Purchasing a 'sealed-in-box-new' Macbook Air - but no reciept

[radhak]

I need to get my daughter a Macbook Air. I see a local advt for a brand new, sealed 11" one for $750, around $200 off the retail price. He says he already has a macbook pro and got this as a gift a few months ago. But he does not have a receipt for it. He says I could check the serial number to reassure myself it's not stolen or anything.

Just thinking - is the lack of receipt a problem? What if I gotta take it in for any repair to an apple store?

 

[nickbits]

apple should have purchase date in their system. i've never needed the receipt for any of my dealings with them. your warranty would start from the original purchase date.

however if the original purchaser did not buy directly from apple, the purchase date in their system might be wrong. it was wrong on my wife's at&t purchased refurb iphone and then you'd need the receipt for proof. granted the receipt didn't help me in that case anyway--apple told me to go to at&t but i couldn't be bothered and fixed the phone myself from parts from ifixit.

 

[KeithP]

If you enter the serial number at this page you can get tech info on the computer:
http://support.apple.com/specs/

Here you can check the warranty:
https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do

The problem will be verifying the serial number you are given is the computer's actual real serial number. Without opening the box and looking at it and also double checking the info from "About this Mac" you can't be sure.

I wouldn't purchase it without an inspection of the actual working unit. If he doesn't want to allow that because it is "sealed-in-box-new" I would decline the deal.

-KeithP

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Maybe go to the Apple Store with the seller and open it there and have one of the Geniuses check the serial number of the Macbook in the box?

 

[radhak]

He's okay with me opening the package and checking the serial number - if I promise to purchase it right away if it checks out. I guess I can't expect anything more.

I also see the same unit on offer at Apple.com as a refurbished, for $850, ships free. Anybody thinks there's any added value buying from Apple directly for an additional $100+?

 

[Ancalagon44]

As long as you can open the box - I have heard of cases where people end up carrying a box home containing literally a bunch of rocks.

 

[TheStu]

He's okay with me opening the package and checking the serial number - if I promise to purchase it right away if it checks out. I guess I can't expect anything more.

I also see the same unit on offer at Apple.com as a refurbished, for $850, ships free. Anybody thinks there's any added value buying from Apple directly for an additional $100+?

Piece of mind that it's the real-real deal? Past that, not much, no.

 

[boomhower]

Piece of mind that it's the real-real deal? Past that, not much, no.

And a couple months warranty.

 

[rugby]

I would definitely run the serial # before purchasing. If it was purchased from anyplace other than Apple the purchase date might not be available. If it's not available, they might fight you on any warranty issue.

I've seen this happen quite a bit.

 

[manly]

As Apple doesn't have a stolen units database for public consumption (that I know of), checking the SN is only going to tell you how much of the standard warranty remains.

If you're comfortable with the seller, I'd use that as a bargaining tactic. Let's say the remaining warranty is 9 months, I'd ask him to knock off $50. If it's really low like 5 months remaining, I'd probably pass or at least ask for a big discount.

Otherwise you have to decide for yourself if you're okay buying something that's possibly stolen. I don't think it'll affect the warranty though, just your personal ethics. If someone doesn't have a receipt, they could show you their credit card statement if they really wanted to give you the purchase date.

Honestly you could make a fair case for buying it refurb on Apple.com. You get a 1 year warranty, most credit cards will double that. Discover Card gives you 5% cash back which covers much of the sales tax in many states. Is triple the warranty on top of absolute peace of mind worth about $100ish? Personally I think it is.

 

[TheStu]

And a couple months warranty.

I had forgotten about the warranty... Yea, he should probably just get the refurb.

 

[radhak]

You guys are very persuasive. I'm going for the refurb. My credit card's added coverage, and the reward points I earn on the purchase makes it pretty much even on the costs, so no reason to pick anything else.

And of course, payment by CC instead of cash, and avoiding dodgy craigslist transactions - priceless !

 

[TheStu]

You guys are very persuasive. I'm going for the refurb. My credit card's added coverage, and the reward points I earn on the purchase makes it pretty much even on the costs, so no reason to pick anything else.

And of course, payment by CC instead of cash, and avoiding dodgy craigslist transactions - priceless !

Important thing to keep in mind, Apple's warranty does NOT cover accidental damage, so if that's a concern (it always is to some degree), then you might want to look into a third party warranty through something like SquareTrade, or check if your CC covers that sort of thing.