5 hour flight away.
I'm just curious as to why OP posted this thread and one very similar to it over in the iPhone thread... That seems like more than just curiosity to me.
Yes of course I have my agenda for both the laptop and the phone as well!
And would you enlighten me of what my super secret agenda might be other than sourcing a good deal?
Yes of course I have my agenda for both the laptop and the phone as well!
And would you enlighten me of what my super secret agenda might be other than sourcing a good deal?
I can just picture the scene, you walking into an Apple Store dressed like Agent K in The Men In Black, donning shades and pulling out your neuralyzer to erase any memory of you mission to get a good deal. lol.
Barney
Yes of course I have my agenda for both the laptop and the phone as well!
And would you enlighten me of what my super secret agenda might be other than sourcing a good deal?
You're wondering why a non-Apple store doesn't sell certified refurbished Apple devices that can be warrantied. The answer is that Apple doesn't allow them to. I'm in the US where Apple keeps a close eye on their products.
Multiple posts about similar topics lead me to be suspicious. It's something a scammer would do. You responsed to me post though, so that's a point in your favor. Scammers tend to not respond and disappear. See all of the threads about bypassing Activation Lock on iOS.
Maybe I just don't 100% understand this grammatical structure because I am not a native speaker.
Otherwise, thanks for your trust, really.
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