Apple 80gb Ipod - Where's Cheapest?

mleonard79

Hi Everyone,

I want to buy an 80gb Ipod - the cheapest I've seen it online is just over £200. Has anyone seen it cheaper?

I have a friend that is going to the US for 2 weeks next week though and I know they are generally cheaper over there so would it be cheaper for me to ask her to buy one in the shops over there or would there not be much difference? If that would be cheaper are there any differences between a US Ipod and UK one that I would need to know about? Thanks for any advice.

Regards

Michelle

mleonard79

Just bumping this up in case anyone who can advise hasn't seen it - Thanks!

reformedEffortMaker_2

Michelle, I had two friends who travelled to Hong Kong and New York last month, and the most competitive prices they found were only 10% cheaper than here-which may be sufficient discount for you, but of course you may have issues with returning it if you have a problem.

If you are a student, or know any students, apple give a 10% discount anyway. The problem with the iPod is that Apple have gone to great lengths to maintain the brand and so its quite hard to get it with a significant discount

However, If you meant a video 80gb ipod, ebuyer has a good priced one at the moment (with free delivery) try http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=0&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3Jldmlld3M=&product_uid=117661

mleonard79

Hi Reformed Effort Maker,

Thanks for your relpy. I thought there was only the one 80gb Ipod and that they all had video capabilities

No I'm not a student I'm afraid - even with a 10% discount the Apple store is still a good bit more expensive than other online stores though.

From looking at US stores online the maintsread price over there seems to be $350 which works out at £175 so that's still a saving of £25 over the best UK price I've seen (admittedly as you say though it's not much more than an extra 10% discount.)

I hadn't thought about needing to return it if a fault developed - wouldn't the apple guarantee that comes with it cover me for faults no matter where in the world I am though? Thanks for the help.

Regards

Michelle

LilMissEmmylou

id just buy it from apple through pigs back or nectar and get points back. You get free engraving and shipping on the apple site too

zebidee1

I very recently bought 2 x video iPods from the Apple Store in Florida whilst on holiday there last month.

I made sure the salesman knew we were on holiday and I specifically asked what would happen in the things broke down when we got home to the UK.

He told me I would have exactly the same warranty and rights as I would in the UK, so I spent a sizeable amount of money on 2 video iPods / cases / accessories.

We got home and one of the iPods has a fault. Apple have told me that I should not have been told I would have the same rights, as apparently I don't. As it was bought in the US, and I am now in the UK, I am only entitled to a repair or a refurbished replacement even although the iPod is new and the fault was there at time of purchase. Because of the way their system works, in all likelihood I would be sent a refurb as they don't tend to repair and send out again......it's easier to send an already repaired refurb. Also they cannot guarantee the refurb will be cosmetically clean, it may well have scratches on it.

I am furious that I am expected to accept a refurb. If I wanted a refurb I would have bought one from the Apple outlet place. If I were in the US, I could take it back to the store and get a new one but because I'm in the UK, this doesn't apply. I wouldn't be so annoyed if I'd had the thing for ages and it developed the fault but the fault was there from new, so basically if Apple get their way, I'll have spent $249.99 (30gb video iPod) on a refurb.

At present I have been jumping through hoops for well over a week now and speaking to various different Apple people in the hope that someone will treat this sympathetically but so far all I'm getting is many phone conversations with different people after being passed on from one to another. I feel I have been misled by the original salesman but I am unable to prove what he told me so I'm stuck. The fact my OH and son were party to the conversation is not enough for obvious reasons.

I strongly advise you NOT to get from the US, the extra saving is just not worth the hassle if something goes wrong (which I've found out since, seems to happen fairly frequently judging by other people's experiances.)

Having said that I suppose it depends on on strongly you would feel if you had a similar situation to me. Maybe you would be more chilled and accepting of the situation and the cheaper cost is worth the risk?

( You might have guessed by now, I aint too 'accepting'. )

vikingaero

I think the cheapest 80gb ipod is about £207 from ebuyer.

Much I as hate to recommend DSG stores, Dixons Tax Free, because you've got a friend flying, can get one for £203 and collect it at the UK airport on his return:

http://www.dixonstaxfree.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=portable_audio.home&section=portable_audio&group=1003&title=

reformedEffortMaker_2

mleonard79, zebidee1 has just confirmed my gut feeling abut buying abroad as they are very unlikely to have the same returns policy as here :-( (unless of course you know someone living in the states?).

Another strategy (if you are not in a rush), is to wait until the likes of Debenhams or House of Frazer are doing a 10% off everything sale, or when Argos/HMV are doing a "spend £100, get £10 in vouchers offer, that way you get to buy from a reputable high street brand and get something back in return??.....Or, if you are based in London, a trip to Tottenham Court Road could be useful, although there will be a price they will not drop below, they will haggle a little bit and if you show them a copy of the internet prices (dont lie because they will check online with you in their shop), some shops will try and compete. Also help your haggling by offering cash, I'm sure you could get it for £200 and you are more likely to get a case or speakers chucked in for free!

mleonard79

Hi zebidee - Thanks for detailing your experiences - sounds like a nightmare! I had wondered about that and that kind of thing happening would definitely put me off.

Hi ReformedEffortMaker - I used to live in the States so yes I do know quite a number of people over there who I could post it to and ask to take back to an Apple store if need be. I'm not sure I'd want to go to the trouble though!

No I'm afraid I'm not based in London but in Glasgow. I'd be quite happy to get it for £200 with a case/speakers chucked in for free!

I think I might end up buying it online over here then for around £200 - I would save at least £25 by getting my friend to get it but I'm not sure it's worth the risk. Thanks for all the help.

Regards

Michelle

Bristle_Hound

£214.99 delivered at play.com
£208 delivered at Amazon

These 2 seem to be the cheapest at the moment
Unless you know better ...