Buying through Apple / reseller?

[andy-gib]

Hi everyone.

I'm intending to buy a new Imac this week before the end of the financial year but I'm a bit unsure as to where to buy one from. I qualify for education discount as i work in a school and was intending to buy directly from apple. Upon doing a bit of a research I've found a few resellers who are currently flogging the model I want £150 cheaper than apple (including ED discount) I would much prefer to buy new (not refurbished) direct from apple but with such bit discount's available from other vendors ??? Does buying from 3rd party affect Apples warranty in anyway-shape or form? If something was to go wrong with it can i still just walk into an apple store and they will fix it?

...based in UK.

 

[TMRaven]

Are you considering the apple refurb store.

 

[andy-gib]

No other online retailers like Amazon, Curry, P-C (haven't a clue) World. Basically buy from reseller but use local apple store in the event of an emergency.

 

[definitive]

it won't affect the regular warranty if you buy a new system. the refurbished is 90 days i believe. it's apple's product and their warranty, so i don't see a reason why they'd turn you down if you were to buy from someone else.

p.s. there are rumors of new imacs (updated to sandy bridge) coming out in about a month.

 

[andy-gib]

SANDY BRIDGE!!!... I know...but (for me) it makes far more sense to buy before end of financial year...I think.

being hanging on to see if they will release it before the end of March

 

[cinek]

Hi everyone.

I'm intending to buy a new Imac this week before the end of the financial year but I'm a bit unsure as to where to buy one from. I qualify for education discount as i work in a school and was intending to buy directly from apple. Upon doing a bit of a research I've found a few resellers who are currently flogging the model I want £150 cheaper than apple (including ED discount) I would much prefer to buy new (not refurbished) direct from apple but with such bit discount's available from other vendors ??? Does buying from 3rd party affect Apples warranty in anyway-shape or form? If something was to go wrong with it can i still just walk into an apple store and they will fix it?

...based in UK.

if I remember correctly, if you buy from apple using the ED discount, you get 3 yrs warranty/apple care plan

 

[iLog.Genius]

it won't affect the regular warranty if you buy a new system. the refurbished is 90 days i believe. it's apple's product and their warranty, so i don't see a reason why they'd turn you down if you were to buy from someone else.

p.s. there are rumors of new imacs (updated to sandy bridge) coming out in about a month.

Refurbished Mac's come with the same warranty as new. Regardless of where you get your Mac from, the Apple Store and it's Genius Bar is always there as a resource. The only thing is if you need an exchange or a return, that's usually done at where you purchased the Mac from originally.

 

[John T]

Personally, I've always bought from Apple - either direct or, in the case of my last iMac, from my local Authorised Service Provider - they also offer the educational discount.

Unless your bargain supplier is an approved Apple supplier, I'd treat these so-called bargains with a certain amount of suspicion.

 

[Badger^2]

What iLog said. Warranty is the same as new.

Have you checked the edu discounts? they are quiet small.

 

[jstockamp]

Apple care on ED purchases

if I remember correctly, if you buy from apple using the ED discount, you get 3 yrs warranty/apple care plan

Macs purchased with the ED discount have the standard 1 year warranty. You do get a $50 discount when you buy AppleCare with your iMac when you use the ED discount ($119 vs. $169 for AppleCare).

 

[Vantage Point]

SANDY BRIDGE!!!... I know...but (for me) it makes far more sense to buy before end of financial year...I think.

being hanging on to see if they will release it before the end of March

If you must buy now then wait until the last day of the month. This was if Apple updates the iMac within 14 days you can exchange or get some type of Apple store credit. 15 days after the sale that deal is dead.

 

[John T]

Have you checked the edu discounts? they are quiet small.

They're usually c.6%