List: Apple Stores with MBA units and/or demo

[ahaxton]

Congratulations!

Any tips on how to get one? Seems like the story is starting to come together? Stores probably have them and just aren't allowed to sell them yet.

Once again the guys at the Tysons store were definitely hiding something.

I think it's almost impossible to get them to sell you one if they really are in stock. One rep I even told I'm heading out of the country tomorrow, and want the SSD version. I got "Oh that sucks, you'll have to stop by when you come back" lol. GRRR

 

[shimmer11]

Wauwatosa WI Apple store

Just got back from the store with a personal shopper appt. Had 2 on display, but would not sell. I wonder if they had them in back?

 

[NC MacGuy]

You lucky dog! I spent hours at the stores today. GRRR!!!!

I even gave them the Larry David once over while they lied - their eyes shifted, they looked down - "I don't believe you I said." "Well sir that's the way it is" - then shifts changed & I got lucky. Let me tell you, it was by no means an easy accomplishment and they finally gave me the MBA in a plastic crapola bag instead of the fancy black ones others are getting so no one else would know. Wild!

 

[ahaxton]

I even gave them the Larry David once over while they lied - their eyes shifted, they looked down - "I don't believe you I said." "Well sir that's the way it is" - then shifts changed & I got lucky. Let me tell you, it was by no means an easy accomplishment and they finally gave me the MBA in a plastic crapola bag instead of the fancy black ones others are getting so no one else would know. Wild!

Wow. I'm going to toss out this dumb centurion card lol. Freakin annoying! No one would budge.

 

[DaveC]

Updated with Orange County CA info.

California
Corte Madera, Corte Madera – Demo / Purchase
Costa Mesa, South Coast Plaza - Demos only
Los Angeles, The Grove – Demo (SSD and HD) / Purchase
Newport Beach, Fashion Island - Demos only
San Diego, UTC – Demo / Purchase
San Francisco, San Francisco - Demo / Purchase

Colorado
Denver, Cherry Creek – Demo (SSD)

Connecticut
Danbury, Danbury Fair Mall – “Have displays up” not sure if that’s just posters or demo units
Farmington, Westfarms - Demo
Stamford, Stamford – “Have displays up” not sure if that’s just posters or demo units

Florida
Orlando, Florida Mall - Demo
Orlando, Millenia - Demo
Tampa, International Plaza – Demo

Illinois
Chicago, North Michigan Avenue – Demo / Purchase
Skokie, Old Orchard - Demo

Maryland
Bethesda, Montgomery Mall - Demo

Massachusetts
Burlington, Burlington – Demo (SSD)
Cambridge, CambridgeSide – Demo / “On sale but sold out”

Michigan
Novi, Twelve Oaks - Demo
Troy, Somerset - Demo

Nebraska
Omaha, Village Pointe - Demo

New Jersey
Marlton, Sagemore - Demo
Short Hills, Short Hills – Demo / Purchase has been made

New York
Albany, Crossgates – 2 Demos
New York City, Fifth Avenue – Demo (SSD)
New York City, SoHo – Demo / Purchase
New York City, West 14th Street – Demo (SSD) / Purchase
Victor, Eastview - Demos

North Carolina
Raleigh, Crabtree Valley Mall – Demo (SSD and HD)

Oregon
Tigard, Bridgeport Village – Demo (SSD and HD)

Pennsylvania
Ardmore, Suburban Square – Demo (HD)
Pittsburgh, Shadyside - Demo
Pittsburgh, South Hills Village - Demo

Rhode Island
Providence, Providence Place - Demo

Texas
Austin, Barton Creek - Demo
Dallas, NorthPark Center - Demo
Houston, Houston Galleria - Demo
Plano, Willow Bend – Demo / Purchase? (conflicting reports)
The Woodlands, The Woodlands - Demo

Wisconsin
Wauwatosa, Mayfair - Demo

 

[TedB]

Fully updated to this point in the thread (new Maryland, Virgina, Oregon, Georgia, and California information):

California
Canoga Park, Topanga - Demo
Corte Madera, Corte Madera – Demo / Purchase
Costa Mesa, South Coast Plaza - Demos only
Emeryville, Bay Street - Demo
Los Angeles, The Grove – Demo (SSD and HD) / Purchase
Newport Beach, Fashion Island - Demos only
San Diego, UTC – Demo / Purchase
San Francisco, San Francisco - Demo / Purchase
Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Plaza - Purchase

Colorado
Denver, Cherry Creek – Demo (SSD)

Connecticut
Danbury, Danbury Fair Mall – “Have displays up” not sure if that’s just posters or demo units
Farmington, Westfarms - Demo
Stamford, Stamford – “Have displays up” not sure if that’s just posters or demo units

Florida
Orlando, Florida Mall - Demo
Orlando, Millenia - Demo
Tampa, International Plaza – Demo

