I'm curious why anyone would buy from the Apple Store online and most likely have to pay tax when they could get a small discount/rebate and pay no tax (or shipping) when they buy fro MacMall or MacConnection or any number of online retailers. And if they're buying a MacBook, they're likely to get a bunch of other extras, too. Even with the educational discount you can't beat other deals.
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Why would anyone buy from Apple Store?
- Thread starter bear1973
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It's called customization. Some people might actually need a faster processor or bigger hard drive. It's easier, usually. There's a psychological predilection about it; buying straight from Apple equals reliability, quality, and if not, a swift return and exchange.
Well I ordered my current Mac from the Japan Apple Online Store on the day they were announced and I know I took much faster shipment than I would have had I ordered from a 3rd party retailer. I know this only really applies when the products are brand new but it's a consideration.
There are no shipping fees from the Apple Online Store, at least not here in Japan.
If I was still living in the states I might consider an alternate retailer but if those retailers you mentioned ship to Japan it would cost a mint in shipping and import taxes. Not everyone lives in the states.
Over here my experience has been it is generally more expensive to buy Apple products from places other than Apple directly.
I did use an educational discount and it did save me a lot.
Higher Education discount, BTO options, iPod engraving, free fast delivery, refurb discounts, a hassle free transaction, brilliant after care and the ubiquity of online money off codes.
Enough reasons?
Enough reasons?
I usally TRY and buy from the Apple Online Store here in the UK - purely because they tend to most of the time use UPS as the Courier, whereas other online retailers use some of the more 'cheapo' couriers where the service is not always great.
For example, there is one popular courier here which will only attempt to deliver ONCE - if no response you have to go and pick it up yourself from their Depo, or the items get returned back to supplier!!
Also, I find the Apple Online Store prices are quite comparable with others here in the UK. The service is great, and a no quibble money back guarantee.
It's just an overall better feeling!!
Was also really surreal being cheered being the first person to buy Leopard at the Apple Store when it was released (Basking in the glory aww yes... lol)
Was also really surreal being cheered being the first person to buy Leopard at the Apple Store when it was released
(Basking in the glory aww yes... lol)...but if I can get a computer for $75 less (an even less than the education discount), plus a bunch of free software, printers, carrying case, it's a non-brainer for me.
Of course, if I wanted to customize, that's another story. But I would also never in a million years buy memory from Apple, and I probably could get a better hard drive aftermarket for less too.
...how many people do you think are dishonestly taking advantage of this discount? Doesn't seem hard to do.
Of course, if I wanted to customize, that's another story. But I would also never in a million years buy memory from Apple, and I probably could get a better hard drive aftermarket for less too.
...how many people do you think are dishonestly taking advantage of this discount? Doesn't seem hard to do.
I vote with my dollars- I like what Apple does and stands for! So I know on a $1400 computer I could give Amazon $600 of that money and the rest goes to Apple or I could go to Apple and have all the money go to that company.
I imagine with little overhead, low cost of staff to manage the online store and ship computers that Apple makes a good profit off of those items bought at the Apple store which helps their bottom line.
I also like to support local companies when I can so if I had the option I would buy it locally.
I imagine with little overhead, low cost of staff to manage the online store and ship computers that Apple makes a good profit off of those items bought at the Apple store which helps their bottom line.
I also like to support local companies when I can so if I had the option I would buy it locally.
Because Apple Inc is like crack. We just need Apple computers, we need Apple software, and we need the Apple shopping experience. Its an addiction, and I've got it bad.
There are a lot of people that don't know how or want to disassemble their iMac or Macbooks to put in a better hard drive. Mac Pros are really the only Mac that is actually easy to add additional hard drives too.
Heh, I'm taking a day trip train ride to Delaware during my trip to New York in a fortnight. Will definitely pick up whatever MBP they're offering by then
Always had good service here in the UK, and I always BTO. If I didn't want BTO I guess I wouldn't be so bothered... but even so, I trust with the Apple store that when something goes wrong I can get some traction and get it fixed - this has proved to be true so far.
Some third parties may be as good, if not better, and cheaper, though I sometimes get a discount via the Business store. I just can't be doing with the hassle of shopping around when I'm happy with the experience that I'm getting.
Some third parties may be as good, if not better, and cheaper, though I sometimes get a discount via the Business store. I just can't be doing with the hassle of shopping around when I'm happy with the experience that I'm getting.
If you are talking about adding, and not replacing, then I agree with you. But if you're saying that it is difficult to replace the hard drive on an iMac or MacBook, I have to disagree. It is absurdly easy on the new MacBooks and reasonably easy on iMacs. I have twice replaced the hard drive on my iMac G5, and I found that anyone with a screw driver could do it.
Oh yeah, I forgot to add that I am in tax-free NH as well! (Otherwise known as the Live Mac or Die state!)
depends on what product are you buying? for example the macbook pro with the education discount on the apple store is still cheaper than macconnection or macmall
That too
You spot a lot of resellers selling old stock as if it were the latest product.
you don't have to worry about not getting you rebate, terrible customer service or other problems that come from ordering from places like macmall...