Thanks to their popularity, you can find Apple products in nearly every tech store in your neighbourood. Many resellers store Apple products as not everyone has an Apple Store nearby. In fact, some big stores have entire sections of tech products dedicated to Apple. But is it really worth it to buy an Apple product from a reseller? Or do you get any benefits from buying from an Apple Store? Let’s find out!
If you buy directly from an Apple Store, there are many benefits. For example, you can test all the products before making your purchase, you can get helpful advice from the specialist staff, and you can immediately replace a defective part or get it repaired from the Apple Store.
Buying from an Apple reseller like Amazon or eBay would seem a good option to you as most of them offer Apple products at discounted prices.
But you miss the privilege of buying from an official Apple Store that comes with its own benefits. Keep reading to find out more about these benefits and whether you should buy from a physical Apple Store or the online Apple Store.
Benefits Of Buying from Apple Store
Apple Employee Product Knowledge
Buying from an Apple Store means making informed purchase decisions. If you visit an Apple Store and are unsure about what model you want to get, you can consult with the in-store staff to help you understand all the technical specifications and purchase the perfect product for your needs.
Return Policies
You can exchange or return any product you purchased from an Apple Store by showing its receipt within 14 days for a full refund, no questions asked, provided that the product is undamaged and in its original packaging. However, if you purchased it from a reseller, you would have difficulty going for a repair or return service.
To see Apples repair policy and the different price they charge for repair check out my article.
Apple Offers Student Discounts
If you are a student and you buy from Apple directly, either in-store or online, you can receive a student discount of up to $200 on a Mac and $100 on iPads. You can even sometimes get a pair of AirPods for free as well as a 20% discount on AppleCare+.
You Can Swap Older Models
Imagine you bought a MacBook last week and a newer model comes out this week. Sounds like a sucker, doesn’t it? But don’t worry! You can get yours exchanged for the newer model, no questions asked, if you bought it from an Apple Store. You just need to have the original packaging.
As Apple products are expensive having the option of trading in your old iPhone or MacBook for a newer version saves you the hassle of your old Apple products on sites like eBay where you can be a victim of online scams.
You Can Pay In Monthly Installments
Let’s face it. Apple products cost a fortune and sometimes you don’t have enough cash on hand to buy a Mac or an iPhone. So if you buy from an Apple Store online or physically, you have the option to purchase the products on monthly installments starting from less than $100.
That’s all the benefits you get if you choose to buy from an official Apple Store. Keep reading to find out if it’s better to buy from a physical Apple Store or online.
If you are planning to buy a new Mac and you are wondering whether you can use you can your monitor with your Mac, check my step-by-step guide here to learn all about it.
Is It Better To Buy Apple Online Or In-Store?
Purchasing from an Apple store allows you to test products in-store before making a purchase, you can ask Apple staff to give you expert advice about the best product for your specific needs. But buying online offers you to customize specs for your iMac or MacBook such as increased RAM or memory.
I know it feels amazing when you don’t have to leave your house to buy an Apple product. You just make a few clicks at Apple’s online store and the products get shipped to your doorstep within a few days.
But, hear me out, there are MANY benefits of purchasing Apple products from a nearby Apple store, instead of the online store. Let’s take a look at them:
- Purchasing from a physical Apple Store, you get to have a lifetime ‘advocate’ at that store that can help with warranty issues.
- Some Apple Stores offer a “no questions asked” return for your products WITHOUT the restocking fees, which is not the case with the Apple online store.
- You get the satisfaction of getting your hands on your new MacBook or iPhone immediately. Online orders, on the other hand, will reach you after a few days.
- You can test as many products as you want in store before making your purchase, something that is not possible online.
- When purchasing from a store, you have the option to consult with Apple staff about the best products for your specific needs. They will also teach you all about the technical details of the product, something that is hard to get when buying online.
These are all the benefits you get if you purchase in-store. However, if you are looking for customization options in your iMac or MacBook, you can opt for the online store as it gives you all the custom options.
For example, if you need an increased RAM in your new iMac, you can custom order an iMac with an increased RAM from the Apple Online Store, something that is hard to get at an Apple retail store. Moreover, Apple keyboards and mice are cheaper online, compared to the store. So you can easily get a bundle package of a keyboard and mouse with your iMac at cheaper rates than a physical Apple store.
But if you do not want to customize your iMac, a physical Apple store is your best bet to purchase products.If you are a Windows user, you may have heard that MacBooks are pretty difficult to use, which has prevented you from buying one. But turns out, they are not! Check my guide here to learn all about it.