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Why would anyone buy from Apple Store?
- Thread starter bear1973
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Does anyone know if an EPP discount can be used with a refurb item? (I am only asking about purchases directly from Apple.)
TIA,
EVP
TIA,
EVP
In defense of MacMall (and no, I'm not affiliated in any way), they do have nonexistent customer service, but my MBP arrived 5 days after I ordered it and the 2 rebate checks arrived today (exactly one month after delivery). They had the best price, no tax and they fulfilled their promises. On the other hand, I've never had a single problem with anything I ordered from the online Apple store, either.
Exactly...that's why I do. I know what I am getting is backed by Apple, not some 3rd party company. Ill pay a little extra for some peace of mind.
I have to say I always check with my local Apple Store first and check prices. So far all Apple product has been the same price. Just today I purchased a 500gig Western Digital for Time Machine and they were $199 and Best Buy was $229 for the same one. So you have to shop. The other thing I like with having a Apple Store in town is they stand behind the item. I had purchased a printer there and had problems with it and they told me to return it and they would give me another one on the spot.
Not quite right... OP's talking about an identical product being sold at varying price points from different vendors.
A cup of coffee from one café is NOT identical to coffee from another vendor.
Keep in mind I chug a Venti Starbucks every weekday morning...
However, much of the price difference is the atmosphere, not the difference in the coffee bean pricing. That's my point... Apple commands higher margin at the in-store and on-line store simply because they can, mainly due to the superior shopping experience.
But I also get your point. How about this... Why pay $3.00 for a 20oz Diet Coke in a bottle at the movie theater when they are $1.29 at 7-11.
Ultimately, all analogies miss!
cause starbucks is way better...i love it there
i get a venti rassberry latte every morning...comes to 5.01 cnd
It's a pertinent question in the UK, because you get double the length of warranty if you buy a computer from John Lewis rather than from the growing number of Applestores.
Apart from the fact that you obviously get new stock more quickly from Apple rather than from resellers, an Apple employee said the reason to stick with Apple was that all repairs under warranty would be done in the actual store itself, whereas John Lewis sent off their repairs to whoever they contracted to do it at the time.
In theory, the turnaround time should be much quicker - days rather than weeks. Additionally, the standard of repair is more strictly controlled at Apple locations - whatever you want to make of that.
For some people, that makes all the difference.
Apart from the fact that you obviously get new stock more quickly from Apple rather than from resellers, an Apple employee said the reason to stick with Apple was that all repairs under warranty would be done in the actual store itself, whereas John Lewis sent off their repairs to whoever they contracted to do it at the time.
In theory, the turnaround time should be much quicker - days rather than weeks. Additionally, the standard of repair is more strictly controlled at Apple locations - whatever you want to make of that.
For some people, that makes all the difference.
Exactly! That's the main reason I refuse to step foot into a Wal*Mart (*shudders*). I'll pay more elsewhere just so I DON'T have to shop there.
The edu discount for my Macbook was $100, plus I was able to customize it. And Apple offers deals as well, such as a rebate on a printer if you purchase it at the same time as a Macbook. And shipping was free. That covers everything I need. I have a case already, and I prefer to choose my additional software rather than be given a bunch of random selections, even for free. Usually such things are a way of cleaning house to make way for new products anyway.
Bottom line: If you're more comfortable buying from a 3rd party, go for it. Apple will back up your purchase. You still have the same access to their "Genius Bar", regardless of where you purchase it.
Reason to shop directly with Apple: You're guaranteed to get the newest product. If you're shopping shortly after a product "refresh", some of the 3rd party distributors continue to carry the previous generation items, and are often vague in their advertisements about which one you'll get.
Reasons to shop at an Apple retail store...
1. Immediate gratification. You can "place your order" and have it up and running 30 minutes later.
2. If you have questions about what you should buy, the Mac Specialists are excellent at helping you choose.
Reason to shop directly with Apple: You're guaranteed to get the newest product. If you're shopping shortly after a product "refresh", some of the 3rd party distributors continue to carry the previous generation items, and are often vague in their advertisements about which one you'll get.
Reasons to shop at an Apple retail store...
