Many Apple Stores Not Carrying Retina MacBook Stock on Launch Day

A significant number of users have turned to Twitter and other social networks to voice their frustration that Retina MacBook in-store stock and display models at many Apple Stores in the United States and other launch countries are nowhere to be found. MacRumors has independently confirmed that the Retina MacBook will be limited to online purchases in many locations around the world.

It looks like Apple Stores are NOT stocking Retina MacBooks today. pic.twitter.com/VhXIYJlVc6

— Andrew Kunesh (@andrewkunesh) April 10, 2015

A spot check of several Apple Stores in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom resulted in us being given the same response about Retina MacBook stock being unavailable at each location, at least on launch day. April 10 is already an eventful day for Apple as Apple Watch pre-orders and in-store try-on appointments became available at 12:01 AM Pacific, so it is possible the MacBook is not a priority right now.

Retina MacBook shipping times also slipped especially quick out of the gate, with custom configured models available to ship in 3-4 weeks from the moment orders became available, and gold stock models following shortly thereafter. Apple’s new 12-inch MacBook starts at $1,299 and features an ultra-thin design, one USB-C port, redesigned keyboard with an all-new butterfly mechanism, Force Touch trackpad, fanless architecture and all-day battery life.

Apple Watch Out-of-Warranty Service Fees Range From $229 to $2,800

Apple has disclosed that it will charge an out-of-warranty service fee of $229, $329 and $2,800 for the Sport, Watch and Edition models respectively for repairs not covered by Apple’s limited one-year warranty or AppleCare+ extended coverage plans. Out-of-warranty battery service is also available for $79 plus an applicable $6.95 shipping charge if required for all Apple Watch models.

The prices listed are based on official service through Apple in the United States, with pricing and terms varying for service through an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Apple will not repair an Apple Watch under certain circumstances, such as if the device is broken into multiple pieces, and did not provide pricing information for other accessories or peripherals.

Apple will be providing out-of-warranty service for the Apple Watch in all nine first wave launch countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and United Kingdom. Service charges vary based on local currencies, with out-of-warranty fees costing, for example, a higher $299, $419 and $3,599 for the Sport, Watch and Edition models respectively in Canada.

Apple will also be offering Express Replacement service for the Apple Watch for customers that purchase an AppleCare+ for Apple Watch plan. When requested, Apple will send you packaging to return an Apple Watch in for repair or service, and ship out a replacement unit approximately two to three business days. Apple ensures that the replacement will be the same model you originally bought and new or equivalent in performance and reliability.

Express Replacement service pricing for the Apple Watch costs $300 to $350 for the Apple Watch Sport, $500 to $600 for the stainless steel Apple Watch and $8000 to $10,000 for Apple Watch Edition based on 38mm or 42mm case sizing. Apple will charge a late or non-return fee of $35.50 to $60.50 (Sport), $85.50 to $135.50 (Watch) or $2,600 to $3,600 (Edition) if Apple does not receive your original Apple Watch after more than 10 business days, with some exceptions.

New Retina MacBook Now Available to Order on Apple’s Online Store

Along with accepting pre-orders for the Apple Watch, Apple has also begun accepting orders for the new 12-inch Retina MacBook through its online store. Orders are available through the website and through the Apple Store app.

Shipping estimates for most pre-configured MacBook models are currently at one to three days, while custom configurations will ship in three to four weeks. Shipping estimates for the high-end gold MacBook have slipped to three to four weeks.

The 12-inch Retina MacBook features Apple’s latest technology, with an ultra thin chassis that’s 0.31mm thick (a half-inch), a Retina display, a Force Touch trackpad that enables a range of new gestures, a thinner keyboard with larger keys stabilized by a new butterfly design, a single USB-C port, and a low-power Core M processor that lets it operate without a fan for silent performance.

Reviews of the new MacBook came out on Thursday morning and are worth a read before purchasing the new MacBook. Many reviewers have compared it to the first-generation MacBook Air, praising its cutting-edge design while highlighting some of the performance compromises compared to the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro.

The machine’s Core M processor lags behind the more powerful Intel-based processors available in Apple’s other notebooks, but it runs all modern apps (including those like Photoshop and Final Cut Pro). It is, however, noticeably slower, which may be a concern for users who use system intensive tasks on a regular basis. For day to day use, many reviewers found it more than adequate, but there was a general consensus suggesting that it’s somewhat impractical in its current incarnation, given the price to performance ratio.

The Retina MacBook is available in three colors: Silver, Gold, and Space Gray. It’s available in two configurations at two price points. The entry-level model ships with a 1.1GHz processor, 8GB of memory, Intel Graphics 5300 HD, and 256GB of flash storage for $1,299. The higher-end model includes a 1.2GHz processor, 8GB of memory, Intel Graphics 5300 HD, and 512GB of flash storage for $1,599.

Both models offer an optional processor upgrade, boosting the 1.1GHz processor to 1.2 or 1.3GHz, and boosting the 1.2GHz processor to 1.3GHz.