OS and Software > All Things Macintosh > Poll: Shopping

Poll: Shopping

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Only problem with listing compusa is that you dont specify online or in store (i assume u mean online)

reply to tmpchaos

reply to tmpchaos

Re: Poll: Shopping

reply to tmpchaos
Computer from MacWarehouse
Studio Display from Outpost
Compact Flash Card from Buy.com
Memory from OWC
Router and digital camera from Navy Exchange

I guess I shop around for the best price. I've had good results from each transaction listed above.
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My name is Sue. How do you do? Now you gonna die!

reply to tmpchaos
I've bought from all of them except one (the one that doesn't know it's ass from it's elbow), and had good experiences. These days, I tend to go for the smaller retailers (OWC and Small Dog) first; if they have what I want, at a good price, I'm perfectly happy buying from them (although if valmg starts posting special deals, I might be willing to pay tax to buy from the company she works for) (and when the G5 comes out, I'm liable to try the developer scam).
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Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional...
***FAQ***

reply to tmpchaos
Not on the list, but my company has used Mac/PC Connection for years. We have an account with them and our rep is really responsive and helpful, even though we don't buy a whole bunch of stuff.

»www.macconnection.com
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"And that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana-shaped." - Sir Bedevere

reply to tmpchaos
I always go to local stores to get some hands on time with any new system I am thinking of purchasing, and order online to save some cash.

I have used macconnection/outpost/macmall/buy.com/ramjet.com and have had great experiences with all of them.

Got my G4 450 DP from outpost with no tax and free shipping... cant beat that, and it arrived overnight!
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Consciousness - that annoying time between naps...

reply to tmpchaos
OWC has evolved nicely over the years.

I've bought all my memory from Data Memory Systems.

Guaranteed product with great prices.

Great customer service. I had a problem with the shipping once due to their error (in making the shipping label). My delivery was delayed two days (it should have been overnight) and in that time memory had dropped in price by about $20. They credited the difference in memory price because of the delayed shipment.

I think its also important to consider shipping prices and carriers when evaluating an internet store.

[rant]
I will not buy from someone that ships exclusively via UPS. I prefer FedEx, Airborne, or even the USPS. I've had too many problems with UPS to ever trust them again with a shipment. When their workers went on strike a couple years ago I was hoping the company would shut down and go away. No such luck.
[/rant]

reply to tmpchaos
CDW.com is excellent at service

CDW is great, but their main distribution center (absolutely HUGE) is like 15 minutes away from me... really cramped showroom with neglected Macs... Tax is awful too. However, they are all very helpful and pretty knowlegable.
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Consciousness - that annoying time between naps...

reply to tmpchaos
Macconnection has been pretty good to me, even on hot items that run out fast, it gets to me pretty quickly.
I also got my dual G4/450 from Outpost.com, no tax and free shipping. I guess that's what killed them.
ebay has been very, very good to me on software
I just buy older versions for very cheap, like $65.00 and upgrade to the new versions. I usually can get all the software for $250.00 or less.

Cal
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Calvin Lee
Creative Director
Mayhem Studios

reply to Homunculus
I guess I was'nt being totally honest. I have never recieved anything from them per say, but when I first bought my iMac, and the wait was killing me, a gentalman on service called me (at home)2x a week to tell me what was taking Apple so long. He even cut the price below the $1799 mark to $1759 shipped. I thought from what I expirenced I would buy from them again. Well, as most of you know...I cancelled and drove to Cincinati OH to get my imac from Apple store.

So if I had to buy a computer, it would be from them. They said they will beat any online price.

-hyper
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I have finally concluded that owning a Mac is an -ism

reply to tmpchaos
I bought some RAM from MacZone and a CD burner from Outpost.com. Both transactions were very satisfactory. The RAM was a 512MB DIMM of PC100 memory for $57 (Try getting one of those for that price these days) and the burner was an external FireWire unit from QPS. It's a Que! Fire 16x10x40 and I've been very satisfied with it. Of course as soon as I bought it the 24x burners came out and a few months later they were the same price...grumblegrumblegrumble

Lots of votes for 'Other'...other what?

reply to tmpchaos
Places I've bought Mac stuff from:

Macsales/OWC:
* external firewire enclosure for 2.5" PowerBook hard drive
* RAM for powerbook

TransIntl:
* IBM 30 GB TravelStar hard drive for powerbook

CompUSA:
* iPod
* HP DeskJet 940c
* Samsung 15" LCD display
* USB hub

Apple Direct:
* PowerBook
* Airport Base Station
* Airport Card

I buy stuff at CompUSA because there is one literally 2 minutes down the road from me, so it's better for big stuff like printers or monitors, easier to do returns, no shipping costs, instant gratification. PLUS my local CompUSA has incredible Mac people. The store owner is a Mac guy, there are four Mac-savvy sales reps, an Apple employee on premises 30 hours a week to answer Mac questions, AND they donate space for my local Mac User Group to hold its monthly meetings. In fact one of their head product specialists is a Mac guy and has done presentations at a couple of our meetings.

As for the other places, OWC is probably my favorite, their prices are great and they have always shipped me good quality stuff. They are good when I can wait a little while.
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Peter R. Wood - prw@prwdot.org - »prwdot.org/

reply to tmpchaos
I wish there was a CompUSA close to me. Closest is Knoxville: 2hrs away. I've heard they've got killer Mac stuff. As it is there is NO place to buy mac stuff locally...Circuit City used to have some old G3 iMacs set up for sale, but no longer...

reply to tmpchaos
MacConnection always seems to have the lowest prices or best freebies. My mom just bought an iMac and digital video camera on Friday. She wanted to buy at a retail store, but she refuses to shop at CompUSA because the sales staff is not helpful at all, so we went to the Apple Store at the Palisades Mall.
[text was edited by author 2002-05-09 07:41:18]

reply to tmpchaos
I use each one for different reasons. OWC for memory, Buy.com for hardware like scanners, printer etc. etc.
I have purchased from almost all though at one time or another.
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"It's such a fine line between stupid, and clever. -David St. Hubbins

reply to tmpchaos
SmallDog all the way. And OWC for memory. I was a big Outpost.com fan but since they had to sell the company, I haven't been back.

But if you need a used car, Darryl Peck (from Outpost.com fame) owns a dealership near me.

I've always been a MacWarehouse fan myself. Probably because I can order UPS ground and it still gets here next day The shipping center closest to me is in Metro Columbus. Prices are usually better (even with tax) than CompUSA, Micro-Center, local mac retailers.
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The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.