Purchase Macbook Pro from Apple Store or Other?

[buzlink]

Are there any perks for purchasing a new Macbook Pro from an Apple store direct, or is purchasing one anywhere the same? Do they only offer college discounts at the Apple store?
I visited the Apple Store here in Kansas City on Tuesday, and was very disappointed with the help and knowledge of the staff, and to boot they didn't have the Macbook Pro I wanted, and did not offer to have one ordered. The sales person simply told me to call back, or go online and order one.

I'm also having a hard time deciding between the entry level Macbook Pro or the mid level Macbook.

 

[AvSRoCkCO1067]

Are there any perks for purchasing a new Macbook Pro from an Apple store direct, or is purchasing one anywhere the same? Do they only offer college discounts at the Apple store?
I visited the Apple Store here in Kansas City on Tuesday, and was very disappointed with the help and knowledge of the staff, and to boot they didn't have the Macbook Pro I wanted, and did not offer to have one ordered. The sales person simply told me to call back, or go online and order one.

I'm also having a hard time deciding between the entry level Macbook Pro or the mid level Macbook.

They do offer college discounts - and they're pretty substantial!

Visit apple.com and click on 'Education' in the right column in the Apple Store page, then follow the prompts...

To get the educational discounts in the Apple brick-and-mortar stores, you need proof that you're a college student - then they'll give you the discount

 

[Mac Rules]

Well if you're in education, you can get an education discount is stores, but its much greater if oyu buy it online. Ive heard that in store you can get up to around 8% off, but online, as much as 15% off... I'll be buying online thats for sure!

Shame about the staff, I've never had that problem with the staff here in the UK? Oh well, just one of those days!

Cheers

PS Macbook Pro all the way!!! Whatever you do, wait until Sept. 12th fo rthe expected update!

 

[63dot]

i assume mac catalogs could be in the "other" category

i used to be skeptical about mac catalogs vs. actual stores which sell stuff at full retail, but over the years i have seen where getting that extra free ram, or printer/scanner, or other stuff thrown in with the computer is a real plus from the catalogs

i have used mac mall, mac warehouse, and others and i have always received some sort of discount compared to a store...especially when it comes to ram...i just don't get why apple inc charges so much for extra ram when you can either buy it cheaper elsewhere, or even get it free from a major mac catalog

plus a catalog will offer stuff you can rarely or never find in any apple store or apple affiliated store

some time back, demi-god backtothemac used to sell macs through his company catalog/mail-order online and some here at macrumors were very pleased with the perks of buying from a catalog

 

[buzlink]

They do offer college discounts - and they're pretty substantial!

Visit apple.com and click on 'Education' in the right column in the Apple Store page, then follow the prompts...

To get the educational discounts in the Apple brick-and-mortar stores, you need proof that you're a college student - then they'll give you the discount

I thought the discount was about 10% not much but helps.

 

[AvSRoCkCO1067]

I thought the discount was about 10% not much but helps.

10% is a sizeable discount, especially for us college kids .

I purchased my MacBook Pro in store, and they gave me the 200 dollars off - so I got it for 1800 dollars, the same as I would have online. All Apple Stores should do this, as long as you prove you're a student...right....?

 

[63dot]

I thought the discount was about 10% not much but helps.

efollet.com came to campus and offered microsoft office (student and teacher edition) for pc or mac (office 2001 for students) free to any student/faculty/staff who bought one of their backpacks at full price (which was $99.00), so there are some perks from being a student

it's not apple inc stuff, but getting office for mac (student version) alone without the student deal was more than a hundred bucks alone then

look for deals like this on campus at the end of summer semester or during the first few days of fall semester

i have also seen adobe stuff for macs very cheap, too for students in similar promo deals...and i really wish apple would do some one time, once a year deal with efollet.com or similar company

 

[buzlink]

efollet.com came to campus and offered microsoft office (student and teacher edition) for pc or mac (office 2001 for students) free to any student/faculty/staff who bought one of their backpacks at full price (which was $99.00), so there are some perks from being a student

it's not apple inc stuff, but getting office for mac (student version) alone without the student deal was more than a hundred bucks alone then

look for deals like this on campus at the end of summer semester or during the first few days of fall semester

i have also seen adobe stuff for macs very cheap, too for students in similar promo deals...and i really wish apple would do some one time, once a year deal with efollet.com or similar company

Cool I'll have to keep a look out.

 

[~L~]

hmm...see to use the student discount, what proof do you need to present? I'm only just about to go into the first year of uni, so I don't have a student card yet. Is the offer of place letter enough?

 

[63dot]

hmm...see to use the student discount, what proof do you need to present? I'm only just about to go into the first year of uni, so I don't have a student card yet. Is the offer of place letter enough?

the manager of the college bookstore never asked for id and said he would sell any and all student software at the student price to anybody...too much of a hassle to check every id during the end of a semester or the beginning of a new one with 8,000 students and 4 cashiers in the bookstore

 

[bigrell486]

I would buy direct from Apple unless someone can give you a good deal on added Ram which usually involves a mandatory installation fee (usually $35) depending on where your live you have a 98% chance of it being tax free and on top of that they sometimes give you a $100 rebate, free laptop bag (after rebate), and printer (after rebate)

The only downside it that you usually have to pay shipping and you have to pay for everything before the rebates.

Computer $2000
Ram $0035
laptop Bag $0079
Printer $0100
Shipping $0050
--------------------
Intial Cost $2264
After Rebates $1985
--------------------
Apple Cost $2120 (For only the computer at 6% tax)

So other stores and mail orders do have their perks

 

[FFTT]

I would just call up Apple by phone 1-800-My Apple or order online through the education sales department.

This gives you the discount and insures that you get any latest revisions.

You can also check with your school purchasing department for any special deals.

Schools sometimes offer great packages with hardware and software
required by the school.