# Buying Macs from non-Apple retailers **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 11, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-macs-from-non-apple-retailers/560335 "2010-11-11T18:22:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-macs-from-non-apple-retailers/560335/1 "2010-11-11T18:22:52Z")
I’ve decided it’s time to replace my aging Macbook, and, while I know that the discounts to be had at Mac resellers are small, it’s better than nothing. I looked at [macmall.com](http://macmall.com), and the 13-inch Macbook Air I want is $40 cheaper. Yesterday, it looked like there was a special deal with Parallels and a printer free after some rebates, but I don’t see that any more. I’d use Parallels (I have an older version, but I’d be happy to have the upgrade for free), and I figure I can always craigslist the printer. Is Macmall reputable? Are there other resellers with better deals? Any good or bad experiences buying from resellers? ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-macs-from-non-apple-retailers/560335/2 "2010-11-11T21:52:54Z")
I can’t speak about the aftermarket sellers, but if you know anyone who’s affiliated with a college, they usually can get a $100 educational discount on Macs. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-macs-from-non-apple-retailers/560335/3 "2010-11-11T22:01:34Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > I’ve decided it’s time to replace my aging Macbook, and, while I know that the discounts to be had at Mac resellers are small, it’s better than nothing. > > I looked at [macmall.com](http://macmall.com), and the 13-inch Macbook Air I want is $40 cheaper. Yesterday, it looked like there was a special deal with Parallels and a printer free after some rebates, but I don’t see that any more. I’d use Parallels (I have an older version, but I’d be happy to have the upgrade for free), and I figure I can always craigslist the printer. > > Is Macmall reputable? Are there other resellers with better deals? Any good or bad experiences buying from resellers? MacMall is very reputable. They do have a tendency to offer inexpensive items that require multiple rebate coupons, which can be annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-macs-from-non-apple-retailers/560335/4 "2010-11-11T22:30:38Z")
I’ve bought my PowerBook and graphite iMac from MacMall. (Both times I turned down the free printer.) They’ve never caused me problems. One order coincided with my credit card expiring, and they were quick to contact me to update the new card info. My mom also bought her PowerPC 7200 and new iMac from them, and also never had problems. Shipping in all cases has been fast, usually 2 business days. I usually go with MacMall because they’ll throw in free RAM upgrades and shipping, which makes them a better deal than most other retailers, including Apple. ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-macs-from-non-apple-retailers/560335/5 "2010-11-11T23:05:43Z")
I ordered a desktop from MacMall and they emailed me a few days later to suggest a different ordering method (different combination of ordering options/coupons) that gave me the same system but saved me $200. I like them. ---
**Author:** ![Dan\_Turk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dan\_Turk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Turk)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-macs-from-non-apple-retailers/560335/6 "2010-11-12T03:04:53Z")
I’m all about the Apple Store refurbs… hit the website and look in the lower left corner. Save a couple hundred on computers .5-1 generation(s) behind. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-macs-from-non-apple-retailers/560335/7 "2010-11-12T05:34:37Z")
> [@Dan\_Turk](#): > > I’m all about the Apple Store refurbs… hit the website and look in the lower left corner. Save a couple hundred on computers .5-1 generation(s) behind. Normally I agree, but I want a new Macbook Air. The old Airs were significantly worse machines and are not a suitable replacement for me. ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-macs-from-non-apple-retailers/560335/8 "2010-11-12T05:45:10Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Normally I agree, but I want a new Macbook Air. The old Airs were significantly worse machines and are not a suitable replacement for me. Really? I love my original MacAir… What do you think is wrong with them? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-macs-from-non-apple-retailers/560335/9 "2010-11-12T13:02:31Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Normally I agree, but I want a new Macbook Air. The old Airs were significantly worse machines and are not a suitable replacement for me. If you’re not in a major hurry, then just be patient. They’ll show up in the refurb store. I can’t remember the last time I bought a non-refurb Mac. Probably the Graphite iMac I bought back in 1999? ---
**Author:** ![Dan\_Turk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dan\_Turk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Turk)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-macs-from-non-apple-retailers/560335/10 "2010-11-12T13:11:18Z")
It’s about three months into the product cycle till the refurbs start showing up in the online store… just an FYI, and I totally understand wanting the newest-gen. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-macs-from-non-apple-retailers/560335/11 "2010-11-12T17:53:49Z")
> [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](#): > > Really? I love my original MacAir… What do you think is wrong with them? My impression is that they’re more underpowered than the specs would indicate due to regular underclocking of the CPU. There’s also some speculation right now that the SSD performance in the new Airs is better due to some optimized drivers. The [benchmarks seem to support this](http://www.macworld.com/article/155224/2010/10/macbookairbto_benchmarks.html). Note how much slower the 2009 Air is compared to the 2010 model, even though the specs are pretty similar. I’m not saying that the 2009 is a bad computer. Just that it’s significantly worse than the newest one. And, since I get a smaller, lighter, stronger machine along with the increased performance, it’s not worth the (relatively) small refurbished discount to me. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-macs-from-non-apple-retailers/560335/12 "2010-11-12T18:16:16Z")
I’ve purchased from MacMall on more than one occasion. I’ve never been disappointed in them.