How can I buy my MacBook Pro? Traveling to U.S.

Question

Hi. I live overseas and I'll be travelling next week to Florida for one week so I wanted to know how can I make to buy my MBP 17'' because I'm thinking on adding it 1GB RAM (2GB total) and the glossy screen. How can I make my order (I don't think they will have on the store the MBP with this "customizations")? Is there any way to order online and pick it up at store? Do you think it might take too long to arrive??? (I can only stay for one week in Florida) Please I need your help. P.D. My local resellers don't have MBP's.
Another thing, I'm a student but not an US Student. Can I apply for a discount or the iPod Nano offer. Thanks a lot for your help!!!!

Answer 1

If you know where you're going to be staying, you could rpobably just have it delivered to the hotel you're staying at. You'd have a very short Window in which to have it there, of course, but if you order it far enough in advance (and make arrangements with the place at which you'll be staying), I'm sure you could have it there for when you check in. Of course, I can't say this is at all possible; you'd have to call Apple and see if they'll deliver to a hotel, and you'd have to call the hotel and see if they'd accept the package for you.
As for the student discount, the educational discount on the online Apple store works by the honors system. That is, they expect people will be honest about whether they're students or not. Getting the discount shouldn't be a problem. Of course, they do conduct some random audits asking for proof of your student status, but I doubt you'll run into that. And even if you do, simply fax them a letter of your transcript from whatever university you do attend.
As for the rebate, I don't know that you'll be able to get that. It usually takes some two months for rebate checks to finally arrive in the mail, by which time you'll be long gone from Florida. Since you're supposed to be a US student to get this discount, there's no way Apple is going to ship this thing overseas. Of course, who knows...maybe you could make another arrangement with the hotel your staying at.
Well, good luck. If you need any more help, or need anything clarified, let me know.
Mike
To add on to the response below, it would be a very good idea to check with customs to see what you can and can't take back with you. You don't want to buy a $2000+ Mac only to find out you have to leave it here in the States. There might be restrictions on what software/hardware the US allows into your country...you never know...that might be why your local reseller doesn't have any MBPs.