My vent here mostly says it all.
I’m not even stepping foot in an Apple Store today, but I’m already annoyed with them. I wanted to buy a Black MacBook with 2GB RAM and a 160GB hard-drive. That’s two upgrades from the standard configuration, and Apple Stores don’t carry any configurations in stock (I’m glad I called).
So I’m headed to Tekserve. They have it how I want it in stock — none of this waiting around for it to come in the mail.
Anyway, join my vent:
Apple Store
I think it sucks they don’t have different configurations of computers in stock. I want what I want and I want it now.
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6 responses so far ↓
1 sarah // Apr 16, 2007 at 9:04 am
ok so apple stores have never carried custom configurations for computers in thier stores. then they would have to stock like 1 million configurations which stores dont have space for. ram can be upgraded in store but not the hd, that would void the warranty.
2 Michael // Apr 16, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Upgrading the hard drive would NOT void the warranty on the MacBook at least. Apple just wouldn’t cover the upgraded hard drive if anything were to happen to it while the computer still being under warranty. There really isn’t any reason for you to be angry,if you bought it from the online store not only could you configure it the way you want but you would also save on the price of the RAM, because they would just charge you the difference between what was in the computer to what they put in.
3 ignis fatuusz // Apr 17, 2007 at 6:24 am
Buying from a 3rd party (Tekserve, in this case, I guess) is certainly an option, but if they use 3rd party RAM or HD to get the configuration you’re looking for, those items will not be covered by Apple’s warranty. Of course, that’s the tradeoff you make if you want it immediately, although I understand that a configure-to-order machine from the Apple store online usually gets to the customer within a couple of days.
Sounds like you’re finding a complaint where there’s really none to be found. Try going to a Dell kiosk and walking away with a new machine of any configuration. Or an HP store — wait; there aren’t any, are there?
4 nate // Apr 17, 2007 at 10:55 am
That’s the thing… Tekserve keeps these in stock, configured by Apple (the real Apple seals are on every part of the packaging).
THey’re like any true retailer: they buy what customers want, in bulk, and re-sell them.
Apple’s model just shows what their retail stores are for: not selling computers, but showcasing them.
That’s fine. I just will lower their margins and buy from a real retailer (especially because with Apple Stores all over the country now, there aren’t advantages to ordering online (i.e. you still have to pay sales tax)).
The exception here is getting a student discount, etc. That you MUST do through Apple, and that few hundred bucks may be worth your time and effort to wait.
5 JB // Apr 19, 2007 at 2:32 pm
So what you’re saying is that because you wanted a laptop that the apple store doesn’t stock the Apple RETAIL STORE isn’t for selling computers?
Wow, nice logic.
6 Mo // Apr 19, 2007 at 7:51 pm
The cool thing is though even if you buy from an apple reseller Apple is still going to benefit from the sale. If that will sell another mac then Apple will not care where you purchase it from, just as long as you get what you wanted. I don’t know anyone that works at an Apple store that would be upset that you got what you wanted and that you bought an Apple.
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