HOW I BOUGHT MY NEW MAC

My Mac and I, Part II

By Bob Djurdjevic

September 19, 2025

From Apple’s sales pitch to Costco’s bargain bin — here’s how I bought my new MacBook Air (and saved $200 in the process)

A few days ago I went to the Scottsdale Quarter Apple Store hoping to check out their new MacBooks.

“What can I help you with?” a young man in his late 20s asked me.

I explained that I have an old 2016 MacBook that needs replacing.

The young man launched into a powerful pitch, using a flurry of words and gestures to describe the latest and greatest features of the new MacBook Air. As a former business owner in the high-tech field, I admired his enthusiasm and salesmanship.

“Wish I had him as one of my salesmen,” I thought.

Then, after he thought he had hooked the fish, he handed the catch to a lesser angler for skinning and cooking, pleading that he was needed elsewhere in the store.

“Clever!” I thought.

Back in the pioneering days of the computer industry, when I was with IBM, we used to say that the salespeople brought their catch into the tent for the systems engineers to skin and cook. Not a very kind attitude toward customers, admittedly — but at least it was honest.

This Apple “systems engineer” was a big guy with dreadlocks who looked more like a rock band musician than a high-tech consultant. That impression was confirmed when his face lit up as I mentioned I didn’t need iTunes Music because I record my own tracks.

But he also knew his techie stuff. And in a few minutes, I had myself a new MacBook Air.

TRIP TO COSTCO

Having just come back from Europe after a long absence, I needed to get some supplies from Costco. Normally, I never meander around stores. I know what I want, I grab it, and I get the hell out as fast as I can.

But this time, I took a little detour. There were some Apple products on display that caught my eye. As I took a closer look, I realized that the same MacBook for which I had just paid $999 at the Apple Store was selling here for $799.

“What?” I said to myself. I didn’t think Apple ever discounted its products.

I looked around. A young clerk was leaning on the counter, staring at his phone. He showed no interest in me as a customer.

“Can I ask you a question?” I intruded.

“Sure,” he said, lazily dragging himself away from his phone.

“How come you’re selling these Macs for $200 less than Apple? I didn’t think Apple ever discounted its products.”

“Well, they do now because there’s some sort of iPhone promotion this week.”

That didn’t make any sense to me. What does an iPhone promotion have to do with a Mac? But I let it slide. A deal is a deal.

“So you will sell me this brand new MacBook Air for $799?”

“Yes,” he said. “As long as the promotion lasts. Which is this week.”

So I wheeled back to the Apple Store, returned the MacBook Air I had bought only an hour earlier, and went back to Costco to buy the same product for $200 less.

A brand-new MacBook Air, and $200 still in my pocket. Now that’s how you blend old-school thrift with new-school tech.

God bless America!

⚓

Can you tell which is which now?