A shot in the dark

FlaBill · Jul 5, 2010

I've been planning to buy a Mac for several days, no...weeks, no...years. Now I'm on the verge and enjoying comments on this forum where people have been very friendly and happy.
Here's my scenario: live in Fort Lauderdale, will travel to Maryland for a couple of months and stay near the Delaware border at the Ocean.
I would like to buy my iMac in Delaware but Newark is too far away. Annapolis, Md. is too far away as well.
There are no Apple retail stores in Delaware other than Newark....too far. There is a Best Buy in Dover but I'm not sure how service backup, warranty and other help would apply from there.
My hope is that somebody from Delmarva on this forum will know of a reliable site to make this purchase.
Whadda ya say folks?
Bill
thanks

Oneironaut · Jul 5, 2010

Getting a Mac from your local Best Buy will get you the same warranty as buying it from an Apple Store. All Macs come with a year of AppleCare. The only things you won't be able to get are in-store services like One-to-One and instructional classes, but you may not need that stuff.

chas_m · Jul 6, 2010

I wouldn't buy any computer from a Best Buy unless there wasn't another option within 1,000 miles. Seriously.

While there may not be a corporate Apple store near you, there's pretty much always an independent Mac dealer not that far away. Apple has a web page (Apple Retail Store) that will show you independent dealers as well as corporate Apple stores.

Oneironaut is right about the warranty, but BB are *notorious* for scaring you into buying add-ons etc you don't need. Their own "extended warranty" is worthless garbage when it comes to Macs, in my opinion.

There's always buying from Apple online as well, you know ...

Sobe · Jul 6, 2010

Oneironaut said:
Getting a Mac from your local Best Buy will get you the same warranty as buying it from an Apple Store. All Macs come with a year of AppleCare. The only things you won't be able to get are in-store services like One-to-One and instructional classes, but you may not need that stuff.

To be clear:

A Mac purchase comes with 90 days of Phone Support (~$60/call after that if I remember correctly), and 1 year of Hardware Support via an Apple Retail Store or authorized repair shops (found via the Support Tab at Apple.com).

The Applecare Protection Plan extends the Hardware Support for an additional 2yrs (after the initial first year), and extends the Phone Support an additional 2yrs & 274days (after the initial 90days).

Also, the Applecare Protection Plan CANNOT be registered AFTER the first year of Hardware Support has passed.

Oneironaut · Jul 7, 2010

I got my Macbook Pro from Best Buy and it was pretty hassle free. I actually preferred their coverage plan because it covers theft, which is likelier with a portable and Apple Care doesn't cover that. It's always a great experience buying stuff at the Apple Store, but if you have to go to a Best Buy, just know what you want and don't let them scare you into anything. No one at my Best Buy tried to sell me anything except their coverage, and Apple will try to sell you theirs. Just don't be spineless and you'll be fine, no matter where you get it.

zacharace · Jul 7, 2010

Oneironaut said:
I got my Macbook Pro from Best Buy and it was pretty hassle free. I actually preferred their coverage plan because it covers theft, which is likelier with a portable and Apple Care doesn't cover that. It's always a great experience buying stuff at the Apple Store, but if you have to go to a Best Buy, just know what you want and don't let them scare you into anything. No one at my Best Buy tried to sell me anything except their coverage, and Apple will try to sell you theirs. Just don't be spineless and you'll be fine, no matter where you get it.

I agree. I'd personally never buy a Mac--or a PC, for that matter--at BestBuy, but no matter where you go, just tell them NO and eventually they'll listen.

BB, I've found, is a matter of personal preference. Some say it's OK, others say it's horrible; not many, though, say it's fantastic. Unfortunately I'm not from that neck of the woods, but in general, the principle holds true: If you can, go Apple Store (or equivalent).

Just my .02. Good luck!

cditty · Jul 7, 2010

Scare you... Seriously. Any adult should have the ability to say 'No'. If they can't do that, then they deserve to waste their money.

I have NEVER had an experience at Best Buy where telling them I wanted nothing but the item didn't immediately stop them from trying to sell me stuff.

In my town there is also an independent Apple dealer. They, however, will try to screw you at every turn.

So, YMMV.

6string · Jul 8, 2010

cditty said:
Scare you... Seriously. Any adult should have the ability to say 'No'. If they can't do that, then they deserve to waste their money.

I have NEVER had an experience at Best Buy where telling them I wanted nothing but the item didn't immediately stop them from trying to sell me stuff.

In my town there is also an independent Apple dealer. They, however, will try to screw you at every turn.

