best buy vs first avenue: convince me

mactrombone

First Avenue Computers in Waterloo:

visited store to check out site and sales reps
liked what I saw
ordered 20" iMac via email to store on Nov 4
heard nothing back
called on Nov 8 left message
called on Nov 9 talked to woman to confirm order
order confirmed via email on Nov 9
email Nov 18 to inquire about order
hear nothing back
phone Nov 24 to inquire about order and was told order is in progress "hurry up and wait" but that order was placed on Nov 9, not Nov 4 when email was originally sent.
Nov 25 still ticked off.

Best Buy

No experience with best buy
Can go today as soon as store opens and get 20" iMac, isight and printer and come home and have it running by lunch.

Convince me.

Has anyone had good experience with First Avenue? Tell me more.

wonderings

I have bought all of my Macs from First Avenue, untill my G5. The sales staff are excellent at First Avenue, but it seems to take forever to get stock in. Not sure of the reasons, if they are selling out as soon as they get them or what. But I prefer to support my local mac dealer if I can. Sometimes though you just cant wait.

__________________
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” Bishop Desmond Tutu

TroutMaskReplica

there is a supply problem at apple's end. apple is screwing their resellers in order to make sure the best buy juggernaut has product. by buying from best buy, you would be supporting this practice.

also, if you enjoy this board, you should buy from first ave., although i can say no more about that.

cheers

__________________
intel iMac 20" dual core 2 ghz, Dual 1.25ghz MDD

Roland

If you need the machine and can get it for the same price then get it at Best Buy.

In the end you're supporting Apple.

wonderings

I would say if you can wait, stay with First Avenue. If not then go with Best Buy. I try and stay away from the big chain stores for big purchases like that if possible. I would just rather support the local guy. But thats just my opinion on the matter.

__________________
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” Bishop Desmond Tutu

TroutMaskReplica

think of the small, independent resellers as the monks who saved civilisation.

__________________
intel iMac 20" dual core 2 ghz, Dual 1.25ghz MDD

ArtistSeries

And most people are really happy with the prospect of an Apple Store -- geessshhh pity the poor small reseller then...

wonderings

I will continue to support my local mac dealer when I can. I will deffinetely be checking out the Apple store when it comes, but only to see what all the hype is about.

__________________
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” Bishop Desmond Tutu

ice_hackey

I would support local if possible, but if local is slow or has no stock - go to the next option.

__________________
OSX is a horrible, unwieldily operating system - I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Bilbo

I have dealt with First Ave. for a long time now. They have always given me superb service. I'd recommend that you express your concerns to them personally, I have always found them to be reasonable, fair and honest. That said, they are human, and sometimes humans make mistakes.

I did have an issue once where the machine they ordered was not the one that I asked for. In the end they made it right and I doubt they made a nickle on that CPU as they had to order it from the Apple Store themselves because this particular machine (a dual 533) was not available to dealers. (don't get me started on that one) I had to wait yet another couple of weeks, but it wasn't the end of the world and I got the machine that I wanted.

Good Luck,
B

"The best part about being imperfect, is the joy that it brings to those around me."