Filed under: Odds and ends, iMac
Costco selling the 20" iMac G5 at discount
A Mac User Group email list that I'm on noticed that Costco of all places (think: Sams Club competitor) is selling the
20" iMac G5 with iSight for $1479.99. While the machine is listed on their site, they instruct customers to
check their local stores for available stock; it looks like they don't have any available for web order.Aside from Costco beating out Apple by $20, I think it's a little strange that the iMac is the only machine they seem to carry. A search at their website for "mac" returns nothing but a few software packages (including Quicken 2006 for Mac for $60 with a $20 rebate), but "imac" actually returns this one lone model they're selling. There's no word on how long they'll be carrying these machines, but with the rate that PowerPC based machines are disappearing, I'd recommend you pick one up while they're hot if you're interested.
[UPDATE: Wow, this price is even better than I thought. Turns out that $1479 includes a 3-year AppleCare program. Run, don't walk! Thanks Derek!]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Derek said 11:39AM on 3-01-2006
The 20" iMac that Costco sells also comes with Applecare as a bonus, if that makes a difference. I was stoked to see that Costco was selling them. And they even had a display set up and strapped down to a metal grid.
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unreal mccoy said 11:57AM on 3-01-2006
Screw apple care... Costco will take any electronic product back any time for any reason with a full refund or exchange with receipt.
Sound to good to be true? Ask Costco customer service about it. My brother recently did it with his Canon DSLR he bought last year. Full refund, no questions asked.
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David C. said 12:01PM on 3-01-2006
Ooh, so tempting.
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Mike said 12:12PM on 3-01-2006
Saw a bunch of them at the Costco store in Austin. Looks like they had about 15-20 on a pallet.
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Grant Guthrie said 12:45PM on 3-01-2006
Costco did a similar thing with the CRT iMac when it was nearing its end.
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Chris said 1:07PM on 3-01-2006
You think that's a bargain, my wife and I picked up a 20" iMac G5 with iSight at the local Apple Store for $1199. Open box, but never used.
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Mark said 1:20PM on 3-01-2006
#2 - you're incorrect about the return policy. Since the end of 2002, the computer return policy is 6 months from the date of purchase. Still the best in the biz though. :)
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ChillyWilly said 1:44PM on 3-01-2006
about 20 or so here at Costco in Salt Lake the other day. People seems to be interested. I would expect them to be gone shortly.
The only thing that's stopping me from buying one is the new Intel iMac supporting munltiple monitor spanning (vs. the mirrored external monitor that the current G5 supports)
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Matt said 1:48PM on 3-01-2006
There were 30 iMacs with one on display in Indy. I returned a 36" TV after three yrs. with no receipt, no remote, and no manual. They found the purchase using my member number, and awarded me with $642 Costco cash. No questions. Definately the best place to purchase electronics.
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kevin said 1:55PM on 3-01-2006
so, conceivably, i could go to costco.. buy an imac.. return to the store 5-6 months later and return it for a full refund, no questions asked. then do the same process all over again, with a new mac at costco (assuming they have newer models by that time, like an intel mac). is this right?
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icerabbit said 2:16PM on 3-01-2006
Great to see Costco carry Apple computers. Maybe they can expand the line?
#10 "return for a full refund, then do the same process all over again"
Not so quick. I don't think you will be able to do it every 6 months. While there may not be any set rule, in short term, you can just say the product does not satisfy. Logic dictates that after a number of months you're more looking at a defect with the product or a product going defective.
Both Sams & Costco have 6 month standard policy. Beyond you have buy the extended warranty for a number of years. That could be why one commenter was allowed to return the TV after nearly 3 years.
Over the years I've returned a few electronics at both: Costco is better/easier than Sams about returns.
Btw. I saw a documentary about costco and they offer better benefits to their employees. Go costco!
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Leo said 2:19PM on 3-01-2006
wow... this is so frakking newsworthy. thank you so much. eh.
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unreal mccoy said 2:25PM on 3-01-2006
Thanks Mark (@#7)... But for other consumer electronics? Is it still an indefinite return period?
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Mark said 2:40PM on 3-01-2006
#12 99% of the time you will get your money back. The refund policy is not advertised as 'indefinite' or 'lifetime'....it's "if at any time you are unsatisfied...." If your conscious tells you it's OK to try to take back a 5 year old TV....Then try it. It only hurts the members in the long run anyway because Costco gets barely any money back for those old ass products. As long as you have a good shopping history, they'll take care of you.
#10 You're more than welcome to try this. They track all computer returns on an account. After multiple (may vary at warehouse location) returns/repurchases, you're going to start raising some eyebrows and may get you're membership fee refunded to you and told "Thanks for doing business with us...Bye."
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Elliot said 2:59PM on 3-01-2006
Viva Costco!
Costco = fair wages, good healthcare, happy, longterm employees.
Sam's Club = Well, I think we all know how Walmart rolls...
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Todd said 4:03PM on 3-01-2006
Just came from Costo. The iMac has a 3 years of AppleCare in the $1479 price...
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Timothy Beckford said 5:00PM on 3-01-2006
Amazon.com has the 20" Intel Based iMac with a $150 mail in rebate.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/rebates/B000BNLGJA/ref=dp_rebates_1/102-5452908-9368923?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc
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Virtuous said 6:39PM on 3-01-2006
Saving $190 isn't enough to get me to buy an iMac G5 instead of the Intel version. Intel iMacs represent a better long-term investment.
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Sean said 7:56PM on 3-01-2006
Picked one up from the Costco in Commack (Long Island) an hour ago. Confirming the three-year-Apple-warrantee, the six-month Costco return policy, and price etc.
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Ryan said 12:58AM on 3-02-2006
When I saw these at my local Costco, I bought one, took it home, and didn't open it. I waited. I put my 13mon old rev A. iMac G5 1.8 20" on craigslist and sold it in one day for 1200, then I put the applecare on ebay for $150. So lets do the math... $130 for a nice upgrade (isight, front row, videoRAM, DVD-DL)!!! Macs may be more expensive, but wow, they hold there value. I love Costco
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