Georgia
Alpharetta, North Point – Demo (Saturday)
Atlanta, Lenox Square - Demo
Atlanta, Perimeter - Demo

Illinois
Chicago, North Michigan Avenue – Demo / Purchase
Skokie, Old Orchard - Demo

Maryland
Annapolis, Annapolis – *Reported Demo
Bethesda, Bethesda Row – *Reported Demo
Bethesda, Montgomery Mall - Demo
Columbia, Columbia – *Reported Demo
Towson, Towson Town Center – *Reported Demo

Massachusetts
Burlington, Burlington – Demo (SSD)
Cambridge, CambridgeSide – Demo / “On sale but sold out”

Michigan
Novi, Twelve Oaks - Demo
Troy, Somerset - Demo

Nebraska
Omaha, Village Pointe - Demo

New Jersey
Marlton, Sagemore - Demo
Short Hills, Short Hills – Demo / Purchase has been made

New York
Albany, Crossgates – 2 Demos
New York City, Fifth Avenue – Demo (SSD)
New York City, SoHo – Demo / Purchase
New York City, West 14th Street – Demo (SSD) / Purchase
Victor, Eastview - Demos

North Carolina
Raleigh, Crabtree Valley Mall – Demo (SSD and HD)

Oregon
Tigard, Bridgeport Village – Demo (SSD and HD)
Portland, Pioneer Place - Store Display only

Pennsylvania
Ardmore, Suburban Square – Demo (HD)
Pittsburgh, Shadyside - Demo
Pittsburgh, South Hills Village - Demo

Rhode Island
Providence, Providence Place - Demo

Texas
Austin, Barton Creek - Demo
Dallas, NorthPark Center - Demo
Houston, Houston Galleria - Demo
Plano, Willow Bend – Demo / Purchase? (conflicting reports)
The Woodlands, The Woodlands - Demo

Virginia
McLean, Tysons Corner – Demo (SSD)

Wisconsin
Wauwatosa, Mayfair - Demo

.. and now I am off to the Westfarms Store to see how sweet this thing actually is in person.

 

[Photography]

These two stories don't match up!

This is really aggravating. I called Knox St in Highland Park, TX and spoke with Federico, and he told me they don't have any in stock, and it will be next week when they start selling them. Afterwards, I called Plano's Willow Bend Store in Plano, TX and I just got off the phone with Christopher from there, and I asked him if he had any Airs in stock, and he said he sold out of all the Airs they had in stock today. I don't see how in the world this is happening!!!!

Also, why would they sell it next week and even bother to put the displays up on Thursday?!?! If they were going to sell it next week, it would be logical that they put it up over the weekend and not on a Thursday!!!!

Apple, this is getting really old really fast.

 

[NAG]

The Pioneer Place store in Portland Oregon just has the window unit and no demos.

 

[beleb]

Apple Carrefour Laval in Canada

Apple Carrefour Laval in Canada : No MBA demo or purchase

Maybe tomorrow !

I'll pass the day at the mall tomorrow !

 

[timville]

Went to the shadyside store today here in pittsburgh - SSD model for those keeping score.

They had one air on demo and one in the window... no one was really around it, except for a couple apple minions... Although they had the sign posted next to the Air with the prices and a little slogan that said "Take yours home today"

So I prompted the guy about that sign and he goes "Oh... well... yeah... We don't have any for sale, sorry." and then walked away and avoided any more questions of mine!

Then I heard him tell some other guy that they expect them to be "trickling" in over the next couple of days.

Why must this be so difficult?

 

[beleb]

External superdrive ????

is there external superdrive for sale in '"available MBA" retail store ??

 

[ahaxton]

Thought this might be interesting info to some:

Well just got a good call I think from the person opening the apple store tomorrow. She called about my appt for tomorrow morning. Was kind of an entertaining phone call with the whole "I can't really say, but we do have a few of what we call express shipments". She's going to call me when she gets in the morning before my personal shopper appt if its a yay or nay. She asked which version I wanted, I said SSD. She then said "ah the $3000 version". LOL It seemed like that might help me get one lol. PLEASE LET THIS WORK OUT TOMORROW MORNING!

 

[kyleen66]

I even gave them the Larry David once over while they lied - their eyes shifted, they looked down - "I don't believe you I said." "Well sir that's the way it is" - then shifts changed & I got lucky. Let me tell you, it was by no means an easy accomplishment and they finally gave me the MBA in a plastic crapola bag instead of the fancy black ones others are getting so no one else would know. Wild!

Wow! That story is as much fun as actually scoring the machine!

Enjoy your spoils!

P.S. - You're totally my hero at the moment!

 

[whenders0n]

i just called tigard, OR store in washington square and they have demo units. woman used the word 'trickling' and i asked her if there were any that had 'trickled' in and she said no after a moment's hesitation. i swear she was lying. anyone get one here?