So, YMMV.

Was that really necessary?

Oneironaut · Jul 8, 2010

I think it's always necessary to hear all the options, especially the ones that people generalize about. Of course in most cases, it's preferable to buy from the Apple store, but it's not always possible and, believe it or not, Apple Store specialists can be just as pushy and annoying as any other salespeople (and in the end, that's all they really are, just not on commission). As a frequent shopper, I've gotten quite used to cutting through everyone's BS and getting exactly what I want... in this case a Macbook Pro and coverage that includes protection for theft. Nothing so disagreeable about that, is there?

dan_f14 · Jul 11, 2010

Oneironaut said:
I think it's always necessary to hear all the options, especially the ones that people generalize about. Of course in most cases, it's preferable to buy from the Apple store, but it's not always possible and, believe it or not, Apple Store specialists can be just as pushy and annoying as any other salespeople (and in the end, that's all they really are, just not on commission). As a frequent shopper, I've gotten quite used to cutting through everyone's BS and getting exactly what I want... in this case a Macbook Pro and coverage that includes protection for theft. Nothing so disagreeable about that, is there?

As a sales person I know how these things work. Every sales person is targeted on selling warranties because more often than not larger electrical stores will have repair centres and pay wages for engineers. Therefore if they don't sell warranties they lose money by providing a service thats not needed. Also whenever a warranty is sold its near enough 100% profit to the company. I know all the facts and figures the company gives me to tell customers and I have never purchased one. They do encourage scare mongering tactics to encourage take up. Furthermore, the coverage of theft should be under your house insurance and if one is careful and prudent they should be able to minimise the risk. The only advantage to getting out an extended warranty would be if you intentionally damaged the product (most extended warranties cover accidental damage) and pretended it was done accidentally. Due to the cost and advancement of technology more often than not these products are exchanged on a like for like so you would end up with the newer macbook pro or imac or whatever you purchase. However that method is dishonest, immoral and potentially fraudulent. But then again who is the bigger crook? The person exploiting the warranty or the company exploiting the person?

6string · Jul 11, 2010

cditty said:
Scare you... Seriously. Any adult should have the ability to say 'No'. If they can't do that, then they deserve to waste their money.

I have NEVER had an experience at Best Buy where telling them I wanted nothing but the item didn't immediately stop them from trying to sell me stuff.

In my town there is also an independent Apple dealer. They, however, will try to screw you at every turn.

So, YMMV.

6string said:
Was that really necessary?

Oneironaut said:
I think it's always necessary to hear all the options, especially the ones that people generalize about. Of course in most cases, it's preferable to buy from the Apple store, but it's not always possible and, believe it or not, Apple Store specialists can be just as pushy and annoying as any other salespeople (and in the end, that's all they really are, just not on commission). As a frequent shopper, I've gotten quite used to cutting through everyone's BS and getting exactly what I want... in this case a Macbook Pro and coverage that includes protection for theft. Nothing so disagreeable about that, is there?

dan_f14 said:
As a sales person I know how these things work. Every sales person is targeted on selling warranties because more often than not larger electrical stores will have repair centres and pay wages for engineers. Therefore if they don't sell warranties they lose money by providing a service thats not needed. Also whenever a warranty is sold its near enough 100% profit to the company. I know all the facts and figures the company gives me to tell customers and I have never purchased one. They do encourage scare mongering tactics to encourage take up. Furthermore, the coverage of theft should be under your house insurance and if one is careful and prudent they should be able to minimise the risk. The only advantage to getting out an extended warranty would be if you intentionally damaged the product (most extended warranties cover accidental damage) and pretended it was done accidentally. Due to the cost and advancement of technology more often than not these products are exchanged on a like for like so you would end up with the newer macbook pro or imac or whatever you purchase. However that method is dishonest, immoral and potentially fraudulent. But then again who is the bigger crook? The person exploiting the warranty or the company exploiting the person?

I said what I said as I saw someone saying something that wasn't necessary, which was if not anything, a negative attack!

The post that I commented on was:
"Scare you... Seriously. Any adult should have the ability to say 'No'. If they can't do that, then they deserve to waste their money.

I have NEVER had an experience at Best Buy where telling them I wanted nothing but the item didn't immediately stop them from trying to sell me stuff.

In my town there is also an independent Apple dealer. They, however, will try to screw you at every turn."

A shot in the dark

FlaBill

Oneironaut

chas_m

Guest

Sobe

Oneironaut

zacharace

cditty

6string

Oneironaut

dan_f14

6string

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