Styleforum › Forums › Lifestyle › Fine Living, Home, Design & Auto › Buying a Mac and I phone whilst holidaying in the US
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Buying a Mac and I phone whilst holidaying in the US

post #1 of 11
9/23/09 at 8:44pm
Thread Starter 
Hello,

I intend buying a mac and i-phone whilst holidaying in the States.

My question is this, do the big department stores stock them there? Or is my only option an apple store? The reason why I ask is that I have read that some of the big department stores and also malls give tourist discount, therefore, if I could find a mac in one of those stores I presume it would be cheaper than purchasing it in the apple store?

thanks
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 11
9/23/09 at 9:08pm
You'll only find them at Apple Authorized resellers, best bet are Apple Stores and Best Buys re about it in my neck of the woods- (there are mini Apple Stores inside of the larger Best Buys). Sales/discounts are rare to nonexistant on the comps.

If you are a student and can show a valid student ID you'll get a break- dunno if that includes overseas.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 11
9/23/09 at 9:34pm
I would imagine that the fine print in any big store says "discount not for Apple products"
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 11
9/23/09 at 10:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gomestar View Post
I would imagine that the fine print in any big store says "discount not for Apple products"

Apple offers discounts specifically to students and academic faculty.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 11
9/23/09 at 10:21pm
What department stores give discounts to tourists? And what do they require to prove you're a tourist (other than an accent!)?
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 11
9/23/09 at 10:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by onlinematt View Post
What department stores give discounts to tourists? And what do they require to prove you're a tourist (other than an accent!)?
Off Fifth does. and they ask for your passport. to the OP, you might want to check if they will let you buy an iPhone without activating it with AT&T (the US cellular carrier). i tried to do this for a non-American family member some time ago, and they wouldn't sell it without activating it on an AT&T plan (or purchasing a new one)
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 11
9/23/09 at 10:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mafoofan View Post
Apple offers discounts specifically to students and academic faculty.

yes I bought one on a student discount. Educational discounts are quite common for items like this. Tourist discounts though?
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 11
9/25/09 at 12:59am
Thread Starter 
thanks guys. looks like i'll just head to the apple store and pick up the items there (pending the AT&T plan issue - really dont want to sign up for a plan for 5 weeks!).
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 11
9/25/09 at 12:37pm
Check if you can get a VAT refund
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 11
9/25/09 at 12:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Terminator View Post
thanks guys. looks like i'll just head to the apple store and pick up the items there (pending the AT&T plan issue - really dont want to sign up for a plan for 5 weeks!).

Student discount applies to non-US students, though I am not sure id they have some process to weed-out the University of the Interwebz type student IDs.

You can no longer buy an iPhone without committing to the 24 month ATT plan. There was talk last year of bringing back sales of phones separate to plans and even unlocked iPhones, but not yet.

I gave my mum a Mac book when she came over here for my wedding (I had an employee discount at the time). The good news is that Australian AppleCare support honoured her 90 day enrollment even though it was purchased in the US.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 11
9/28/09 at 11:22am
If you are going to be near NYC I could meet you and buy it for you to take advantage of my student discount. I just bought a 17" pro but left it at the beach so I won't have it for a few more weeks.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
Styleforum › Forums › Lifestyle › Fine Living, Home, Design & Auto › Buying a Mac and I phone whilst holidaying in the US