Pulling the trigger – Where to buy a Mac – Tips for the best price and delivery

Once you have decided what Mac to buy, it's time to pull the trigger and buy it. Although Apple holds all their retailers to around the same price, there are still ways to get a deal.

Your first consideration is whether buying a used Mac will suit you. If you can still enjoy your Mac knowing someone else may have used it, you can find the best prices in the used market.

The next issue is whether you need the latest edition of the Mac model you want. Many times during the year, you can buy the previous model on clearance at a discount. This is often a good way to go if you are not looking for the most powerful Mac.

Your last consideration is which is more important to you: price or instant gratification. Often good prices are found by ordering out of state and avoiding sales tax, but you can end up waiting for slow, free shipping. Conversely, you might pay a little more at the local Apple store, but you can come right home with it and be using your new Mac that day.

Here’s a run down of the best places to buy your new Mac with some of the trade-offs involved.

Amazon – Amazon usually has the best prices on current Macs. They often offer a rebate and free shipping, and you probably won’t pay sales tax depending on where you live. The down side is you will have to wait for it to be shipped, which could be a while if you select the free shipping option.

Apple Web Site– Shop the Special Deals section of the apple web site for great discounts on certified refurbished Macs. These are as good as new and come with the same warranty. Down side: You also wait for free shipping and you will probably pay sales tax. The selection is also hit and miss. Bonus: You can also find older models on clearance by clicking on the Clearance tab.

Your local Apple Store – This is your best bet for instant gratification. They always have plenty of stock at list prices, but the secret is at the end of the month, they put out a sale table of all the items that have been returned and they can’t sell as “new.” This usually leads to a 10% or so discount. Chat up a sales person to find out exactly when they become available. Other bonuses: you can recycle your old PC or a friend’s for free with purchase, and you can have the Apple Geniuses help you get it set up (if you have time to spare). Down side: Sales tax, driving.

Your Campus Store – If you are a college student or any faculty member, you can get the education discount on a new Mac. It’s not much on the cheaper Macs, but it can add up if you are going high end. You can also get this discount on Apple’s store web site by clicking through to the education store.

Mac Catalog/Web stores – These outfits only can offer a few dollars off list price, but they will usually throw in a printer or extra RAM to entice you. They also offer clearance models from time to time. Down sides: many states pay sales tax, time/cost to ship.

Best Buy/Circuit City/Frys – The only advantage these big retailers offer is convenience. Their prices aren’t much better and their service is usually pitiful. Only buy here if you don’t live near an Apple store and you have to get it today. Down sides: Sales tax, driving, poor service.

Ebay – You can find both new and used Macs on eBay. The sellers range from small retailers getting around Apple’s enforced pricing to business liquidators to people like you to scam artists. Buy only from sellers with many previous sales, not purchases. I also suggest you only buy from someone local (you can specify that in your search). That way you can inspect the seller and your new Mac before buying and you save on shipping. Regular shipping on computers can be expensive. Down sides: time spent to close and win an auction, paying cash if picking up.

Universal tip: Pay with a credit card that offers both cash rewards and warranty extension whenever possible. Some credit cards double the warranty on purchases and you might as well get 1-3% cash back. That can add up to $10-50 or even more.

DIG DEEPER

Most of these retailers’ prices can be compared at a glance at Macprices.net.

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