No 4GB models in stock!!!

[mayhone1]

I wonder why it is so hard for places like best buy and my local mac-mann, just to name a few places, to have at least one or two 4GB models of the macbook air, or really any mac in stock. I know they are build to order but you think these places would order special, a few of these models just to keep up with consumer demand. What gets to me more is when you ask for it they act like you can't order anything yourself and say, we'll if you want we could special order these for you, blah, blah, blah, yeah well I can also do this myself. Sorry guys just a rant! Just upsets me to have to go through it when I can easily just buy one from the store if they did what they were suppose to and had the stock, in stock.

 

[Oli3000]

I wonder why it is so hard for places like best buy and my local mac-mann, just to name a few places, to have at least one or two 4GB models of the macbook air, or really any mac in stock. I know they are build to order but you think these places would order special, a few of these models just to keep up with consumer demand. What gets to me more is when you ask for it they act like you can't order anything yourself and say, we'll if you want we could special order these for you, blah, blah, blah, yeah well I can also do this myself. Sorry guys just a rant! Just upsets me to have to go through it when I can easily just buy one from the store if they did what they were suppose to and had the stock, in stock.

If they were to order them BTO, I imagine they would have to pay retail price (less tax), as Apple will only ship the SKUs that they ship to their own stores!

 

[mayhone1]

If they were to order them BTO, I imagine they would have to pay retail price (less tax), as Apple will only ship the SKUs that they ship to their own stores!

If thats true I understand to a point but especially for mac-mann It bothers me that a special apple reseller can't order a few just in case they sell it, there should be a way around the process.

 

[fyrefly]

If thats true I understand to a point but especially for mac-mann It bothers me that a special apple reseller can't order a few just in case they sell it, there should be a way around the process.

The problem with a reseller keeping a BTO model in stock is that (AFAIK) if/when Apple refreshes the product, and drops the prices of the old models to clear them out, the reseller is stuck with the retail price paid on the BTO model.

Based on that, there's absolutely no reason for a local mac place to keep BTO models in stock, unless there's been a strong demand for them. Otherwise, they could very easily turn into shelf-hogging, dust-collecting, expensive money losers. Hard for a reseller to justify given the already razor-thin margins Apple lets them have.

 

[TheRealDamager]

The problem with a reseller keeping a BTO model in stock is that (AFAIK) if/when Apple refreshes the product, and drops the prices of the old models to clear them out, the reseller is stuck with the retail price paid on the BTO model.

Based on that, there's absolutely no reason for a local mac place to keep BTO models in stock, unless there's been a strong demand for them. Otherwise, they could very easily turn into shelf-hogging, dust-collecting, expensive money losers. Hard for a reseller to justify given the already razor-thin margins Apple lets them have.

Can't you just order online and wait a few days?

 

[Patrick946]

I want to get a BTO Macbook Air (13" with 4GB RAM upgrade only), but I wouldn't want it dropped off in my apartment lobby. The outside door doesn't always close all the way, and I don't know everyone in my building well enough to feel safe with such an expensive thing laying around. Is there any way I can pick up a BTO model at an Apple Store? Can I request that it gets delivered there, or even go to the store and order one through there?

Alternately, can I specify that I want to pick it up at Fedex/UPS/whatever Apple ships with rather than having it delivered to my apartment?

 

[Buckeyes1995]

I want to get a BTO Macbook Air (13" with 4GB RAM upgrade only), but I wouldn't want it dropped off in my apartment lobby. The outside door doesn't always close all the way, and I don't know everyone in my building well enough to feel safe with such an expensive thing laying around. Is there any way I can pick up a BTO model at an Apple Store? Can I request that it gets delivered there, or even go to the store and order one through there?

Alternately, can I specify that I want to pick it up at Fedex/UPS/whatever Apple ships with rather than having it delivered to my apartment?

Call your local apple store. A LOT of Apple stores carry all sorts of models. For example, the store near me (Akron, Ohio) carries nearly every 'version' of the Mac Air.. I picked up an ultimate edition just a few weeks ago; they had various other options in stock as well.

