Sandy's Mac

[SandyBear]

Thanks for the welcome and understanding of the issues....

FYI:
ABM = Arabian Business Machines
The company importing Apple (and many other brands) in the region and runs the iStyle and iStore retail outlets, also giving EMUG members a discount on certain items...
iSTYLE | Apple Premium Reseller
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What are the benefits of being a member of EMUG?
* Discount off of one purchase per month at an iStyle Store the UAE. The discount is 6% on Mac Pro/MacBook Pro, 4% on iMac/MacBook/MacMini, 2% on iPods, and 7% on Accessories (including software).
* At participating Salam Studio and Stores in UAE, members can get special offers and sign up for a customer loyalty program.
* 5% discount on any finished goods product, e.g. Macintosh computers, at Computer Direct Access (CDA) in the UAE.This offer does not apply to accessories, iPods, or software.
* The right to participate in members-only events, and discounts at select Emirates Mac-organized events.
* Access to a dedicated discussion board on EmiratesMac Apple User Group where you can interact with other members, ask questions, and put in suggestions for activities and anything else about what we do.
* The right to participate in prize-drawings and raffles at EMUG meetings.
* Advice and encouragement from other members.
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What the difference is between iStore and iStyle, I do not know....???
Still, both authorized retailers...

This from the official Apple site:
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UAE

iStore
Address: Dubai, Bank Street.
PO. Box: 3213
Tel: +971 4 3525211
Fax: +971 4 3528730

iStyle
Address 1: Shop No. 256, Ibn Battuta Mall- China Court, Dubai
PO. Box: 251541
Tel: +97143669797
Fax:+97143669796

Address 2: Shop No. D46 Abou Dhabi Mall, Abu Dhabi.
PO. Box: 26936
Tel: +97126444934
Fax: +97126458453

Address 3: Shop No. Sc063, Festival City, Dubai.
PO. Box: 35952
Tel: +971 4 2329979
Fax: +971 4 2329978

[SandyBear]

...and finally, as the last published price for my offered MacBook was 5700 aed and the official iStyle price seems to be 5999 aed, any taker would have:
1. saved 299 aed
2. had the notebook 3-4 weeks before anybody else
3. not had the arabic keyboard (at least for me a benefit)
4. still had the world wide warranty.
I don't think that would have been even close to unethical...
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(cannot sleep as jetlagged...)

[Magnus]

I don't think this is moving forward in any constructive way so I'm going to close the thread. I think there's been good points made by many and hopefully we've all learned something.