List: Apple Stores with MBA units and/or demo

[cjb65]

Ethical, honest? I think not

So, after placing a few calls throughout the day, reading the constant same lame excuses given to all of the others on here, I am left feeling a bit "Bait and Switched" from Apple. This is really not customer first service. Have you ever felt like you were being toyed with? I now feel this way. What's the point of putting up displays if you know you will not be selling an item? Also, having observed the immediate responses of all the store staff, I can easily tell that they have been instructed to tell less than the truth.

How can a retailer as large as Apple ask their employees to lie to those loyal customers who represent the ones who made the balance sheets work in Apple 's favor?

...The whole thing is shady, very shady. Shame on you Apple for poor tactics!

 

[sosnow]

Update for IL

My started at 6:30 battling snow to get to my 9am ps appointment at the northbrook store. The mgr and assistant were cool but did not give much info. They said I could play but not buy. The mgr took my name and said she was starting an unofficial sell sheet and would call me at soon as she had one to sell. I thought that was cool.

I did get to spend almost 1 hour by myself with the MBA... Very Nice!

Only 1.8 w/SSD units to play with. Interestingly no iwork. I know that is not standard software but the salesguy said all their notebooks have come with iwork installed in the past.


I spent the rest of the day shoveling snow and the various BS remarks from the chicagoland stores.

Around 3 I called the Deerpark store. The salesguy says we got em. How many do you want! WTF! He said he will but one on the side for you!

About 45min ltr I am at the store, the guy says Im sorry but I am new and didn't know we only had demo stock.
Before I could flip his mgr came over and said that she was very sorry about the mistake and that she called the Woodfield store and they have set one aside for me I got all the info and headed to the Woodfield store.

When I got there the mgr said yes here you go! Finally.
He did try to give me some story about the product being so new that my student discount did not apply. Wrong! It did. $1699

As a different sales person was ringing me up and trying to sell me everything else in the store, about 6 different sales people came up to me and said where did that come from? They didn't even know there was one in back!

So maybe many of the salespeople really have no idea.

A few of them clapped as I was the first MBA sale at their store.

Now I am back home and staring at this beautiful box with one problem...
I have a final at 8am and I need to study.

I don't think I am going to study much tonight.

PS neither deerpark or Woodfield would confirm when they would be selling units.

Good Luck to the rest of you!

 

[emil10001]

I'll do my best to get down there early, but i can't usually even get into work before 9. I'll be the one with the Nokia n800 and glowing bluetooth headphones.

 

[Unconsoled]

Seattle Score!!!!

I have been calling all the stores in the area all day and everyone said it would be a week or so until they actually got them. So I figured I would go to U Village and see them and maybe ask why they would put up the displays but not have any models for sale. The nice woman in the front asked if she could help me and I said I would like o buy one and she told me they didn't have any but probably next week. She invited me to play with the display models. I was looking at one and another nice woman asked if I had any questions and I told her I wanted to buy one and got the same story. So I was still looking and asked a nice guy if they had the external Superdrives to look at and he said yes they were in stock. So I looked at him confused and asked why they had the drives for sale and not the computers. He said "Oh well we have one computer for sale but it is the base model." I said I'll take it and he said great. He went in back, grabbed it and the drive rang me up. They took my picture for their site, all the employees shook my hand and clapped for me on my way out.

Here I am geeking out on this thing at home and setting it all up!!!! Amazing!!!

This thing rocks!!!!

 

[toomuchmac]

Park Meadows - Denver

I said that I would go in if the freeway was moving. It wasn't, so I just called since I had been there in the morning and they didn't even have demos. Brad on the phone said that they had some now that they had put out mid afternoon. He said they didn't have any for sale but to come by and see it b/c it's a great machine, yada yada.

So, I guess this location could be added to the list. I did not confirm on the phone if there demo was a HDD or solid state.

