CompUSA or Apple Store

[slimflem]

Are there any negatives for buying a Nano at CompUSA rather than directly at an Apple retail store? Do I still have the same warranties, etc. if I buy at CompUSA? The Apple Store is a 30 minute drive, but CompUSA is only 5.

Prices are the same.

Pros/Cons?

 

[Josh]

No difference.

While buying at CompUSA will give you access to their return policy, it's still an Apple product, and Apple's warranty still applies just the same.

I've bought 2 out of 3 of my Macs at CompUSA simply for the 6 months same-as-cash financing.

When things went bad with my iMac, I took it to the Apple store just as if I had bought it there, and they fixed it free.

As far as service/warranty/support goes there is no difference. Sometimes you may find a better price at CompUSA and their financing options are better.

The draw back (which doesn't apply here), is that sometimes CompUSA is a little slower to get new products in.

 

[devilot]

^^ Josh pretty much answered all of your questions. I would just add two things... 1) If you're a student or are eligible for the educational pricing, then I'd stick w/ Apple (I'm not sure if CompUSA will give out that discount) and 2) as Josh stated, CompUSA will get most products after the Apple retail locations get their stock... my local CompUSA had zero nanos in stock meanwhile the Apple store had plenty of nanos.

But otherwise, warranties are still in tact.

 

[Josh]

^
True. I forgot about educational discount, which is a great deal.

CompUSA will not give educational discounts. But - and this is a huge "but" as it depends on the person you talk to - you can sometimes to get them to throw in extras because of it.

I asked if they honored the education discount, and they said no. I then asked: "If I can get it from Apple for $100 less...why would I buy it here?"

They then knocked off $100 from the price, and threw in Apple Care for free.

So sometimes you can get them to give a little, but it doesn't work every time.

 

[Macmaniac]

^
True. I forgot about educational discount, which is a great deal.

CompUSA will not give educational discounts. But - and this is a huge "but" as it depends on the person you talk to - you can sometimes to get them to throw in extras because of it.

I asked if they honored the education discount, and they said no. I then asked: "If I can get it from Apple for $100 less...why would I buy it here?"

They then knocked off $100 from the price, and threw in Apple Care for free.

So sometimes you can get them to give a little, but it doesn't work every time.

Wow that was nice of them, thats like $300-$400 value of stuff. You got lucky!

Just make sure you don't get the CompUSA warranty, their Apple service is terrible. Do not let CompUSA fix your computer, let Apple do it or an authorized service center.

 

[ohcrap]

CompUSA is always having financing specials, so I'd buy from them during one of those times. For example, I bought my PB with 18 months same-as-cash financing. I have til December '06 to pay it off and avoid interest.

 

[FFTT]

You can get a few good deals at CompUSA, but many times, you'll end up with an older model if you are not a well informed buyer.

If something major goes wrong with your machine under warranty, most often Apple will replace your machine on site at the store ( except BTO's ) where CompUSA will try to repair it.

Generally you'll do better going through Apple on new models.

I've bought both of my machines through Apple by phone and never had a problem.

I would say only use CompUSA if there is no Applestore near you.
Then i would go there just to see the product displays and still buy
through Apple.

 

[Lucky8]

I would rather drive 30 minutes away to get it at Apple store with education discount than buying it from CrapUSA.
As a matter of fact, I would never buy anything from CrapUSA unless it's a really good deal. They don't call it CrapUSA for no reason.

 

[slimflem]

Listen to this crap. I went to the CompUSA to get a Nano. They had 1 white 4GB left, so I took it. In my excitement, I didn't notice there was no shrink wrap around the box. When I got home and opened it, there was a big scratch on the screen and fingerprints all over it. I had 15 minutes to take it back. It turns out that it was a demo they let customers play with and then stuck it back in the box selling it as new. It could have been a mistake, but I was very upset nonetheless. It took them 30 minutes, but I got a full refund. I'll just go to the Apple Store after work tomorrow and get one.

This is probably the last time I'll go there for quite some time.

 

[lazyboy922]

Glad to hear you got a full refund. I hate comp usa. I bought a very expensive printer there, and it didn't meet my expectations. I took it back and I had to pay a restocking fee. (I wasn't aware of one, I figured they were like best buy and didn't have one, so I guess that was my fault.) I've had other incidents with them as well. I really dislike comp usa. I love best buy, I wish they still sold Macs like they did at one point.

 

[FocusAndEarnIt]

I wish they still sold Macs like they did at one point.

BestBuy stopped selling Macs??

 

[lazyboy922]

Well I remember buying a performa 550 from them yeeears ago. I know they sell ipods and what not, but don't think they sell any systems?

 

[chucknorris]

BestBuy stopped selling Macs??

They basically just kind of sell Macs on random whims. I've seen PowerBooks, Minis, and iBooks at my local Best Buy, but nothing else.

The sell iPods of course, but they don't anything like the Mac selection at CompUSA.

 

[Lucky8]

Glad to hear you got a full refund. I hate comp usa. I bought a very expensive printer there, and it didn't meet my expectations. I took it back and I had to pay a restocking fee. (I wasn't aware of one, I figured they were like best buy and didn't have one, so I guess that was my fault.) I've had other incidents with them as well. I really dislike comp usa. I love best buy, I wish they still sold Macs like they did at one point.

Best Buy is another one of those scary places to enter. Everytime I walked in there, I felt like I was being robbed left and right.
They dont call Best Buy = "Worst Buy" for no reason.

 

[nagromme]

I've been happy with my CompUSA's Apple section, and I just found a large Apple section at Microcenter too. But Best Buy? Even the iPod they like to hide below knee level. They are ashamed to carry them