Built to order at physical store?

Aslain · Aslain #1 (**permalink**)

07-14-2006, 04:59 PM

I need a laptop for school in the fall, so I have decided to buy a MacBook. I want to get the base 1.83ghz model and upgrade it to 1GB of ram and an 80GB harddrive. The problem is, I really prefer to buy the computer at the physical Apple store (rather than online). I heard from a friend that they do in-store upgrades for you, but my brother told me today that they will not. Has anyone had any experience with this?
I tried searching for this (as I was sure that someone has asked before), but didn't find a reference.

baggss · baggss #2 (**permalink**)

07-14-2006, 05:09 PM

AFAIK they will not. Why not call or go to the closest one and ask?

PunkRockTuba · PunkRockTuba #3 (**permalink**)

07-14-2006, 05:11 PM

My local Apple store will only upgrade the RAM in the store, no hard drives. I would still call your Apple store and ask, you never know what you might find out.

dtravis7 · dtravis7 #4 (**permalink**)

07-14-2006, 05:12 PM

Macs with extras from the Apple Stores?

This might help also.

Aslain · Aslain #5 (**permalink**)

07-14-2006, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baggss

Why not call or go to the closest one and ask?

The one near my place is always very busy, and not only is there a long wait to speak to someone, they also ALWAYS try to convince you to order online (this has been my experience with my first two Apple purchases, both iPods).

Aslain · Aslain #6 (**permalink**)

07-14-2006, 05:30 PM

Thanks, all, for the fairly quick responses. I have to be downtown in that area to visit my Daddy next week, so I'll ask physically where they can't turn me away/push me to buy online.

sublimished · sublimished #7 (**permalink**)

07-15-2006, 04:25 AM

I was in the same position when buying my macbook earlier this week. I found out they carry certain upgraded models. For instance, one of my local stores carried the white 2ghz macbook with 1gbram and 80 gb harddrive. Apparently this was a common upgrade setup they have because they had several. Just call and ask what upgraded models they are carrying

xstep · xstep #8 (**permalink**)

07-15-2006, 05:30 AM

I know, in the past, that third party stores offered build-to-order Macs allowing you to pick it up at the store. You would have to pay some percentage up front though. I would expect Apple to offer this service too. When you ask, please let us know.

zacster · zacster #9 (**permalink**)

07-15-2006, 09:36 AM

My Apple store experience was that they would rather not be bothered with doing anything that didn't involve hanging out and looking good. But this was SOHO in NYC where everyone just hangs out and looks good.

Aslain · Aslain #10 (**permalink**)

07-25-2006, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xstep

I would expect Apple to offer this service too. When you ask, please let us know.

Okay, here's what happened. I planned on calling the store and visiting the store (this is the one on 5th Ave. New York City) to see if I'd get the same or different responses. When I called, the guy on the other end said if I wanted that configuration, I'd have to order the notebook online. He said, quote, "We do RAM upgrades in-store, but not hard drive upgrades."

I went to the store two days later, and a blond, cute sales guy said that they have certain BTO configurations already in stock, and I just have to come at the time of purchase to see which ones they have in stock. I told him that the guy on the phone told me I'd have to order online, and he furrowed his brow, and said, well, he might have been thinking of our prior situation...now we have certain BTO configurations shipped to us.

Whatever! Anyways, I'm glad that I won't have to order online. It's enough I have to wait til August, waiting for shipping would kill me.

Aslain · Aslain #11 (**permalink**)

07-25-2006, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zacster

But this was SOHO in NYC where everyone just hangs out and looks good.

Ain't that the truth. I hate the SOHO store employees. They are lazy and look bored. My experience at 5th Ave. was better, but after a while, they may become jaded as well and be less helpful...

Katie · Katie #12 (**permalink**)

07-25-2006, 11:37 PM

okay, totally off topic... but the 5th Avenue store is the one that looks like a giant glass box, correct?

Mattlike · Mattlike #13 (**permalink**)

07-25-2006, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie

okay, totally off topic... but the 5th Avenue store is the one that looks like a giant glass box, correct?