Call your local Apple store and see what they have. I do not believe you can order online and have it shipped to a store, however.

 

[RealScience]

Alternately, can I specify that I want to pick it up at Fedex/UPS/whatever Apple ships with rather than having it delivered to my apartment?

I think that once the package is shipped, you can call FedEx and specify that you want it held for pick-up at the local depot rather than delivered. I seem to even recall seeing a button on the tracking page that allowed you to do that, but I've never clicked it, maybe it just tells you to call

I believe that Apple packages also require a signature, so they shouldn't just leave it in the lobby unless you've previously authorized them to do so with your packages. That said, UPS and FedEx (and any other carrier service, though those are the two that I have the most experience with) always make me paranoid. They've screwed up enough times that I usually make sure I'm home and watching for them if I'm having something valuable delivered.

 

[Aboo]

Although most independent retailers don't stock 4GB models, most are more than willing to order one for you. This may be a good option if you don't want to shop online or don't want to deal with courier companies etc.

The other options is to order it directly from Apple. At least in the US, the carrier is not allowed to just leave a package from Apple at the front door, etc. It needs to be physically signed for by someone. Thus, most carriers are willing to have you pick it up from their local distribution center if you want to. This may be another option for you.

 

[fyrefly]

Can't you just order online and wait a few days?

Yes. That's already been discussed in this thread. The OP didn't want to do that, and I was explaining why Resellers for the most part don't have BTO models in stock.

 

[Moccasin]

I had a similar problem - was travelling around UK with work and couldn't be around for a delivery before going overseas.

In the end I had to buy the Ultimate 11" from a store, even though I would have preferred a 4GB 13" yet couldn't afford a 13" Ultimate. No refurb models with the specs I wanted were available either and I still didn't trust delivery times.

Apple stores (in the UK at least) have both maxed out models in store but as far as I know do not have any of the intermediate models.

It would be a good service if Apple allowed you to order online and have the machine delivered to a store of your choosing. Many other stores allow this and it would be a real boon for those who can't take time off work and can't have things delivered to their workplace.

 

[mayhone1]

Can't you just order online and wait a few days?

I decided to do this, yes!

 

[octatonic]

Yup, just went through this myself.

In the UK even the Apple Stores only stock 4GB models in the top spec.
This was annoying to me as I went in to buy the 13" 1.8Ghz with 4GB RAM and was told I would have to go BTO.

I went for the 11" 1.6Ghz with 4GB and in hindsight it was the right machine to get as I am travelling from next week for a few months.

I don't know why they don't stock the 13" 1.8Ghz 4GB model.
Would imagine that is the sweet spot for most people as far as balancing price/performance.

 

[Moccasin]

I went for the 11" 1.6Ghz with 4GB and in hindsight it was the right machine to get as I am travelling from next week for a few months.

I don't know why they don't stock the 13" 1.8Ghz 4GB model.

Glad its not just me! Still think that if John Lewis can do online order and pickup in 24 hours, then Apple could keep some stock centrally and let you pick it up at a store of your choosing. Also means you could make more use of the One to One service (if you're a newbie) and have help getting the thing set up. Presumably it would save them money as they would use their existing distribution network rather than a courier.

 

[gwsat]

Apple stores (in the UK at least) have both maxed out models in store but as far as I know do not have any of the intermediate models.

That seems to be Apple's policy everywhere, at least in the US. While the OKC Apple Store carries both the 11 and 13 inch Ultimate MBAs, they don't carry any of the intermediate models with 4GB of RAM. I have seen innumerable posts in other threads stating that Apple Stores in other US cities have the same policy as the OKC Apple Store.

 

[octatonic]

Glad its not just me! Still think that if John Lewis can do online order and pickup in 24 hours, then Apple could keep some stock centrally and let you pick it up at a store of your choosing. Also means you could make more use of the One to One service (if you're a newbie) and have help getting the thing set up. Presumably it would save them money as they would use their existing distribution network rather than a courier.

Unfortunately I can't do that as I need to get my student discount- the only way I can get that is to go to my university, which is a 3 hour round trip and then a huge hassle to get it ordered.
In any case, no matter as I am happy with the 11".