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Where is best place to purchase IMac?

L

Lht69

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 25, 2011
4
0
Hello,

Just registered on this site and have been reading through the threads. Just wanted to get some input as to where is the best place to buy an iMac. I don't need a BTO machine as the baseline 21.5 " is about all I can afford right now.

Do most of you buy from an Apple store? Is or are there any advantages to buying from the Apple store than from say Best Buy? The reason I ask is that Best Buy has a sale on the iMacs this week and I could save about $60. I know it is not a huge amount of savings but every little bit counts these days. Just don't know if Best Buy is the best place to buy a Mac.

Thanks in advance for any help.

LT
 
If it's not a BTO, you can buy it anywhere. Just make sure the machine is the one you are looking for and not a last generation model.
 
i bought from macmall and they really do backup with they sell as they got the 1gb graphics and then realized it was a mistake then sent me out another imac with 2gb graphics overnight while I had first one.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)

I'd always go to the apple store, their service is pretty top-notch, and if you've ever got any problems, they're pretty quick to resolve them!
 
NutsNGum said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)

I'd always go to the apple store, their service is pretty top-notch, and if you've ever got any problems, they're pretty quick to resolve them!
Click to expand...

Agreed!

Check out the postings for people reporting issues.

For example, I have an iPhone bumper which is failing. It's eleven months old. Took it to the Apple store and within two minutes, I had a new one in my hand, no paperwork, no hassles, no trying to wriggle out of the warranty, just smiles. (I know this is a trivial product, but it's typical of the Apple approach)
 
From experience I would go with the Apple store:

I bought a duo-core iMac 3 years ago from PC World here in the UK as the local Apple store was out of the model I was after.
When I powered it up the bottom third of the display was a dark green colour, 30 seconds on the net and I realised one of the display tubes had gone.
So i packed it up and went back to the store, where they flatly refused to take it back and said I needed to send to Apple for repair.
I tried everything in the book to get either a replacement iMac or a refund and they wouldn't budge.
Eventually I phoned Apple direct and they advised to take it to the local Apple store which I did. They confirmed the tube problem then offered me a replacement which I gratefully accepted.

Roll onto 2 weeks ago and I bought a i7 3.4GHz from the same Apple store, over a two week period it became apparent there was a problem with the Mac and I took it back for a full refund.
No hassle, nothing; that is what you call customer service.

In the meantime I ordered a BTO with a 2GB GPU, it should have taken 2 weeks but from order to delivery was 6 days, again I'm more than happy and Apple can carry on taking my money at this rate. :D
 
Georgio said:
From experience I would go with the Apple store:

I bought a duo-core iMac 3 years ago from PC World here in the UK as the local Apple store was out of the model I was after.
When I powered it up the bottom third of the display was a dark green colour, 30 seconds on the net and I realised one of the display tubes had gone.
So i packed it up and went back to the store, where they flatly refused to take it back and said I needed to send to Apple for repair.
I tried everything in the book to get either a replacement iMac or a refund and they wouldn't budge.
Eventually I phoned Apple direct and they advised to take it to the local Apple store which I did. They confirmed the tube problem then offered me a replacement which I gratefully accepted.

Roll onto 2 weeks ago and I bought a i7 3.4GHz from the same Apple store, over a two week period it became apparent there was a problem with the Mac and I took it back for a full refund.
No hassle, nothing; that is what you call customer service.

In the meantime I ordered a BTO with a 2GB GPU, it should have taken 2 weeks but from order to delivery was 6 days, again I'm more than happy and Apple can carry on taking my money at this rate. :D
Click to expand...

Agreed, I've only every bought Apple hardware directly from Apple.
 
I would get it somewhere where you can avoid taxes :). Amazon, Macmall, CompUSA, Microcenter come to mind. While retailers will be more iffy on DOA issues, Apple gives you the same in-store warranty service regardless of where you purchased it.
 
I prefer fulfilling my computer needs at an Apple store, but it is not necessary. If the OP buys an iMac form Best Buy and has an issue with the machine, then one cannot make an appointment with a genius bar associate at an Apple store? It does not matter where you buy your iMac, as a local Apple store should cater to one's need. Customers must hold Apple accountable for their products no matter where they are purchased.

Honestly, I have had a few problems solved by Geek Squad, but it's been a few years. I am not aware of their current customer service track record. I was in my local friendly Microcenter and they have Macs galore. They will match Apple student prices too!

My point is this: as consumers we are not restricted to shop exclusively at an Apple store, even though I do. ;) I am stepping off my soap box now! :cool:
 
Thanks for the replies. I may just buy from the Apple store. I am lucky enough to have 2 Apple stores within five minutes of where I live.

This is going to be my first Mac. Can't wait!

LT
 
I got mine at an Apple Store. I considered online, but the store was so close.

I also appreciated the setup and tour since this is my first Mac since the Reagan administration. :D
 
If you were from the UK I'd say John Lewis.

That 2nd year of warranty for free sure is great! No more expensive than the Apple Store and obviously, in the first year of warranty you can take the item to the Apple Store.
 
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