 

[Photography]

I've made a personal shopping appointment for tomorrow morning at 8:30 AM at the Highland Park Knox St location (in TX) to see if I have any luck in purchasing an Air. I hope they'll have one. If they do, it won't be hard to convince them. I'm just worried they won't have any when I arrive.

 

[camarobh]

Friday night about 6pm PST

Updated San Antonio, Texas. They told me they wouldn't have any until next week!!!

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

Neither San Diego location (UTC/Fashion Valley) have any available for sale. UTC told me "we were told to say a few days". 3 demo units out at UTC, all with the hard drive.

 

[PieMac]

Thought I would just throw in my two cents: called Apple Store in Jacksonville, FL today and they had two of the SSD demos but none of any kind in stock to sell. I asked if they would get any in tomorrow and the guy seemed a bit hesitant and finally eluded to something about he didn't really know much about inventory-to call back tomorrow.

I've got to say, I am beyond baffled by all of this...it really is irritating and just plain out weird how things are being handled with all of this (or I should say, not handled). I simply don't understand how you could have all these demos in stores and no supply. All it does is tease people-you can touch, but can't buy. Hell of a sales strategy.

I just don't get it.

 

[Photography]

Thought I would just throw in my two cents: called Apple Store in Jacksonville, FL today and they had two of the SSD demos but none of any kind in stock to sell. I asked if they would get any in tomorrow and the guy seemed a bit hesitant and finally eluded to something about he didn't really know much about inventory-to call back tomorrow.

I've got to say, I am beyond baffled by all of this...it really is irritating and just plain out weird how things are being handled with all of this (or I should say, not handled). I simply don't understand how you could have all these demos in stores and no supply. All it does is tease people-you can touch, but can't buy. Hell of a sales strategy.

I just don't get it.

I echo your sentiments and frustrations exactly. It is beyond aggravating and fails all logic. Also what baffles me even more is why Apple would ship to some stores and not to others, and then those stores selling all of their stock while other stores don't even have any!

 

[shimmer11]

Thought I would just throw in my two cents: called Apple Store in Jacksonville, FL today and they had two of the SSD demos but none of any kind in stock to sell. I asked if they would get any in tomorrow and the guy seemed a bit hesitant and finally eluded to something about he didn't really know much about inventory-to call back tomorrow.

I've got to say, I am beyond baffled by all of this...it really is irritating and just plain out weird how things are being handled with all of this (or I should say, not handled). I simply don't understand how you could have all these demos in stores and no supply. All it does is tease people-you can touch, but can't buy. Hell of a sales strategy.

I just don't get it.

Completely agree. We are being left in the dark on this. A bad retail experience IMO.

 

[lisag]

Good luck. I was there this afternoon after they received their FedEx delivery for the day (Friday) and the guy told me they'd received 1 unit earlier in the day and sold it. He claimed no more in back, even after i pressed him. He did try to sell me on all of Apple's small business services though .

I've made a personal shopping appointment for tomorrow morning at 8:30 AM at the Highland Park Knox St location (in TX) to see if I have any luck in purchasing an Air. I hope they'll have one. If they do, it won't be hard to convince them. I'm just worried they won't have any when I arrive.

 

[Karsy]

Anyone here in the Albany, NY area looking in Crossgates?

Yep. I went in and tried to buy one tonight. The sales clerk told me she thought they had them, repeated back to me everything I wanted (superdrive, applecare, printer rebate, etc., etc.). She then spoke in low tones to another employee, and returned to tell me that they don't have any yet...but to call tomorrow. Oooookay.

 

[Pdrickey]

Updated San Antonio, Texas. They told me they wouldn't have any until next week!!!

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

Neither San Diego location (UTC/Fashion Valley) have any available for sale. UTC told me "we were told to say a few days". 3 demo units out at UTC, all with the hard drive.

I purchased a 1.6/80 from UTC this morning... When i was there they had two demos out, one SSD and one HD...

 

[camarobh]

I purchased a 1.6/80 from UTC this morning... When i was there they had two demos out, one SSD and one HD...

