MacBook: where shall I buy?

Hi,

I wish to buy a MacBook. I live in the United States and I am thinking of buying it from amazon.com, that offers a $100 rebate for a final price of $999.

Has any of you had any positive / negative experiences with buying a notebook from amazon.com?

Any reason to prefer an Apple store?

Thanks,

GK / N

 

I bought my iMac through the Apple store. I would think that if a problem arises with your notebook, it would be easier to get it sorted out if you bought from the Apple store. I haven't had any experience buying through Amazon, but their prices don't really differ too much from the Apple store. You have to decide whether the extra money is better spent toward buying it directly through Apple, or buying through a vendor and saving some money.

 

Intresting...

I thought that the warranty would imply that I will be dealing with Apple directly for any issues that may arise. Why does it make a difference to get its product though its store or through a vendor?

GK / N

 

The Apple Store can still help you out even if you bought your MacBook somewhere else, so no need to worry about that. Just make sure you register your MacBook with Apple when you get it, and they will be able to bring it up in their computers regardless. Phone support is the same regardless of where you buy it as well.

-Zadillo

 

Thanks Zadillo,

Very good to know about it.

GK / N

 

what about me? i live in india and i want to order my macbook through amazon and there are no apple stores in india.. so if a problem arises how can i get my laptop repaired??

 

there is an apple store in bangalore, india

 

in bangalore , i live in chennai..! There are no apple stores in chennai.. You expect me travel hundreds of kilometres to repair my laptop??????

 

Here in the US you call AppleCare. If it is software they will try to fix it over the phone. If it is hardware they will send you a box and have you mail it in, or you may take it to an Authorized Repair Center. India may be different.

 

Apple Stores aren't the only places that can repair Apple computers. Any Apple Authorized Service Provider can provide these kinds of repairs, etc. If there aren't any near you, you would still be able to mail it to the nearest Apple repair center (I'm pretty sure they have something in Bangalore, but possibly not) and do it that way.

-Zadillo

 

well there are authorized apple service centres..but how far can i trust them??? what if something happens to the laptop? And im asked to send the laptop to US.. i cant keep calling apple in US and keep waiting for my laptop! This has been the Key factor in deciding my laptop.. Due to this factor im leaning away from apple and towards hp(against my will..im in love with macbook!!).. so guys any help?? any suggestions?

 

They will most assuredly have their own repair depot in India somewhere if you do not trust the authorized repair centers. Also, at least here, it is all overnight shipping free of charge.

 

Well,
India IS a Large Country!!!
U cant expect me run around!!
Im living in chennai.. And bangalore is miles and miles away!!

 

the mac otherized dealler should be fine. Just make shure the place you take it to does a good job.

 

how can i make sure that the place i take it to does a good shop??
macs are a scarcity here in india... there are very few users whose opinion i can ask..

 

Well, again, all I can say is that a shop has to maintain certain standards to remain Apple Authorized. If they got a lot of complaints that a place was doing shoddy work, etc. they would probably pull the authorization from that shop.

I looked for a website for one but couldn't find one. Apparently on Yahoo Groups both the India Mac User Group and the GOA Mac User Group have a prescence, so joining one of those groups and asking for advice on local shops, etc. that do good work might be worth it.

 

Can u give me a link to the group and thanks a lot for ur help!

 

Actually not quite as active as I thought, but here you go:

India Mac User Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/imug/

GOA Mac User Group:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/goamug/
(this one actually seems to be more active than IMUG)

Either way, there are at least active members on both lists, and I imagine that if you ask about good local shops for Mac repairs, they should be able to offer some advice.

 

Thanks a lot man!

 

Apple support in bangalore is bad. the guys at applecenter didnt know anything. When i asked them about heating problem, they had no clue. I wouldnt go for a macbook in India, rather take a dell,hp,lenovo which have good support

 

So no mac for me??

 

Is it safe to purchase the notebook online? Has anybody here had any bad experiences purchasing a laptop from the Apple store online? Reason why I'm asking is because I didn't get a student discount when I purchased my iPod at the store. The cashier person told me the store wasn't doing student discounts unless if he was lying to me or student discounts aren't valid for iPods.

 

There aren't student discounts for iPods...... Apple lowered the prices of the iPods across the board a while back, so it's basically been the same price whether you're a student or not (it's not like it's a big deal anyway, the student discount on iPods had only been like $20 anyway..... with the new lower price points the iPods are cheaper than they were even with a student discount).

The cashier meant there weren't student discounts on the iPod, not that they don't do student discounts at all.

 

To those who advise people to use mail-in: There is no mail-in in most countries. It was available for notebooks in the UK, Germany and France but no longer. I'm not sure if any country outside of the United States and Canada still has mail-in repairs for Apple products.

An authorized service provider is authorized only after they pass certain criteria, such as having an authorized technician to do repairs. So if you find an authorized service provider in your area, they certainly should be competent. As you said, India is huge, so there's no guarantee there is one near you... is there an Indian AppleCare number? If so, call them and ask around a bit.

 

I've purchased from Apple Online several times and i've never had a problem. Last week I purchased an engraved Black iPod and the matching Black iSkin. I received both products within 2 business days and the iPod came from overseas. It was ordered on Friday night had it on Tuesday before noon and that was just standard shipping.

 

You should have no problems purchasing through the Apple online store.