1. Immediate gratification. You can "place your order" and have it up and running 30 minutes later.
2. If you have questions about what you should buy, the Mac Specialists are excellent at helping you choose.
Because Macmall removes the Apple Branded memory (which uses high quality samsung or hynix chips, the same crucial uses) and replaces it with low quality cheap memory that is prone to problems. I see Macs all the time with random software issues that come to find out is from corrupted data due to low quality memory, which inevitably is from macmall. Skip the $50 savings, get superior customer service, and high quality trouble free merchandise, with little or no hassle. . . . . God I'm an Apple Fanboy, lol. For those of you that don't believe me, check your Macmall computer, tell me the memory in it 
Not with my employer. Go to the Apple store and check refurb prices, then log into the EPP store and check again - mine are the same.
As far as using the Apple store vs. whoever, I get to choose between EPP and Education discounts. My MBP went on EPP. My iMac (and free iPod and free printer) were done under the education discount. I don't care if some online retailer could have saved me $15 on a $2k product.
Because Macmall removes the Apple Branded memory (which uses high quality samsung or hynix chips, the same crucial uses) and replaces it with low quality cheap memory that is prone to problems. I see Macs all the time with random software issues that come to find out is from corrupted data due to low quality memory, which inevitably is from macmall. Skip the $50 savings, get superior customer service, and high quality trouble free merchandise, with little or no hassle. . . . . God I'm an Apple Fanboy, lol. For those of you that don't believe me, check your Macmall computer, tell me the memory in it
While I don't question what you say one way or the other about MacMall swapping out RAM (I don't really see a huge profit potential in this practice) I do take issue with your claim about Mac software issues due to corrupted data from "low quality" RAM.
My experience is that Macs, unlike PCs, either work or do not with a certain type of RAM. A Mac will 'quality check' the installed RAM at bootup and refuse to start with a series of beeps if it doesn't like what it is running.
I bought 2x2GB stick of the most inexpensive (Taiwanese maker - Umax) RAM I could find for my 24" aluminum iMac and it has been running flawlessly. I have had no "corruption" or any other issues. In System Profiler it says "OK" in the details for both sticks.
The whole "running poorly with low quality RAM" thing is a PC phenomenon I'm glad I no longer deal with.
I've already said I always deal with the Apple Online Store. I've got nothing against MacMall or other 3rd party retailers though.
nope. i meant "and," which can be used as "in addition to," "as well as," "also," "besides," and "furthermore."
Well whoever has the lowest pricing usually works. As long as it's covered by Apple warranty.
Education discount CANNOT be stacked on top of refurb pricing. Apple allows only one discount.
Various iMacs have different difficulty in term of harddrive replacement. Some of the previous generation requires the removal of the LCD screen.
nope. i meant "and," which can be used as "in addition to," "as well as," "also," "besides," and "furthermore."
Education discount CANNOT be stacked on top of refurb pricing. Apple allows only one discount.
Various iMacs have different difficulty in term of harddrive replacement. Some of the previous generation requires the removal of the LCD screen.
Yes - Macs do suffer from sub-par upgrade RAM
I think the poster meant that MacMall might use cheaper / less tested RAM than Apple would if you're ordering a machine with upgraded memory.
The profit would be in using cheaper RAM for upgrades vs. respected brand like Apple would. (Not that Apple won't still overcharge for it.)
I can attest to several instances over the past 15 years where I've dealt with Macs that have bad RAM that pass the initial "quality check" at bootup.
While Macs do perform a memory check at boot time (as do most PCs), this is not an exhaustive test. Many memory problems do not show up unless the memory system is stressed - which is why there is a more intensive memory test included on the Apple Hardware Test disc.
Actually, it's not limited to PCs, so consider yourself lucky.
I kind of like buying from the Apple Store, too. Both retail and online.
I think the poster meant that MacMall might use cheaper / less tested RAM than Apple would if you're ordering a machine with upgraded memory.
The profit would be in using cheaper RAM for upgrades vs. respected brand like Apple would. (Not that Apple won't still overcharge for it.)
I can attest to several instances over the past 15 years where I've dealt with Macs that have bad RAM that pass the initial "quality check" at bootup.
While Macs do perform a memory check at boot time (as do most PCs), this is not an exhaustive test. Many memory problems do not show up unless the memory system is stressed - which is why there is a more intensive memory test included on the Apple Hardware Test disc.
Actually, it's not limited to PCs, so consider yourself lucky.
I kind of like buying from the Apple Store, too. Both retail and online.
