MacBook Air Ivy Bridge Core i5 Dual 1.8GHz 13" Laptop for $999 at Fry's stores (Pickup Only)

l8360 said:   Compare at $1199, not $1999 as posted in the headline. See here:
http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MD231LL/A?

Good observation. Those silly FWF mods are being even more careless than usual this month. Hope they fix it soon.

If you are trying to get a good deal on a Macbook, head to a Best Buy and check out their open box deals. I just got an 11" MBA (2gig/64gig - older mind you) for $749 with black tie thrown in free.

The sales guy told me they are aggressively trying to get rid of older inventory as Apple will start charging them $400/month per unit unsold (on inventory). It was $999 retail, marked down to $899 open box, and I got it for $749.

Yes, this is the epitome of YMMVVVV! but good deals can be had with heavy negotiating. He started with "$830 is our cost, can't go below that." A quick visit to MacMall showed the same model for $749 shipped. After letting him know I was fully aware of the building I was standing in not being free, I went back and forth and got the deal.

BB is aggressively trying to get rid of open box items. Don't pay the price they are advertising. Negotiate and walk away with a deal.

Black Tie will replace it 10 months down the road (up to 12 months) if I spill water on it. Good piece of mind I'd say.

Besides, negotiating is fun!

manly said:   coolbreeze, if yours is open box IMO it shouldn't cost the same as new-in-box product from reseller X.

I just glanced at the Apple Online Store refurbished section, and they also sell the same 2011 11" MBA also for $749. Personally I wouldn't touch any MBA with 2GB RAM.

Apple online also has the 2011 model bumped to 4GB/128GB flash for $829, which is a much better buy IMO. Or get the 2012 model (refurbished) with 4GB/64GB flash for $849. If you can live with the skimpy storage in the near term, you can slap in a better/bigger SSD in a couple years.

Just my two cents.
Yeah, I know I could have done better...but considering you can't normally haggle with a retail store, I'll take it. Most just pay the sticker without even asking, which was $899. I don't care though. It's 2nd travel machine and will work fine.

Also, B&M stores don't take kindly to demands for internet price matching. It's not free to have buildings all over the place, and most will simply say "no" to internet PM requests and essentially tell you go get lost. I feel I did good with the warranty that covers accidental damage being thrown in free. I could technically get a new unit within the year, providing I want to be shady about it. Nobody offers that for $749, even NIB.

It's literally brand new. 4 cycles on the battery. I don't care about the box, which would only take up room in my basement. Once I powered it on, it was as good as a factory sealed unit, IMO. The instant you unbox a new unit, it's the same.

I'm happy.

bouteill said:   Not available in all Frys stores in the Los Angeles area
don't know how far it is for you, but it appears to be available in the City of Industry location.

IIRC correctly they had this deal less than two months ago, so it might repeat again down the line.

Oops. My bad. MacBook Pro with same specs for $999 now.