-
Apple Store, 5th Avenue in ManhattanApple has traditionally been very careful about what types of retailers it allows to carry its products. These include through online retailers (MacMall, Mac Zone), bricks-and-mortar computer dealers (the now-defunct CompUSA), independent local computer shops who are Authorized Apple Dealers and a few select, big-box retailers like BestBuy. More recently, Apple has started selling directly, both through its retail shops and its online store. - While price is usually a major factor when buying any computer hardware, sometimes it shouldn't be the only consideration when buying laptops, particularly for large accounts or corporate users. Paying for service is necessary for these clients, because it's imperative that your dealer is responsive and able to solve problems in real time, like replacing a defective laptop instantly without waiting for the non-working one to be returned.
-
I think the warranty has expired on my laptop.Despite the limited choices of where to shop, there are benefits from dealing with that type of network. Authorized Apple dealers allow users to bring their laptops in for under-warranty repairs, no matter where they bought them. Apple maintains a sophisticated database of users/names/serial numbers, so even if you don't have the paperwork on hand, the important data is available online. - While buying second-hand laptops on auction or bulletin board sites is mostly problem-free, there is a cottage industry of scammers, usually located in Eastern Europe. These con artists are somehow able to bypass the security features of eBay, and appear as esteemed members with perfect feedback. One giveaway is that they require payment to be wired to their account; so despite the good references or profiles online, it's best to avoid these types of situations. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
- Generally speaking, prices on Apple hardware are the same across the board, whether it's purchased through a mail order house, from an authorized Apple dealer or Apple itself (either through a retail Apple Store or online). However, Apple does offer an online-only resource: For a discount, they sell refurbished Macs, which have the same warranty as a new model. Additionally, users are also able to buy the extended Apple Care protection plan, which is identical to the program that is offered to buyers of new Macs.