Guess I was too late....they had three demos out tonight, the clerk told me they were all HDD and they did not have any in stock. Called Fashion Valley and they said they were out. Neither store could/would give me anything but "check back in a few days..."

 

[bidwalj]

Sorry for the late reply as i was traveling to the bay area, but i picked mines up this morning at 11 from northridge apple. I went in there looking at the demo and I talked to one of the employees. At first they said they didnt have any and to check back later as shipments come. I had called in the morning and was told to check at 11. I told them that and started talking about my job, as I am an auditor for the government. I told him i was traveling for the remainder of the month (which i am) and would have been great if i could get one today as I sold my macbook pro two weeks ago. He then goes to the back and tells me he will check again. 10 mins later, he brings on out (i wanted the base one) and goes its your lucky day, we just got one in. I didnt question anything at that point and purchased it with my government discount.

 

[dbell]

Anyone know if the stores that are selling, are they selling SDD models or just HDD models?

 

[ubercool]

Anyone know if the stores that are selling, are they selling SDD models or just HDD models?

Several people have bought SSD models. Inventory varies by store. There is a complete list in this thread that shows store-by-store experience, just use your nav buttons and check it out.

 

[lisag]

The trials and tribulations of members here along with our own staff members' are quite something when it comes to getting an Air. I've posted a news item on our site: http://www.mobiletechreview.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Number=29545.

 

[HLdan]

I simply don't understand how you could have all these demos in stores and no supply. All it does is tease people-you can touch, but can't buy. Hell of a sales strategy.

I just don't get it.

Ever heard of supply and demand? There's the answer to your question.

 

[Kinetic]

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!

You know, stories like these make me so pissed and makes me wish I didn't want Apple products. The customer service really sux. I got the "we don't have one" story but I know they are lying. It seems like Apple believes fanbois will take whatever they dish out and say "may I have another?" .... and we usually do

 

[twoodcc]

so any updates on the stores in Georgia? (sorry it's kinda hard going thru this thread)

 

[aep42686]

I said that I would go in if the freeway was moving. It wasn't, so I just called since I had been there in the morning and they didn't even have demos. Brad on the phone said that they had some now that they had put out mid afternoon. He said they didn't have any for sale but to come by and see it b/c it's a great machine, yada yada.

So, I guess this location could be added to the list. I did not confirm on the phone if there demo was a HDD or solid state.

I know the manager of all the apple stores in colorado sooooo i might see him tommarow. Im gonna try to get some info on what apple is doing...... post anything as soon as i know.... Check at the cherry creek store cause some people were walking out with them, but i dont know.

 

[Khurram]

5th avenue NYC

Just came back from the apple store 5th avenue at about 12:30am.
They had about 8 MBA's on display.
When I inquired about purchasing one for my friend they insisted that none were available..when I said that I know people have purchased them earlier today they acted totally ignorant.
Anyways..I have mine and i'm posting from it now but they refused to sell me two which my friends were ready to buy.
They said call every hour on the hour to check for availability.
The vague answers they are giving are very irritating...
I mean either it's for sale or it isn't..they act like i'm trying to buy crack or something...heading to the soho store tomorrow to try and buy two with my friends who are here from L.A.

 

[SFCAMacuser]

Palo Alto, CA (Northern CA)

Palo Alto Store 1 demo unit, 1.6GHz/80GByte, none sale..

 

[ShoopaMac]

NorthWest

Bellevue Square, Bellevue Square - Display/ N/A for Sale
Seattle, University Village - Display/ N/A for Sale
Tukwila, Southcenter - Display/ Had and Soldout, N/A for Sale

Lynnwood, Alderwood Mall - Will Try First thing 2/2/08 Morning (cross index and middle fingers)

Apple has been pretty good about availability... I'm very sad about not being able to get what I've eagerly desired for a long time~ But it's kind'a~ liking some girl - the beginning stage.... but will it be a good catch? who knows... hopefully~

btw... the 4200rpm HDD is the biggest turn off for me... I could live w/ others... I guess~