 

[Jimmie Geddes]

is there external superdrive for sale in '"available MBA" retail store ??

I purchased a MacBook Air 1.6GHz and a SuperDrive at the Apple Store in Short Hills, NJ today. I bought it around 10:15 this morning and was told that they only had 2 MacBook Airs in stock, and I bought the 1st one. They had a lot of demo units.

I'm surprised at the lack MacBook Airs in Apple Stores, this isn't like Apple.

 

[timville]

i just called tigard, OR store in washington square and they have demo units. woman used the word 'trickling' and i asked her if there were any that had 'trickled' in and she said no after a moment's hesitation. i swear she was lying. anyone get one here?

Got the same phrase as well... "trickling"

That's just their speak to get your butt to come into the store everyday. They probably laugh at us as we leave when we've been in there for 3-4 days in a row.

 

[seecoolguy]

Apple Store Topanga (Southern California) has a demo.

Possibly some in stock tomorrow.

I spoke to someone who said they had received some this morning but could not put them up for sale, possibly may be allowed to place them for sale tomorrow (Sat).

 

[mashoutposse]

Remember that there's a ridiculous snowstorm in parts of China right now -- that's the likely reason for the lack of availability.

 

[seecoolguy]

What a day!! I went mobile to two stores, got lied to a bunch, caught someone off guard and now have a MBA!!!! Truth is - there is no truth when dealing with SJ's minion's. I literally almost came to blows with a smarmy little punk today and finally the manager said "sell it" to get my loud ass out of the store. Well this is my last post on the lead-sled MB. Going for wireless migration asst. now. Short story is they have 'em but haven't been given word from mothership it's okay to sell 'em yet!

So to have bought one today, I should have needed to nearly come to blows with their employees? Man I am so pissed, I called the Simi Valley Store, CA they said we DO have them for sale, I get there and then they tell me they do not have them... man I should have thrown a temper tantrum!!! this sux!

 

[ahaxton]

There's a good chance I'm going to get SSD version in the morning. Just wondering if they accept multi card payment in the stores? Not a big deal, but would be nice to just stick to certain cards for payment, so I don't have to go conventional credit card and can just use check cards.

 

[Photography]

Yes, they accept multiple credit cards in stores.

 

[ahaxton]

Yes, they accept multiple credit cards in stores.

Great, not a requirement, but you know I'd just like to stick to my cards that are attached to personal cash accounts for this purchase and be able to split between two or something.

 

[garfinkel]

short hills nj

I purchased a MacBook Air 1.6GHz and a SuperDrive at the Apple Store in Short Hills, NJ today. I bought it around 10:15 this morning and was told that they only had 2 MacBook Airs in stock, and I bought the 1st one. They had a lot of demo units.

I'm surprised at the lack MacBook Airs in Apple Stores, this isn't like Apple.

that second one was gone by the time i got there around noon. funny thing is, when i called at 10:07 am, they told me they had none for sale.

 

[noservice2001]

i really want that paper bag...

 

[meces]

The results of a quick analysis - I'm an analyst that needs an analyst.

I spent a good part of the day calling and visiting the Apple Stores in the Boston Area and the responses to the availability question were so varied and numerous it numbed the brain. After the initial frustration I decided to make a study of the process. I monitored Cambridge Side and Burlington taking note of the responses of the staff to the question "This machine is awesome can I get one please?". My favorite of the day was that some of the staff knowing full and well that they did not have any, would walk to the back of the store and then return a few minutes later stating they just sold out. It amazed me that one individual used this routine in front of me numerous times.

I got the opportunity to interview a large number of the frustrated "buyers" after they left each store and only a few were "understanding". The vast majority felt that they had just been subject to the old "bait & switch". Out of the 23 people I spoke with at Cambridge Side 5 were "understanding", 16 were dissapointed and thought less of Apple because of the experience and 2 simply said they were never coming back. They will be back. You don't go out of your way to get it first just to walk away.

The numbers at Burlington however were more concerning. I spoke with 31 people. Only 8 were "understanding", 17 were ticked off but would return or go to another store, but 6 people walked out so mad that they were hard to understand at first. I could understand the frustration since the staff of this particular store is so nasty and arrogant they piss people off on regular days.

It was a bad day for Apple in Boston. The suffered a serious hit to their credibility. With the report from Gartner Group last night predicting the doubling of market share by 2011 the bar has been set pretty high and they better improve their communications and drop the attitudes if they want to continue to penetrate and capture the market. They have reached the layer of the market where the buyer is more savoy and less tolerant of games. Returning to the days were Apple was known for being arrogant is not the right direction.

They really lost a great opportunity to portray their "Innovation" against Microsoft's "Big Bully" approach to growth. Can you say "Yahoo".

If anyone wants the raw data let me know. I really need to find better things to do on a day off.