That's just the street level part, but yes.

zacster · zacster #14 (**permalink**)

07-26-2006, 10:09 AM

I thought it was going to be huge inside, but it wasn't all that big. I think the multi-level store in SOHO is bigger.

Katie · Katie #15 (**permalink**)

07-26-2006, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattlike

That's just the street level part, but yes.

ahh.. where's the rest of it? haha... anyway, I saw a picture of that on apple.com. beautiful!

dtravis7 #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 04, 2005 Location: Modesto, Ca. Posts: 25,795 Mac Specs: iMac C2D Late 2007 20" with 10.8.3, Macbook Santa Rosa 4GB Ram OSX 10.8.3	07-14-2006, 05:12 PM Macs with extras from the Apple Stores? This might help also. ...Dennis Mac-Forums Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

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Aslain #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 14, 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 98 Mac Specs: 13" MacBook (White), 1GB RAM, 80GB HD \| iPod Video 30GB\| iPod Nano 1GB	07-14-2006, 04:59 PM I need a laptop for school in the fall, so I have decided to buy a MacBook. I want to get the base 1.83ghz model and upgrade it to 1GB of ram and an 80GB harddrive. The problem is, I really prefer to buy the computer at the physical Apple store (rather than online). I heard from a friend that they do in-store upgrades for you, but my brother told me today that they will not. Has anyone had any experience with this? I tried searching for this (as I was sure that someone has asked before), but didn't find a reference.
	QUOTE Thanks

baggss #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 10, 2004 Location: Margaritaville Posts: 10,306 Mac Specs: 27" 3.4 Ghz i7 iMac-13" C2D Macbook-OSX 18.8.2-64Gb iPad 2-32 Gb iPhone 5-ATV 2-14Tb of Storage	07-14-2006, 05:09 PM AFAIK they will not. Why not call or go to the closest one and ask?
	QUOTE Thanks

Aslain #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 14, 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 98 Mac Specs: 13" MacBook (White), 1GB RAM, 80GB HD \| iPod Video 30GB\| iPod Nano 1GB	07-14-2006, 05:30 PM Thanks, all, for the fairly quick responses. I have to be downtown in that area to visit my Daddy next week, so I'll ask physically where they can't turn me away/push me to buy online.
	QUOTE Thanks

sublimished #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 13, 2006 Posts: 4	07-15-2006, 04:25 AM I was in the same position when buying my macbook earlier this week. I found out they carry certain upgraded models. For instance, one of my local stores carried the white 2ghz macbook with 1gbram and 80 gb harddrive. Apparently this was a common upgrade setup they have because they had several. Just call and ask what upgraded models they are carrying
	QUOTE Thanks

xstep #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 25, 2005 Location: On the road Posts: 3,231 Mac Specs: 2011 MBP, i7, 16GB RAM, MBP 2.16Ghz Core Duo, 2GB ram, Dual 867Mhz MDD, 1.75GB ram, ATI 9800 Pro vid	07-15-2006, 05:30 AM I know, in the past, that third party stores offered build-to-order Macs allowing you to pick it up at the store. You would have to pay some percentage up front though. I would expect Apple to offer this service too. When you ask, please let us know.
	QUOTE Thanks

zacster #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 07, 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 274 Mac Specs: Intel iMac 20" Core Duo 256mb VRam 115gb SSD 2gb Ram Finally!!!	07-15-2006, 09:36 AM My Apple store experience was that they would rather not be bothered with doing anything that didn't involve hanging out and looking good. But this was SOHO in NYC where everyone just hangs out and looks good.
	QUOTE Thanks

Katie #12 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	07-25-2006, 11:37 PM okay, totally off topic... but the 5th Avenue store is the one that looks like a giant glass box, correct?
	QUOTE Thanks

zacster #14 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 07, 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 274 Mac Specs: Intel iMac 20" Core Duo 256mb VRam 115gb SSD 2gb Ram Finally!!!	07-26-2006, 10:09 AM I thought it was going to be huge inside, but it wasn't all that big. I think the multi-level store in SOHO is bigger.
	QUOTE Thanks

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