Best place to buy new MBP...

[Dilby]

Hi all. First post for me. I have been eagerly awaiting the release of the new MBP for a while now. I am wondering where to buy it from though. I know that in the past, places like Amazon have offered the MBP for a nice little discount as compared to the Apple store price. I notice (and this is probably normal for a new mac in it's first week of release) that the new model is not stocked by Amazon yet. Do we know when they'll have it in? I read rumours of other stores getting it after a week, so must be soon. Do we expect them and any other stores anyone knows of to offer it for less again? Also, I am considering getting the base model but with the 160 gb hd - do these stores outside of Apple's own offer upgrades like that, or are they just the stock standard models?

Cheers!

 

[PDE]

Hi all. First post for me. I have been eagerly awaiting the release of the new MBP for a while now. I am wondering where to buy it from though. I know that in the past, places like Amazon have offered the MBP for a nice little discount as compared to the Apple store price. I notice (and this is probably normal for a new mac in it's first week of release) that the new model is not stocked by Amazon yet. Do we know when they'll have it in? I read rumours of other stores getting it after a week, so must be soon. Do we expect them and any other stores anyone knows of to offer it for less again? Also, I am considering getting the base model but with the 160 gb hd - do these stores outside of Apple's own offer upgrades like that, or are they just the stock standard models?

Cheers!

I got mine from amazon yesterday. I just checked and they have 3 left in stock of the cheaper model. I think amazon is the best place to get computers - reliable and fast shipping, great return policies if you have any kind of problem and usually great prices too. To me, the return policy alone makes it the best place. Good luck! Here's the link:


http://amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-MA8...d_t=1401&pf_rd_p=292526101&pf_rd_i=1000093141

 

[Dilby]

I forgot to mention I'm in the UK. What's the difference between Amazon and Apple Store's returns policies/warranties? I just checked US Amazon and it doesn't seem possible to change the spec to better hard drive etc. I'm considering just buying a US one and getting it shipped as they are so much cheaper than UK ones... is this a recommended move?

 

[MagicBoy]

Amazon are just a box shifter not a computer dealer. It's a moot point anyway because Amazon US won't ship Electronics to the UK - the order refuses to complete. If you could find someone to ship one over you'd get hammered with VAT and import costs anyway.

 

[Marade]

Amazon are just a box shifter not a computer dealer. It's a moot point anyway because Amazon US won't ship Electronics to the UK - the order refuses to complete. If you could find someone to ship one over you'd get hammered with VAT and import costs anyway.

Is that not possible to get around? I mean, if I could get someone to send it to me from the US to europe (when the box is opened and the package labeled as "gift" or whatever) wouldn't that make the customs unable to determine the value of the package and hence the cost for VAT and stuff? Or am I completely of the track here?

 

[Music_Producer]

Is that not possible to get around? I mean, if I could get someone to send it to me from the US to europe (when the box is opened and the package labeled as "gift" or whatever) wouldn't that make the customs unable to determine the value of the package and hence the cost for VAT and stuff? Or am I completely of the track here?

It really depends on the customs officer in charge of the package. I have shipped hundreds of pro audio packages to the UK (and europe) and UK residents.. well I would say they almost always get charged duty. I do declare a low retail value and mark it as a gift, so they duty they have to pay is much less.. but nevertheless, they still have to pay it.

European customers never have to pay any duty! My customers in australia/NZ also never had to pay any duty. It seems that the UK is hell bent on levying duty on anything that comes in the country.

 

[Marade]

It really depends on the customs officer in charge of the package. I have shipped hundreds of pro audio packages to the UK (and europe) and UK residents.. well I would say they almost always get charged duty. I do declare a low retail value and mark it as a gift, so they duty they have to pay is much less.. but nevertheless, they still have to pay it.

European customers never have to pay any duty! My customers in australia/NZ also never had to pay any duty. It seems that the UK is hell bent on levying duty on anything that comes in the country.

Okay, but that still would make it something like 500$ cheaper than buying it here.. It's really tempting as I have good friends in the US that can send it too me.

 

[Dilby]

I think it's worth pointing out, Marade, that the U.S store doesn't include sales tax, which I myself didn't realise. So once you add import duty and VAT, I don't think it'll be cheaper at all.